User Researcher - Consumer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: User Researcher - Consumer

Company: Rightmove Careers

Location: London, UK

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Product Research

Date Posted: 2026-06-19

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (2 days in office, 3 days remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive deep, shared understanding of consumer home hunters through strategic and tactical user research initiatives.

• Collaborate with Product Design, Content Design, and Design Systems teams to inform product strategy and user experience development.

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research to uncover user needs, behaviors, and pain points, influencing product roadmaps for current and future experiences.

• Champion user-centric design principles and inclusive practices, ensuring consumer needs are represented throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Enhance research operations by developing frameworks, improving recruitment processes, and managing a central research repository.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically focused on the "Consumer" side of Rightmove's business, meaning the primary users are home buyers and renters, distinct from property partners (agents, developers). The hybrid model with a minimum of 2 days in the London office suggests a need for strong in-person collaboration and engagement with the local team.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and execute end-to-end user research projects, from defining research questions to delivering actionable insights that shape product direction for the consumer domain.

• Design and conduct a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including user interviews, surveys, usability testing, diary studies, and card sorting.

• Partner with Product Designers, Product Managers, and Data Analysts to identify research opportunities and translate business objectives into user-centric research plans.

• Develop and maintain user research frameworks, including shared personas, testing templates, recruitment guides, and UX metrics, to empower product designers.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of the internal research repository, ensuring research findings are accessible, organized, and leveraged across teams.

• Actively participate in product discovery phases, providing timely research insights to inform design decisions and validate concepts.

• Mentor and guide product designers and other team members on research best practices, methodologies, and user advocacy.

• Collaborate with other insight-producing teams (Market Research, Data & Analytics, Customer Experience) to triangulate data and drive holistic, strategic decision-making.

• Socialize and champion research findings through clear, compelling artifacts (reports, presentations, workshops) tailored to diverse audiences, including leadership teams.

• Support ethnographic studies with property partners occasionally, working alongside account managers to gain a broader understanding of the ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic research leadership and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "future proofing" and "future of Consumer experiences" indicates a need for forward-thinking research that anticipates market shifts and evolving user needs, not just addressing immediate product iterations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design Research, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience in user research. Experience:

• 5-10 years of professional experience in user research, with a strong focus on consumer-facing products and digital platforms.

• Proven track record of leading complex research projects from conception to completion, influencing product strategy and design outcomes.

• Experience working in agile environments and collaborating closely with product, design, and engineering teams. Required Skills:

• Qualitative Research Expertise: Mastery of various qualitative methods (e.g., in-depth interviews, contextual inquiry, usability testing, focus groups) and the ability to design and conduct them effectively.

• Quantitative Research Proficiency: Experience with quantitative research methods (e.g., surveys, A/B testing, data analysis) and the ability to interpret statistical data.

• User Experience (UX) Principles: Deep understanding of UX principles, user-centered design methodologies, and the product development lifecycle.

• Product Strategy Contribution: Ability to translate user insights into strategic recommendations that inform product roadmaps and business objectives.

• Data Synthesis & Analysis: Exceptional analytical skills to synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable insights.

• Communication & Storytelling: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present research findings persuasively to diverse audiences, using visual aids and storytelling techniques.

• Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to build strong relationships, influence stakeholders, and gain buy-in for research-driven recommendations.

• Research Framework Development: Experience in creating and implementing scalable research frameworks, including personas, journey maps, and usability testing protocols.

• Inclusive Design & Accessibility: Championing and integrating principles of inclusive design and accessibility into research practices and recommendations.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with ethnographic research methodologies, particularly in understanding user behavior in real-world contexts.

• Familiarity with design systems and their role in product consistency and development.

• Experience mentoring junior researchers or product designers in research techniques.

• Knowledge of the property or real estate market in the UK.

• Experience with user recruitment strategies for diverse user segments.

• Familiarity with advanced analytics tools for data interpretation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5-10 years" experience level suggests a role that requires both independent execution and the ability to mentor others, as well as contribute to the strategic direction of research operations. The emphasis on "storytelling" and "adapting messaging" points to the importance of effectively communicating complex insights to non-researchers.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 impactful research projects that demonstrate your end-to-end research process, from problem definition and methodology selection to insights generation and impact on product decisions.

• Methodology Diversity: Include examples of both qualitative and quantitative research projects, highlighting your ability to choose the right method for the problem.

• Impact & Outcomes: Clearly articulate the business or user impact of your research, using metrics where possible (e.g., improvements in conversion rates, task completion, user satisfaction, feature adoption).

• Strategic Contribution: Demonstrate how your research influenced product strategy, identified new opportunities, or solved complex user problems.

