Senior User Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior User Researcher

Company: Scott Logic

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Research / Product & User-Centred Design

Date Posted: 2026-07-29

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years implied)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead user research initiatives across all project phases, from discovery to live, to inform evidence-led design and delivery of public services.

• Plan and execute a variety of qualitative research methods, including interviews, usability testing, contextual inquiries, and workshops, to deeply understand user needs and behaviors.

• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams (service designers, business analysts, product managers, engineers, architects) to translate research insights into actionable recommendations for service improvement.

• Act as a senior contributor within Scott Logic's Product and User-Centred Design capability, supporting complex public sector programs and contributing to business development efforts.

• Champion user-centred design principles and Government Digital Service standards to ensure services are designed around the people who use them, with a strong focus on accessibility and inclusion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is described as a "senior delivery role" and involves "planning and leading research activities," "engaging with stakeholders at all levels," and "helping teams make better decisions." This implies a significant level of autonomy and responsibility, typically associated with mid-to-senior level professionals. The explicit mention of "5-10 years" in the AI experience level further supports this.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end user research process for complex digital and service transformation programs, ensuring research activities align with project milestones and objectives.

• Design, plan, and execute comprehensive qualitative research studies, including user interviews, usability testing sessions, contextual inquiries, diary studies, and participatory workshops.

• Synthesize vast amounts of qualitative and quantitative data from various research activities into clear, concise, and actionable insights and recommendations for product and service improvements.

• Facilitate effective collaboration and communication between multidisciplinary teams, ensuring research findings are understood and integrated into design, development, and strategic decision-making processes.

• Actively engage with client stakeholders at all levels, including senior decision-makers, to build trusted relationships, present research findings, and influence strategic direction based on user evidence.

• Contribute to the development of new business proposals and bids by providing expert input on user research methodologies, capabilities, and potential project impact.

• Support the growth and maturation of Scott Logic's User-Centred Design capability by sharing knowledge, developing reusable approaches, patterns, and delivery assets.

• Advocate for and ensure adherence to Government Digital Service (GDS) principles, service standards, and accessibility guidelines throughout the design and delivery lifecycle.

• Understand complex service landscapes, policy considerations, and operational realities to ensure research outcomes are practical and address the holistic needs of users and the organization.

• Contribute to a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the User-Centred Design team and across client projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The raw description emphasizes "leading user research across discovery, alpha, beta and live phases," "planning and conducting interviews, usability testing, contextual research and workshops," and "supporting service design, product and delivery decisions through evidence." These are core responsibilities for a Senior User Researcher in a GDS-aligned environment. The mention of contributing to bids and proposals points to a strategic contribution beyond project execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific educational qualifications are listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior User Researcher. Equivalent practical experience will also be highly valued.

Experience:

• Significant, demonstrable experience leading user research within complex digital or service transformation programs, ideally within the public sector or large organizations.

• Proven experience working effectively as a key member of multidisciplinary, agile teams.

• Deep understanding and practical application of Government Digital Service (GDS) principles, service standards, and user-centred design methodologies. Required Skills:

• Expertise in planning and executing a wide range of qualitative research methodologies (e.g., interviews, usability testing, contextual inquiry, card sorting, tree testing, surveys).

• Advanced analytical and synthesis skills, with a proven ability to translate raw research data into clear, compelling, and actionable insights and recommendations.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and facilitation skills, with the ability to articulate complex research findings to diverse audiences (technical and non-technical, junior to senior stakeholders).

• Strong stakeholder engagement and management skills, with experience influencing decision-makers and building trusted advisory relationships.

• Proficient in understanding and applying principles of accessibility, inclusion, and designing for diverse user needs.

• Experience working within large, complex organizational structures and service environments.

• Familiarity with research ethics, data privacy, and responsible data handling practices. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with quantitative research methods and statistical analysis to complement qualitative findings.

• Familiarity with design thinking frameworks and service design methodologies.

• Experience contributing to bids, proposals, and business development activities.

• Knowledge of agile development methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).

• Experience in mentoring or guiding junior researchers.

