User Researcher (Defence)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: User Researcher (Defence)

Company: Kainos

Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Service Design

Date Posted: August 13, 2026

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and execute comprehensive user research strategies within the UK Defence sector to inform the development of user-centric digital services.

• Apply expert knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to uncover actionable insights and drive evidence-based design decisions.

• Foster a culture of user-centered design by coaching and mentoring team members, promoting design thinking, and advocating for service design principles.

• Collaborate closely with client teams and stakeholders to develop robust research plans, deliver impactful findings, and ensure alignment with business objectives.

• Contribute to Kainos' growing Experience Design capability, driving innovation and delivering high-quality, impactful digital solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically focused on User Research within the Defence industry and requires active SC clearance, indicating a need for discretion and security consciousness. The emphasis on coaching and team leadership suggests a senior-level position with significant responsibility beyond individual research execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and conduct a wide range of user research activities, selecting appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods to address specific project needs and business objectives.

• Translate complex user needs and behaviours into clear, actionable insights and recommendations for service experience improvements, interaction design, and information architecture.

• Facilitate and lead design thinking and service design workshops with cross-functional teams and client stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.

• Act as a vocal advocate for user research and user-centred design principles across the organisation and with client teams, influencing strategic decision-making.

• Manage, coach, and develop a team of senior researchers, focusing on performance management, career development, and fostering a collaborative and high-performing research community.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and internal stakeholders, effectively communicating research plans, findings, and recommendations at all levels.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of research practices and methodologies within Kainos, sharing knowledge and best practices across the Experience Design capability.

• Apply a strong commercial awareness to ensure research efforts align with business goals and deliver measurable value and ROI.

• Work closely with interaction designers, visual designers, and information architects to ensure a cohesive and user-friendly end-product.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on research, strategic leadership, and people management, typical of a senior User Researcher or Research Lead role. The emphasis on "managing employee performance and assisting in their career development" strongly indicates a line management component.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While specific educational requirements are not detailed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for this level of role. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in user research, with a significant portion focused on complex projects and leadership responsibilities.

Required Skills:

• UK Defence Industry Experience: Proven track record of conducting user research within the UK Defence sector, understanding its unique constraints, user groups, and procurement processes.

• Active SC Clearance: Must possess and maintain current Security Check (SC) clearance.

• Expert Qualitative & Quantitative Research Methods: Deep proficiency in a broad spectrum of research techniques, including but not limited to: user interviews, usability testing (moderated and unmoderated), surveys, card sorting, tree testing, diary studies, ethnographic research, and heuristic evaluations.

• Information Architecture, Interaction Design, and Visual Design Principles: A solid understanding of how research findings inform these critical design disciplines.

• Workshop Facilitation: Proven ability to design and lead effective workshops for ideation, requirements gathering, journey mapping, and other collaborative design activities.

• Team Leadership & Coaching: Demonstrated experience in managing, coaching, and developing senior team members, including performance management and career development support.

• Stakeholder Management: Excellent ability to build rapport, communicate complex ideas clearly, and manage expectations with stakeholders at all levels, from end-users to senior leadership.

• Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present research findings compellingly and persuasively to diverse audiences.

• Commercial Awareness: Strong understanding of how research contributes to business objectives, project success, and client value.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working in a full-service digital agency or consultancy environment.

• Demonstrable knowledge and application of user-centred design (UCD) practices throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Experience working with Agile delivery methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) and integrating research into agile sprints.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards and inclusive design principles.

• Experience with specific user research tools for recruitment, analysis, or remote testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for SC clearance and Defence industry experience is highly specific and critical. The "5-10 years" experience level is inferred from the "experienced User Researcher (Consultant)" title and the responsibilities involving team management and strategic leadership.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies Demonstrating Impact: A curated portfolio showcasing 3-5 significant user research projects, with a strong emphasis on the impact of your research on service design, user experience, and business outcomes.

• Methodology Showcase: Clearly articulate the research methodologies employed in each case study, justifying the choice of methods based on project goals, user groups, and constraints.

• Insight & Recommendation Clarity: Demonstrate the ability to extract meaningful, actionable insights from raw data and translate them into concrete, prioritized recommendations for design and development teams.

• Process & Collaboration Documentation: Include examples of research plans, participant recruitment strategies, and how you collaborated with designers, developers, product managers, and clients.

• Leadership & Coaching Examples: If possible, include examples or descriptions of how you have mentored or coached junior researchers or facilitated design thinking sessions for teams.

Process Documentation:

• Research Planning & Strategy: Provide examples of how you develop comprehensive research plans that align with project objectives, timelines, and client requirements, including risk assessment and mitigation.