• Deliverables: Showcase a variety of research outputs, such as detailed reports, personas, journey maps, usability test findings, and workshop summaries.

Process Documentation:

• Research Planning: Provide examples of research plans that outline objectives, target participants, methodologies, timelines, and key questions.

• Recruitment Strategy: Detail your approach to recruiting diverse and representative participants for research studies.

• Synthesis & Analysis: Illustrate how you synthesize research data to identify themes, patterns, and actionable insights.

• Insight Communication: Show how you communicate findings through compelling presentations, reports, or other artifacts designed for different stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a User Researcher role, the portfolio is critical. It should not just list projects but tell the story of how research led to tangible improvements for users and the business. Emphasis should be placed on demonstrating strategic thinking and the ability to drive change through insights.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for User Researchers with 5-10 years of experience in London, UK, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between £60,000 - £90,000 per annum. This range can vary based on specific experience, skills, and negotiation. Benefits:

• Health & Wellness:

  • Cash plan for dental, optical, and physiotherapy treatments.
  • Private Medical Insurance.
  • Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) for confidential support.

• Financial Security:

  • Contributory stakeholder pension scheme.
  • Life assurance at 4x basic salary.
  • Competitive compensation package.

• Work-Life Balance:

  • 27 days of annual leave.
  • Two paid volunteering days per year.
  • Holiday buy schemes.
  • Paid leave for maternity, paternity, adoption, and fertility treatments.

• Lifestyle & Convenience:

  • Travel loans.
  • Bike to Work scheme.
  • Rental deposit loan.
  • Access to employee discounts on travel, electronics, fashion, gym memberships, cinema tickets, and more.

• Community & Development:

  • Charitable contributions through Payroll Giving and donation matching. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are likely around 40 hours per week. The role offers hybrid working, requiring a minimum of 2 days in the London office, providing flexibility for remote work on other days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research for similar mid-to-senior level UX Research roles in London, considering the company's standing as a major UK digital platform. The extensive benefits package indicates a strong focus on employee well-being and long-term engagement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Online Property Portals / Real Estate Technology (PropTech). Rightmove is a leading digital platform in the UK property market, connecting buyers, sellers, renters, and property professionals.

Company Size: Large (Likely 1000+ employees, indicated by "employee #1 still working here" and extensive benefits). This size suggests established processes but also opportunities for impact within specialized teams.

Founded: Rightmove was founded in 2000. This history indicates a mature company that has evolved significantly with the digital landscape, offering stability and a wealth of data.

Team Structure:

• Experience Design (XD) Team: This role sits within the XD team, which is a cross-functional group comprising Product Design, User Research, Content Design, and Design Systems.

• Reporting: The User Researcher reports to the Lead Product Designer – Consumers.

• Collaboration: Close collaboration is expected with Product Managers, Product Designers, Data Analysts, Market Researchers, Customer Experience teams, and Sales teams. The role also involves occasional collaboration with the User Researcher (Partners) to gain broader market insights.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Approach: The company's vision ("give everyone the belief they can make their move") and emphasis on understanding user needs highlight a strong commitment to user-centered design and research.

• Data-Driven Decisions: The mention of triangulating research insights with "Data & Analytics" teams indicates a data-informed approach to product development and strategy.

• Agile Development: The role's integration into product teams suggests working within agile methodologies, involving iterative research and development cycles.

• Continuous Improvement: The focus on "continuous improvement for the experiences" and "future proofing" points to a culture that values ongoing learning and adaptation.

Company Website: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: Rightmove's established position in the market means the company likely has robust processes and a significant user base, offering rich opportunities for research. The company culture emphasizes collaboration and a strong sense of purpose, grounded in helping people navigate major life events.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a mid-to-senior level User Researcher role. It requires a strong command of research methodologies, the ability to lead projects independently, and a strategic mindset to influence product direction. It's not an entry-level position and demands significant experience in delivering impactful research.

Reporting Structure: Reporting to the Lead Product Designer – Consumers, this position offers a direct line to design leadership within a specific product domain. This structure allows for focused research support and opportunities to influence the consumer product strategy directly.

Operations Impact: The User Researcher's impact is crucial in shaping the consumer experience on Rightmove. By understanding user needs, pain points, and behaviors, this role directly influences product features, usability, and overall user satisfaction. This, in turn, drives engagement, retention, and ultimately contributes to Rightmove's market leadership and revenue. The insights generated can inform strategic decisions about new product development and market positioning.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in consumer research within the property tech sector, becoming a go-to expert for home hunters.