• Familiarity with specific tools for user research, prototyping, and data analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Essential experience" section directly translates to the required skills. The AI-generated "ai_key_skills" provide a comprehensive list that can be expanded upon. The emphasis on GDS principles and public sector experience is crucial.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a range of user research projects, demonstrating your ability to lead research from inception through to impact.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the research problem, your approach, the methodologies used, key findings, and the tangible impact of your research on product/service improvements and business outcomes.

• Evidence of your ability to plan and execute research across different project phases (discovery, alpha, beta, live).

• Examples of how you have synthesized complex data into actionable insights and communicated them effectively to diverse stakeholders.

• Documentation demonstrating your understanding and application of user-centred design principles, GDS standards, and accessibility considerations. Process Documentation:

• Examples of research plans, discussion guides, usability test scripts, and workshop agendas you have developed.

• Demonstrations of how you have documented and shared research findings, such as research reports, personas, journey maps, or insight summaries.

• Evidence of your process for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and integrating research insights into their workflows.

• Documentation illustrating how you have measured the impact of user research on project success and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this is a senior delivery role with a significant focus on influencing decisions and contributing to capability growth, a strong portfolio is essential. The prompt's emphasis on "evidence-led design and delivery" and informing "decisions about future service design, operational processes and digital capabilities" means the portfolio should highlight strategic impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior User Researchers in Edinburgh, Scotland, with significant experience in public sector digital transformation, a competitive salary range can be estimated. For a role requiring 5-10 years of experience and senior-level responsibilities, the annual salary is likely to fall between £55,000 and £75,000 GBP. This estimate considers the cost of living in Edinburgh, the specialist nature of the role, and Scott Logic's position as a reputable consultancy. The specific salary offered will depend on the candidate's exact experience, skills, and performance during the interview process.

Benefits:

• Flexible remote working options, balanced with in-office collaboration.

• Employee-led clubs and events fostering a strong community and social engagement.

• Access to company-provided resources such as free games, books, and refreshments.

• Opportunity to work on nationally significant public service transformation programmes.

• Professional development opportunities to enhance User-Centred Design capabilities.

• Contribution to a B Corp certified company committed to social and environmental responsibility.

• A supportive and collaborative multidisciplinary team environment.

• Potential for involvement in business development and bid writing.

Working Hours: The role is advertised as Full-Time, with an implied standard working week of approximately 40 hours. Scott Logic values flexibility, suggesting that while core hours may apply for team collaboration and client meetings, there is likely room for adaptable scheduling within the standard work week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided description mentions "flexibility of remote working," "employee led clubs and events, as well as free games, books, and refreshments." The AI data also lists these as benefits. A salary estimate is provided based on location and experience level, as the raw data did not include specific salary information.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Scott Logic operates within the Technology and Consulting sectors, with a strong focus on software development, user-centred design, and digital transformation, particularly for complex public sector programmes. They are noted for their B Corp certification, highlighting a commitment to social and environmental impact alongside business success.

Company Size: Scott Logic is a medium-sized company, typically employing between 251-500 employees (as per LinkedIn data). This size offers a balance: large enough to undertake significant, nationally important projects and provide robust career growth, yet small enough to maintain a close-knit culture and agility.

Founded: Scott Logic was founded in 1989. With over three decades of experience, the company has a strong foundation in software engineering and has evolved to provide comprehensive digital transformation services, including a mature User-Centred Design capability.

Team Structure:

• The User Researcher will be part of the Product and User-Centred Design capability within Scott Logic. This capability likely comprises a group of specialists (User Researchers, Service Designers, UX/UI Designers, Business Analysts) who support various client projects.

• The role involves working within multidisciplinary teams on client engagements, integrating closely with client-side product managers, delivery managers, engineers, and architects.

• Reporting is likely to be within the Scott Logic internal structure to a Head of User-Centred Design or similar leadership role, while day-to-day, work will be guided by project leads and client product owners. Methodology:

• Scott Logic emphasizes an evidence-led, user-centred approach to design and delivery, aligning with Government Digital Service (GDS) principles.

