User Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: User Researcher

Company: Wellcome Trust

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time, Fixed-Term (12 Months)

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Product Development Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-24

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and execute comprehensive user research initiatives to inform the design and development of digital products and services.

• Advocate for and embed user-centered design principles and methodologies across multidisciplinary product teams.

• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative research findings into actionable insights that drive product strategy and feature prioritization.

• Foster a collaborative environment for UX practitioners and coach team members on advanced research techniques.

• Contribute to the strategic development of the Experience Design Team's research program and knowledge base.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits within the Experience Design Team in the Digital and Technology department, indicating a strong focus on the operational aspects of product development through a user-centric lens. The emphasis on "science to solve urgent health challenges" suggests that the digital products are mission-critical and require rigorous user validation to ensure efficacy and impact.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and conduct user research studies utilizing a variety of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to understand user needs, behaviors, and motivations.

• Recruit diverse participants, ensuring representation from various communities, including those with specific access or needs, for research sessions.

• Generate, synthesize, and clearly communicate user insights at all stages of the product development lifecycle, from discovery to ongoing iteration, aligning with product roadmaps.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and multidisciplinary teams to translate research findings into assessable risks and value propositions for product and service features.

• Develop and maintain a user research program that is sustainable, adaptable, and effectively supports agile/lean product development workflows.

• Create rich representations of user behavior using both qualitative and quantitative data, and establish methods for evaluating product and service user experiences.

• Contribute to the long-term value of user research by enhancing the team's knowledge base and actively sharing insights to deepen the understanding of the user base.

• Coach and mentor other user-centered practitioners, ensuring the quality and consistency of research practices across the organization.

• Actively participate in the broader user experience community, presenting research findings at meetups and taking ownership of specific practice areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "coach other user-centred practitioners" and "be an active part of our user experience community, including presenting at meetups and leading on aspects of practice" suggests this role requires not only strong research execution but also leadership potential and a contribution to the broader UX discipline within Wellcome.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 2-5 years of demonstrable experience in all facets of user research, including strategic planning, participant recruitment, session moderation, data synthesis, and impactful presentation of findings.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience across all aspects of user research, including planning, recruitment, moderating user sessions, synthesizing findings, and presenting actionable recommendations.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively advocate for user research and comprehensive, user-centered practices within a team setting.

• Experience in planning and delivering research using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods to uncover user motivations and behaviors.

• Strong skills in communicating research findings and recommendations to diverse stakeholders through various formats tailored to the audience.

• Good working knowledge of multidisciplinary digital teams and agile development practices. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with a wide range of qualitative research methods (e.g., usability testing, in-depth interviews, contextual inquiry, diary studies) and quantitative methods (e.g., surveys, analytics review, A/B testing analysis).

• Proficiency in using user research platforms and tools for recruitment, session management, and analysis.

• Experience in coaching or mentoring junior researchers or cross-functional team members on research best practices.

• Familiarity with design thinking frameworks and their integration with user research.

• Experience working within the non-profit or research funding sector, understanding unique user groups and stakeholder needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The minimum requirements emphasize a holistic understanding of the research lifecycle and stakeholder communication, suggesting that candidates must demonstrate practical application of these skills rather than just theoretical knowledge. The "2-5 years" experience level implies a need for hands-on execution and some ability to guide others, but not necessarily extensive strategic leadership experience.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a range of user research projects across different stages of product development (discovery, iteration, evaluation).

• Case studies that clearly articulate the research problem, methodology employed, your specific role and contributions, key insights generated, and the impact on product decisions or outcomes.

• Demonstrations of your ability to recruit diverse participant groups and tailor research approaches to specific user needs.

• Evidence of synthesizing both qualitative and quantitative data to build a comprehensive understanding of user behavior and experience.

• Examples of how research findings were translated into actionable recommendations and presented effectively to multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders. Process Documentation:

• Clearly outline your approach to planning and scoping user research projects, including how you define research objectives and select appropriate methodologies.

• Provide examples of how you manage participant recruitment pipelines and ensure ethical data collection and consent processes.

• Demonstrate your methods for synthesizing research data, identifying patterns, and generating robust, evidence-based insights.

• Showcase your experience in creating and delivering compelling research reports and presentations that drive understanding and action.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on agility and multidisciplinary teams, the portfolio should ideally highlight how the candidate integrates research into fast-paced product cycles and effectively collaborates with non-researchers (e.g., Product Managers, Designers, Developers).

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £53,760 - £67,200 per annum.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive benefits package, including flexible working options.

• Generous pension scheme.

• Opportunities for professional development and training.

• Access to Wellcome's extensive employee well-being resources.