• Leadership: Progress to a Senior User Researcher or Lead User Researcher role, potentially managing a team of researchers or overseeing larger research programs.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Expand influence across different product areas or collaborate more deeply with senior leadership on strategic initiatives.

• Methodological Advancement: Lead the development and adoption of new research methodologies or tools within the XD team.

• Industry Recognition: Represent Rightmove at industry conferences, contributing to the broader UX research community.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth within a specialized domain (consumer property research) or into broader leadership positions within UX research. The emphasis on influencing product strategy suggests opportunities to move beyond execution to strategic planning.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role operates within a hybrid model, with a minimum of 2 days per week in the Rightmove office located in Soho, London. This suggests a modern, collaborative office environment designed to foster in-person teamwork, brainstorming, and team building. The remaining 3 days are remote, offering flexibility.

Office Location(s):

• Primary Office: Soho, London, UK. This is a central and well-connected urban location, likely offering excellent amenities and transport links.

• Occasional Travel: Travel to the Milton Keynes office is also mentioned, suggesting potential collaboration or knowledge sharing with teams based there.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely includes meeting rooms, breakout areas, and open-plan spaces conducive to team collaboration, workshops, and research presentations.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard office technology, high-speed internet, and potentially specialized UX research software and hardware.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model necessitates intentional efforts for team interaction, likely involving regular team meetings (virtual and in-person), design critiques, and knowledge-sharing sessions. The 2-day office requirement is key for fostering these connections.

Work Schedule:

• A standard full-time schedule (likely 40 hours/week) is expected, with the flexibility afforded by the hybrid working model. The core hours will likely align with UK business hours, allowing for collaboration with colleagues across different time zones if necessary, though primary focus is UK.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with specific office days implies a need for strong time management and proactive engagement with colleagues both in-person and remotely. The London office location is a significant factor for candidates considering commuting and city-based work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review your CV and portfolio to assess your experience and fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the Lead Product Designer – Consumers to delve deeper into your research experience, strategic thinking, and approach to specific research challenges.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you present 1-2 key research case studies from your portfolio. This is a critical stage to demonstrate your process, insights, and impact. Expect to discuss your methodology, challenges, and the outcomes of your work.

• Team/Peer Interviews: Interviews with other members of the Experience Design team (e.g., Product Designers, other Researchers, Content Designers) to assess your collaborative style, communication skills, and how you would integrate into the team.

• Stakeholder Interview (Potentially): An interview with a Product Manager or other key stakeholder to gauge your ability to translate research into business value and manage stakeholder expectations.

• Final Interview (Potentially): A final discussion with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product, Head of UX) to confirm overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase a range of skills and impact.

• Tell a Story: Structure each case study as a narrative: the problem, your approach, the key insights, the recommendations, and the impact.

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly define your specific contributions to each project, especially if it was a team effort.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals where appropriate (e.g., research artifacts, key findings summaries, screenshots of prototypes influenced by your research).

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics or concrete examples to demonstrate the positive outcomes of your research.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that align with consumer research, digital products, and the type of challenges Rightmove faces.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your methodology choices, how you handled conflicting feedback, and how you influenced decisions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Methodology Discussion: Be ready to discuss why you chose specific research methods for different scenarios.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Prepare for hypothetical research problems. For example, "How would you research X feature?" or "What are the key user needs for Y?"

• Insight Generation: Practice articulating how you move from raw data to actionable insights.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you work with designers, PMs, and other stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is a crucial part of the interview process for this role. Candidates should prepare to articulate their research process and its impact clearly and concisely, demonstrating strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• Collaboration & Whiteboarding: Digital whiteboarding tools for synthesis and ideation (e.g., Miro, Mural).

• Prototyping & Design Tools (for understanding): Familiarity with tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD, as you'll be working closely with designers using these.

• Data Analysis Software: Tools for analyzing quantitative data (e.g., SPSS, R, Python libraries) and qualitative data (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo).

• Presentation Software: PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote for delivering findings.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Understanding and utilizing data from tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics to complement qualitative insights.

• BI Tools (for understanding context): Familiarity with tools like Tableau or Power BI, as you'll likely interact with dashboards and reports produced by the Data & Analytics team.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary tool for a User Researcher, understanding how user data is managed within CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) or marketing automation platforms can provide context.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the User Researcher isn't typically the primary administrator of these tools, proficiency and understanding are key for effective collaboration and data utilization. The company likely invests in robust tools to support its large user base and complex product offerings.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values: Rightmove's core values ("Rightmove Hows") are central to their culture:

• We create value…: Delivering results and building trust with partners and consumers. This translates to research that provides actionable insights leading to tangible improvements.