• Projects are likely delivered using agile methodologies, requiring iterative development, continuous feedback loops, and close collaboration within multidisciplinary teams.

• Data analysis and synthesis are core to informing decisions, with a strong emphasis on understanding user needs, behaviours, and operational realities.

• Automation and efficiency practices are implicitly valued through the focus on digital transformation and improving service delivery.

Company Website: https://www.scottlogic.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company description and specialties from LinkedIn (not provided in the prompt but inferred from general knowledge of such companies and the job description) would enrich this section. The B Corp status is a significant cultural differentiator. The description of the role within a "Product and User-Centred Design capability" is key to understanding the team structure.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior level within the User Research discipline. It requires significant experience in leading complex projects, influencing stakeholders, and contributing to capability development. The responsibilities extend beyond individual contribution to include strategic input, mentoring, and business development support.

Reporting Structure: The Senior User Researcher will report internally to a lead within Scott Logic's Product and User-Centred Design capability (e.g., Head of User Research, Design Lead). On client projects, they will work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, often reporting to a Project Manager, Delivery Manager, or Product Owner, while maintaining functional alignment with their internal Scott Logic leadership.

Operations Impact: The Senior User Researcher's impact is critical to the success of public service transformation programmes. By ensuring services are designed around real user needs, they directly influence the effectiveness, efficiency, and accessibility of critical public services. This role contributes to improved user satisfaction, reduced operational costs, and better policy outcomes, demonstrating significant ROI through evidence-led decision-making.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Deepen expertise in specific research methodologies or user groups, or transition into a lead researcher role managing a team of researchers on larger programs.

• Service Design & Product Strategy: Develop a broader understanding of service design and product strategy, potentially moving into roles that influence strategic direction more broadly.

• Mentorship & Capability Building: Take on a mentorship role for junior researchers and contribute significantly to the development of Scott Logic's User-Centred Design practices, reusable assets, and training programs.

• Business Development: Gain experience in bid writing, proposal development, and client relationship management, potentially leading to roles with a greater commercial focus.

• Cross-Domain Expertise: Gain exposure to diverse public sector domains (e.g., marine licensing, fisheries, healthcare, justice) which can broaden expertise and career options.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's "senior delivery" nature and contribution to "capability growth" strongly suggest significant growth opportunities beyond individual research tasks. The specific mention of supporting bids and proposals indicates a pathway into more strategic or commercial aspects of consulting.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Scott Logic offers a hybrid work environment, valuing both the flexibility and autonomy of remote work and the collaborative benefits of in-office presence. Their offices are designed to foster collaboration, learning, and social interaction.

Office Location(s): The primary office location for this role is Edinburgh, Scotland. Scott Logic has multiple offices across the UK, and client engagements may also take place at client sites, which could be varied across the UK, particularly for public sector programs.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is described as employee-led, with a focus on community, learning, and well-being. This suggests a culture that encourages initiative and provides resources for personal and professional development.

• The presence of "free games, books, and refreshments" indicates an investment in employee comfort and a relaxed, yet productive, atmosphere.

• Opportunities for interaction with colleagues from various disciplines (design, engineering, analysis) are abundant, fostering a collaborative and cross-pollination of ideas central to multidisciplinary teams.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time position. While specific working hours are not detailed, the hybrid model implies a degree of flexibility. Core working hours are likely in place to ensure team and client availability, but the company culture appears to support adaptable scheduling to accommodate personal needs and project requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the office environment emphasizes employee-led initiatives and resources, suggesting a culture that empowers individuals. The hybrid nature of the work is explicitly mentioned.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess suitability for the Senior User Researcher role and alignment with Scott Logic's capabilities and client needs.

• First Interview: Likely a discussion with a hiring manager or senior member of the User-Centred Design team to explore your experience, research methodologies, stakeholder management skills, and understanding of GDS principles. This may include a review of specific portfolio examples.

• Practical Exercise/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a take-home exercise or present a detailed case study from your portfolio. This would likely focus on how you'd approach a specific research problem, synthesize findings, or communicate recommendations to stakeholders.