• Data Analysis & Synthesis: Showcase your approach to analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, including thematic analysis, statistical interpretation (where applicable), and synthesizing findings into coherent narratives.

• Deliverable Creation & Presentation: Demonstrate proficiency in creating various research deliverables (e.g., reports, personas, journey maps, user flows, presentations) and presenting them effectively to diverse audiences.

• Integration with Agile Workflows: Illustrate how you have successfully integrated user research activities into Agile development cycles, providing timely and relevant feedback to development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior UX Research role, especially in consulting, a robust portfolio is paramount. The emphasis here is on demonstrating not just research execution but also strategic thinking, leadership, and the tangible impact of research on product and service outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the experience level (5-10 years), the Senior User Researcher role, and the location (Birmingham, UK), a competitive salary range for this position is estimated to be between £50,000 and £70,000 per annum. This estimate considers the specialist nature of the Defence industry, the requirement for SC clearance, and Kainos' position as a reputable technology consultancy.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health & Wellbeing: Generous pension scheme, private medical insurance, life assurance, and access to wellbeing programs.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, training, and professional certifications, including support for attending industry conferences.

• Career Progression: Clear pathways for career advancement within Kainos' Experience Design capability and across other business areas.

• Work-Life Balance: Competitive annual leave allowance, with potential for flexible working arrangements where project demands allow.

• Employee Assistance Program: Access to confidential support services for personal and professional challenges.

• Performance-Related Bonuses: Potential for bonuses based on individual and company performance.

• Travel & Expenses: Reimbursement for business travel and accommodation as required by client projects.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week, aligned with the full-time employment type. While on-site presence is required, Kainos often supports flexible working arrangements where feasible and project-critical.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges for specialist roles like this, especially with SC clearance in the UK, can vary significantly. This estimate is based on general UK market data for senior UX Researchers in consulting environments. Kainos is known for offering a strong benefits package to attract and retain talent.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Software Development, Digital Transformation, Consulting (specializing in Workday, Digital Services, and Health & Social Care). Kainos operates across various sectors, with a significant focus on government and public sector clients, including Defence.

Company Size: Kainos is a large enterprise, with over 1,000 employees globally. This size offers stability and resources while maintaining opportunities for individual impact.

Founded: Kainos was founded in 1986, bringing decades of experience and a strong reputation in the technology sector.

Team Structure:

• Experience Design Capability: The User Researcher will be part of a dedicated Experience Design team, likely comprising other UX Researchers, UX/UI Designers, Service Designers, and Content Designers.

• Project-Based Teams: Researchers will be embedded within multi-disciplinary project teams, working alongside developers, testers, project managers, business analysts, and client-side personnel.

• Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Head of UX Research, Experience Design Lead, or a Senior Manager within the Digital Services division. Direct line management responsibilities for a small team of researchers are also a key part of the role.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role demands extensive collaboration with client teams, business stakeholders, and internal Kainos teams to ensure user needs are understood and integrated into project delivery.

Methodology:

• User-Centred Design (UCD): Kainos champions UCD principles, ensuring that user needs and behaviours are at the forefront of all digital service development.

• Agile Delivery: Many projects will follow Agile methodologies, requiring researchers to adapt their practices to provide continuous value within iterative development cycles.

• Service Design: A strong emphasis on creating holistic service experiences, considering all touchpoints and user journeys.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Leveraging both qualitative and quantitative research to inform design and business decisions, with a focus on measurable impact.

Company Website: https://careers.kainos.com/gb/en

📝 Enhancement Note: Kainos' focus on public sector and Defence clients means that the company culture likely values professionalism, security, and delivering tangible public good. The "people-first culture" mentioned in the description suggests a supportive environment for employee growth and well-being.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior User Researcher / Consultant. It requires significant independent research execution, strategic input into research design, leadership of research activities on complex projects, and the management and development of other researchers. The "Consultant" aspect implies client-facing responsibilities and a need for strong business acumen.

Reporting Structure: The individual will likely report to a senior leader within the Experience Design practice and will directly manage a small team of junior or mid-level user researchers. They will also work closely with Project Managers and client leads.

Operations Impact: The User Researcher's impact is critical to ensuring that digital services delivered to the Defence sector are effective, efficient, and meet the complex needs of their users. By grounding design decisions in robust user insights, this role directly influences the success and usability of vital systems, contributing to operational effectiveness and user satisfaction. The focus on "measurable impact" underscores the importance of demonstrating ROI through research.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into a Lead User Researcher, Head of UX Research, or Experience Design Manager role, with broader team and strategic responsibility.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific research methodologies, user groups (e.g., military personnel, defence personnel), or domains within the Defence sector.