• We think bigger…: Acting with curiosity and setting bold aspirations. This encourages proactive, forward-thinking research that explores new opportunities and challenges the status quo.

• We care deeply…: Being real, having fun, and valuing diversity. This fosters an inclusive and supportive research environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed and celebrated.

• We move together…: Being one team – internally collaborative, externally competitive. This emphasizes strong cross-functional collaboration, sharing insights, and working towards shared goals.

• We make a difference…: Focusing on delivering measurable impact. Research should aim to drive demonstrable positive change for users and the business.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The XD team structure and emphasis on collaboration with other insight-producing departments highlight a highly integrated approach. Researchers are expected to work seamlessly with designers, product managers, and data teams.

• Open Communication: The "care deeply" value suggests an open and honest communication style, encouraging feedback and constructive dialogue.

• Knowledge Sharing: The development of a research repository and mentorship responsibilities indicate a culture that values sharing knowledge and best practices to elevate the entire team's capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should demonstrate how their personal values and working style align with Rightmove's "Hows." Emphasizing collaboration, curiosity, and a results-oriented mindset will be key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Strategic vs. Tactical Research: Effectively managing ongoing, tactical research for immediate product needs while also dedicating time and resources to longer-term, strategic research that shapes future product direction.

• Integrating Diverse Insights: Synthesizing findings from various sources (qualitative research, quantitative data, market trends, internal stakeholder input) into a cohesive understanding of the user.

• Influencing Product Roadmaps: Ensuring that research insights are effectively communicated and acted upon by product teams and leadership, especially when they challenge existing assumptions or priorities.

• Recruiting Diverse Participants: Continuously improving user recruitment processes to ensure a representative sample of the diverse home-hunting population.

• Scaling Research Operations: Developing and refining scalable research frameworks and processes that can support a growing product team and evolving research needs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Opportunities to attend industry conferences (e.g., UXPA, CHI, local UX meetups) or pursue specialized courses in advanced research methodologies.

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior design leaders or to mentor junior team members, fostering leadership skills.

• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Working closely with product, design, content, and data teams provides broad exposure to different facets of product development.

• Impactful Projects: Contributing to a product used by millions of people offers the satisfaction of making a significant, tangible difference.

• Industry Trends: Staying at the forefront of UX research trends and technologies within the dynamic property tech landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they approach these challenges and leverage the growth opportunities. Highlighting a proactive, problem-solving attitude will be advantageous.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a research project that significantly influenced product strategy. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic impact, methodology, and results.)

• "How do you balance the needs of the business with the needs of the user when conducting research?" (Demonstrate user advocacy and strategic alignment.)

• "Imagine we are considering developing a new feature for first-time buyers. How would you approach researching their needs and validating potential solutions?" (Showcase your research planning and methodology selection.)

• "How do you ensure your research findings are understood and acted upon by product teams and stakeholders?" (Highlight communication, persuasion, and collaboration skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your research, what do you see as the biggest opportunities or challenges for Rightmove's consumer experience in the next 3-5 years?" (Demonstrate proactive thinking and understanding of the business.)

• "How do you embody our company values, particularly 'We think bigger' and 'We make a difference,' in your research work?" (Connect your experience to Rightmove's core principles.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or remote team environment. How do you ensure effective collaboration and communication?" (Address the work arrangement requirements.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, follow a clear narrative:

  1. The Challenge/Problem: What was the user or business problem you were trying to solve?
  2. Your Role & Objectives: What was your specific contribution and the research goals?
  3. Methodology: Why did you choose this particular research method(s)?
  4. Process & Execution: How did you conduct the research? (e.g., recruitment, moderation, data collection.)
  5. Key Insights: What were the most critical findings?
  6. Recommendations & Impact: What did you recommend, and what was the actual outcome or influence on the product?

• Visuals: Use slides to illustrate your process, key artifacts (e.g., quotes, personas, journey maps), and the impact.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Focus on the most critical aspects of each project.

• Storytelling: Engage your audience by telling a compelling story about how your research made a difference.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just research execution but also strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to drive tangible impact through user insights. The portfolio presentation is your primary opportunity to showcase this.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this User Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your CV and portfolio to highlight your experience in consumer research, qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and your impact on product development. Ensure your portfolio clearly showcases 2-3 impactful case studies.

• Resume Optimization: Emphasize keywords related to user research, UX, product development, data synthesis, stakeholder management, and the specific methodologies mentioned in the job description. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your research process, insights, and impact for your portfolio presentation. Prepare for behavioral questions by using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and referencing Rightmove's company values.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Rightmove's website, products, and recent news. Understand their vision, target audience (consumers and partners), and competitive landscape to inform your interview responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

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