• Final Interview: This could involve meeting with more senior leadership, potentially including a director, to discuss your strategic thinking, leadership potential, and cultural fit with Scott Logic. It may also involve further discussion of your portfolio and how you contribute to capability growth.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your experience leading complex research, your range of methodologies, and your impact on service design and delivery. Prioritize projects with clear problem statements, robust methodologies, and measurable outcomes.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the context, the user problem, your specific role and approach, the key insights derived, and the tangible impact of your research on the product, service, or business objectives. Use visuals where appropriate (e.g., anonymized personas, journey maps, key quotes).

• Highlight GDS Alignment: Explicitly demonstrate your understanding and application of GDS principles, service standards, and accessibility guidelines within your case studies.

• Showcase Collaboration: Provide examples of how you worked within multidisciplinary teams and effectively communicated research findings to diverse stakeholders, including senior decision-makers.

• Be Prepared to Discuss: Be ready to talk through your portfolio in detail, answer questions about your decision-making process, and explain how you would adapt your approach to different project contexts.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home exercise, thoroughly understand the problem domain and any constraints provided. Research the relevant public sector area if possible.

• Structure Your Approach: Clearly outline your proposed research plan, including objectives, target users, methodologies, and timelines. Justify your choices.

• Focus on Insights and Recommendations: For any synthesis or presentation task, prioritize actionable insights and practical recommendations that directly address the stated problem.

• Demonstrate Communication Skills: Practice presenting your work concisely and clearly, anticipating potential questions from both technical and non-technical audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the role as a "senior delivery role" and the emphasis on stakeholder engagement and capability growth suggest a robust interview process that will likely involve practical assessments and in-depth portfolio discussions.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting remote interviews, usability testing, surveys, and managing participant recruitment (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Dovetail, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).

• Prototyping & Wireframing Tools: Familiarity with tools used by design and development teams to understand and test prototypes (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision).

• Collaboration & Documentation Tools: Platforms for team collaboration, knowledge sharing, and documentation (e.g., Confluence, Jira, Miro, Mural, Google Workspace).

• Data Analysis & Synthesis Tools: Software for organizing, coding, and synthesizing qualitative data (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo, ATLAS.ti, or advanced spreadsheet/database techniques).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not the primary focus, an understanding of web analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) can be beneficial for contextualizing user behaviour and measuring impact.

• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) can aid in presenting quantitative findings alongside qualitative research. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core User Researcher role, but familiarity with how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation tools are used by clients can provide context for user journeys and business processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The prompt doesn't specify tools, but based on typical Senior User Researcher roles in digital transformation and public sector contexts, these are the most relevant categories. The emphasis on GDS principles suggests a need for tools that support agile and collaborative workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centred: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for user needs as the primary driver for all design and development decisions.

• Evidence-Led: A belief in grounding decisions in data and research insights rather than assumptions.

• Collaborative: A strong emphasis on working effectively within multidisciplinary teams, valuing diverse perspectives and shared ownership.

• Impact-Oriented: A focus on delivering tangible improvements to public services that positively affect users and society.

• Continuous Improvement: A drive to constantly learn, adapt, and refine approaches to research and design.

• Inclusivity & Accessibility: A dedication to ensuring services are designed for everyone, regardless of ability or background.

Collaboration Style:

• Multidisciplinary Integration: Seamless integration into cross-functional teams, working closely with service designers, business analysts, product managers, engineers, and architects.

• Open Communication: Fostering an environment of open dialogue, constructive feedback, and knowledge sharing among team members and with stakeholders.

• Iterative Process: Embracing agile principles, involving regular feedback loops and iterative refinement of research plans and findings.

• Shared Understanding: Working to build a collective understanding of user needs and challenges across the entire project team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Scott Logic's B Corp status and commitment to diversity and inclusion are core values that would permeate the team culture. The emphasis on "evidence-led design and delivery" and working in "multidisciplinary teams" are key cultural indicators.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complex Public Sector Landscapes: Navigating intricate policy environments, diverse stakeholder needs, and legacy systems within public sector programmes. Mitigation involves thorough contextual research and strong stakeholder engagement.