• Consulting Skills Development: Enhance client management, business development, and strategic consulting skills through client-facing engagements.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Opportunities to learn from and collaborate with experts in service design, interaction design, content design, and agile delivery.

• Mentorship Roles: Formal or informal opportunities to mentor junior researchers and contribute to the development of Kainos' research community.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Consultant" title suggests that career growth might also involve developing business development skills and contributing to the commercial side of Kainos' operations within the Defence sector.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, indicating a requirement for regular presence at the Kainos Birmingham office. The office environment is expected to be modern and professional, designed to support collaborative work.

Office Location(s): Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom. This location provides good connectivity and access for local talent.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office will likely feature dedicated collaborative zones, meeting rooms, and informal spaces designed to foster teamwork and knowledge sharing among researchers and project teams.

• Technology & Tools: Access to standard office technology, high-speed internet, and potentially specialized UX research software and hardware. The company's commitment to digital services implies a well-equipped technological environment.

• Team Interaction: Daily interaction with fellow UX researchers, designers, and project team members. Opportunities for informal discussions, knowledge sharing sessions, and team-building activities.

• Client Site Visits: Depending on project requirements, there may be occasional travel to client sites within the UK.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are 40 hours per week. While on-site, Kainos aims to provide a supportive work environment that balances project demands with employee well-being. Flexibility may be available, subject to project needs and client requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: As an on-site role in a consulting environment, the workspace is designed to facilitate both focused individual work and intensive team collaboration, often in close proximity to clients or project stakeholders.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: The interview process will likely involve multiple stages designed to assess technical expertise, problem-solving skills, leadership potential, and cultural fit.

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your CV and portfolio to assess your qualifications against the role requirements, particularly Defence experience and SC clearance.

• Technical Interview (or Portfolio Review Session): This stage will focus on your user research expertise. Expect to walk through selected case studies from your portfolio, discussing your approach, methodologies, insights, and impact. Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your research process and how you handle challenging situations.

• Leadership & Coaching Interview: This session will assess your experience in managing, coaching, and developing teams. You may be asked to provide examples of how you've handled performance issues, supported career growth, and fostered a collaborative team environment.

• Stakeholder Management & Commercial Acumen Interview: This stage will evaluate your ability to work with clients and stakeholders, communicate effectively, and understand the commercial context of projects. You might be presented with hypothetical scenarios.

• Final Interview: A discussion with a senior leader to confirm fit with Kainos' culture and strategic direction.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your expertise in Defence research, your leadership capabilities, and your ability to drive impact.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the methodology used (and why), your key findings, the recommendations, and the tangible outcomes or impact. Use visuals where appropriate.

• Highlight Leadership: For any team management or coaching examples, clearly explain your approach and the results.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, data analysis, and how you handled specific challenges or constraints.

• Tailor to Kainos: Understand Kainos' focus on Defence and digital services, and frame your experience accordingly.

Challenge Preparation:

• Hypothetical Research Scenario: You might be given a brief scenario related to Defence digital services and asked to outline a research plan, including methods, target users, and key questions.

• Problem-Solving Exercise: Be ready to discuss how you would approach a complex user research problem, demonstrating your analytical and critical thinking skills.

• Presentation Practice: Rehearse presenting your portfolio case studies concisely and engagingly, ensuring you can articulate your impact effectively within a limited timeframe.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on SC clearance and Defence industry experience means that candidates will be thoroughly vetted. The interview process will likely be rigorous, focusing on practical application of skills and proven experience in this specialized sector.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Proficiency with tools for remote usability testing, survey creation, and participant recruitment (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, Lookback).

• Collaboration Tools: Experience with collaborative whiteboarding and diagramming tools (e.g., Miro, Mural) for workshops and insight synthesis.

• Prototyping & Design Tools: Familiarity with design and prototyping software (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) to understand and collaborate with designers.

• Project Management Software: Experience with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing research tasks within Agile workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Software: Ability to analyze quantitative data using tools such as Excel, SPSS, or R (depending on the complexity of data).

• Qualitative Analysis Tools: Experience with tools that aid in coding and thematic analysis of qualitative data (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo, or manual methods).

• Reporting & Presentation Software: Proficiency in tools like Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote for creating and delivering impactful research reports and presentations.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, an understanding of how user research integrates with customer data and product roadmaps is beneficial. Familiarity with CRM concepts and how research insights can feed into customer segmentation or journey mapping is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior role in consulting, a broad toolkit is expected. The focus is on the ability to select and effectively use the right tools for the job, rather than deep expertise in a single platform, though experience with common UX research tools is essential.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value at Kainos, ensuring that user needs are paramount in all design and development efforts. This means advocating for users and championing their needs throughout the project lifecycle.