• Potential for contribution to a positive impact on global health challenges.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, with a hybrid working model requiring 3 days per week in the London office (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays) and 2 days from home.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a User Researcher role in London with 2-5 years of experience, reflecting the organization's status and the importance of the role. The hybrid model specifies core office days, indicating a structured approach to in-person collaboration.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Global Charitable Foundation / Research Funding / Health & Life Sciences Advocacy.

Company Size: Large (Likely 500-1000+ employees, based on typical foundation structures and global reach).

Founded: 1936. Wellcome Trust has a long history of funding scientific research, evolving its mission to address global health challenges through science, policy, and advocacy. This history instills a culture of long-term vision and impact.

Team Structure:

• The User Researcher will be part of the Experience Design Team within the Digital and Technology department.

• This team is a community of UX practitioners, suggesting a collaborative and supportive environment for UX professionals.

• The role reports to a Senior User Researcher, indicating a clear reporting line and mentorship structure.

• The team works closely with multidisciplinary product teams across Wellcome, emphasizing cross-functional collaboration. Methodology:

• A strong commitment to a user-centered approach is foundational to the Experience Design Team's work.

• Agile and lean product development methodologies are prevalent, requiring research to be integrated seamlessly into these workflows.

• The organization champions scientific rigor and evidence-based decision-making, which extends to their approach to user research and product development.

• There's an emphasis on using technology and digital products to achieve Wellcome's ambitious goals related to global health challenges.

Company Website: https://wellcome.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: The organization's mission to "solve urgent health challenges" implies a culture that values purpose, impact, and scientific integrity. The emphasis on digital products suggests a forward-thinking approach to leveraging technology for societal good.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level User Researcher. This role is integral to the product development lifecycle, focusing on translating user needs into tangible product improvements. It requires independent execution of research tasks and the ability to influence product teams.

Reporting Structure: Reports to a Senior User Researcher within the Experience Design Team. This provides a direct path for mentorship, skill development, and guidance on complex research challenges. The Senior User Researcher likely acts as a key stakeholder and advocate for research within the department.

Operations Impact: The User Researcher's work directly impacts the effectiveness, usability, and adoption of Wellcome's digital products and services. By ensuring these products meet user needs, the role contributes to Wellcome's ability to achieve its mission in funding science, policy, and advocacy, ultimately supporting global health outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in advanced qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and gain experience coaching other practitioners.

• Career Progression: Potential to move into a Senior User Researcher role, leading larger research initiatives, or specialize in specific areas of UX research.

• Cross-functional Impact: Gain exposure to diverse product areas within Wellcome (funding, policy, advocacy, museum/library digital tools), broadening understanding of organizational needs.

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to lead aspects of the UX practice, contribute to community building, and mentor colleagues.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fixed-term nature of the role (12 months) may offer opportunities for contract extension or lead to full-time permanent positions based on performance and organizational needs. It also provides a defined period to gain significant experience and demonstrate value.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model. The role requires a minimum of 3 days per week in the London office, with the remaining 2 days worked from home. This suggests a balanced approach to in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

Office Location(s): Gibbs Building, Euston Road, London. This central London location offers good transport links and access to amenities.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is designed to foster collaboration, with dedicated days for in-person teamwork and interaction.

• Access to standard office technology and potentially specialized UX research tools will be available.

• Opportunities for informal and formal collaboration with colleagues in the Experience Design Team, Digital and Technology department, and other cross-functional product teams.

• The hybrid model allows for focused work at home and collaborative engagement in the office.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility offered within the hybrid model. The core office days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, suggesting these are key days for team meetings and collaborative work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "friendly and creative working environment" and a "supportive community of UX practitioners" indicates a positive and engaging workplace culture, particularly for those in design and technology roles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit an updated CV and answer two specific application questions.

• Screening: Review of CV and application questions to assess against minimum requirements and suitability for the role.

• First Interview: Likely a discussion with the Senior User Researcher and potentially a hiring manager, focusing on experience, research philosophy, and approach to user-centered design. This may include behavioral questions and scenario-based discussions.

• Practical Assessment/Case Study: Candidates may be asked to present a portfolio piece or complete a small research task/analysis to demonstrate practical skills. This could involve critiquing a research plan, synthesizing mock data, or outlining a research approach for a given problem.

• Final Interview: May involve meeting with other stakeholders, including Product Managers or team leads, to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and strategic thinking.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your specific role and responsibilities, the methodologies used and why, the key insights derived, and the tangible impact on the product or business.

• Showcase Diversity: Include examples of research across different product stages (discovery, validation, iteration) and using a range of qualitative