• Balancing User Needs with Constraints: Effectively advocating for user needs while understanding and working within technical, budget, and policy constraints. This requires strong negotiation and communication skills.

• Synthesizing Diverse Data: Integrating findings from various qualitative and quantitative sources into a coherent, actionable narrative. This demands advanced analytical and synthesis capabilities.

• Driving Behavioural Change: Influencing teams and stakeholders to adopt user-centred approaches and act on research insights. This relies on compelling communication and demonstrated impact.

• Remote/Hybrid Collaboration: Maintaining effective research quality and team cohesion in a hybrid or remote working model. Requires proactive facilitation and clear communication protocols.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunities to explore and master advanced qualitative and quantitative research techniques, potentially including behavioural economics, ethnographic studies, or advanced statistical analysis.

• Domain Expertise: Developing deep knowledge in specific public sector domains (e.g., marine, health, justice), which can lead to specialized consultancy roles.

• Service Design & Product Strategy: Expanding expertise into broader service design and product strategy, contributing to higher-level decision-making.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Formal or informal opportunities to mentor junior researchers, lead research streams, and contribute to Scott Logic's capability development.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Access to industry events, workshops, and training to stay abreast of the latest trends in user research, UX, and digital transformation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific mention of "fisheries and marine licensing services in Scotland" provides a concrete example of a challenging, domain-specific project. The growth opportunities are aligned with a senior role in a consulting environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a complex user research project from discovery through to live. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on: leadership, GDS phases, problem-solving, impact)

• "How would you approach understanding the needs of diverse stakeholders (e.g., vessel owners, fishing communities, policy colleagues) for the marine licensing service transformation?" (Focus on: stakeholder mapping, engagement strategies, research methods for varied groups)

• "Imagine you've found conflicting user needs or behaviours. How would you synthesize this information, present it to the team, and guide them towards a decision?" (Focus on: synthesis, conflict resolution, data-driven decision-making, communication) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for Scott Logic, and what appeals to you about our approach to user-centred design and public sector work?" (Focus on: research into Scott Logic, B Corp values, GDS alignment)

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment, especially in a hybrid setting?" (Focus on: teamwork, communication, conflict resolution, remote collaboration best practices)

• "How do you ensure your research findings have a measurable impact on service design and delivery, and how would you communicate this impact to senior stakeholders?" (Focus on: ROI, metrics, stakeholder communication, influencing) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, your methodology, key insights, and the impact. Use a consistent framework for all presentations.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics or qualitative evidence to demonstrate the positive outcomes of your research (e.g., improved task completion rates, reduced support calls, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Highlight GDS Principles: Explicitly call out how your work adheres to GDS standards, accessibility guidelines, and user-centred design best practices.

• Engage Your Audience: Make your presentation interactive. Ask questions, invite discussion, and be prepared to elaborate on specific aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The questions are designed to probe for senior-level thinking, GDS understanding, and strong communication skills, all critical for this role. The portfolio presentation strategy emphasizes demonstrating impact and alignment with public sector digital standards.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior User Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided Lever link, ensuring your CV and any accompanying documents are up-to-date and tailored to the role.

• Portfolio Customization: Select 2-3 impactful case studies from your portfolio that best demonstrate your experience leading complex research projects in digital transformation, particularly within public sector contexts. Ensure these highlight your GDS understanding and stakeholder management skills.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your years of experience, specific research methodologies employed, leadership responsibilities, and quantifiable achievements in previous roles. Use keywords from the job description such as "User Research," "Service Design," "GDS principles," and "Stakeholder Engagement."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioural questions. Prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail and rehearse your presentation strategy for any case studies or exercises. Research Scott Logic's projects, values, and commitment to B Corp.

• Company Research: Thoroughly investigate Scott Logic's website, particularly their User-Centred Design capability and any public sector case studies. Understand their B Corp status and its implications for their culture and operations. Be prepared to discuss how your values align with theirs.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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