• Collaboration: Kainos emphasizes working together, both internally and with clients, to achieve shared goals. This involves open communication, mutual respect, and a willingness to share knowledge and expertise.

• Impact & Delivery: A strong focus on delivering tangible, measurable results that benefit users and clients. This drives a pragmatic and results-oriented approach to research and design.

• Innovation: Encouraging creative problem-solving and exploring new approaches to deliver effective digital services, particularly within the evolving Defence landscape.

• Integrity & Professionalism: Upholding high standards of professional conduct, especially critical given the Defence sector context and the requirement for SC clearance.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Researchers are expected to work seamlessly with designers, developers, product owners, and client representatives, acting as a bridge between user needs and technical delivery.

• Open Feedback Culture: A supportive environment where constructive feedback is welcomed and used for continuous improvement of processes and outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, lessons learned, and insights across teams and projects to elevate the collective expertise within Kainos.

• Client Partnership: Building strong, trusted relationships with clients, acting as a partner in their digital transformation journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values align with a professional consulting firm that prioritizes client success, employee development, and delivering high-quality, impactful solutions, particularly within sensitive sectors like Defence.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Defence Sector Complexities: Understanding and adapting research methodologies to the unique constraints, security protocols, and user groups within the UK Defence industry.

• Balancing Research Rigor with Agile Timelines: Effectively integrating deep user research into fast-paced Agile development cycles without compromising the quality of insights.

• Managing Stakeholder Expectations: Communicating the value of user research and managing expectations of diverse stakeholders, some of whom may be less familiar with user-centred design principles.

• Coaching and Developing Senior Staff: Providing effective leadership and mentorship to experienced researchers, fostering their growth while ensuring team performance and alignment with project goals.

• Maintaining SC Clearance: Adhering to strict security protocols and requirements to maintain active SC clearance throughout employment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Research Techniques: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized research areas, such as complex systems, high-risk environments, or specific user groups within Defence.

• Leadership Training: Development programs focused on people management, strategic leadership, and consultancy skills.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend Defence or UX industry conferences, contribute to thought leadership, and build a professional network.

• Cross-Domain Exposure: Gaining experience in different digital service areas within the Defence sector or exploring opportunities in other Kainos business units.

• Mentorship Programs: Access to senior mentors within Kainos to guide career development and strategic thinking.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are specific to the role's context, highlighting the need for adaptability, strong communication, and a commitment to continuous professional development in a specialized field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to adapt your research methodology due to project constraints (time, budget, security). How did you ensure valid insights?" (Focus: Adaptability, methodological rigor)

• "How would you approach user research for a new digital system for [specific Defence user group]? What are the key challenges and considerations?" (Focus: Defence context, strategic planning)

• "Imagine a stakeholder is resistant to your research findings. How would you handle this situation to gain buy-in and influence decision-making?" (Focus: Stakeholder management, communication, influence) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for Kainos, specifically within the Defence sector?" (Focus: Motivation, cultural fit)

• "How have you coached or mentored junior researchers in the past? Describe a situation where you helped someone develop their skills." (Focus: Leadership, people development)

• "How do you ensure your research contributes to measurable business impact and ROI?" (Focus: Commercial awareness, results orientation) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, use a STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or similar framework. Clearly define the problem, your role, the actions you took (research methods), and the results/impact.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your research (e.g., "% improvement in task success," "reduction in support calls," "increase in user satisfaction scores").

• Showcase Leadership: If you managed a team or mentored others, dedicate a section or highlight specific examples of your leadership approach and its outcomes.

• Be Prepared for "Why": Be ready to explain why you chose specific methods, why certain insights were critical, and why your recommendations were made.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Practice presenting your portfolio within the allotted time, focusing on the most impactful aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions will heavily weigh your experience in Defence, your leadership and coaching abilities, and your capacity to translate research into actionable, commercially viable insights.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this User Researcher (Defence) position:

• Submit your application through the Kainos careers portal via the provided link.

• Tailor Your CV: Ensure your CV prominently highlights your UK Defence industry experience, your SC clearance status, and your expertise in qualitative and quantitative user research methodologies. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful user research projects, prioritizing those with relevance to complex or sensitive environments, and clearly detailing your methodology, insights, recommendations, and demonstrable impact.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on your role, the unique challenges of Defence research, your leadership in coaching and stakeholder management, and the measurable outcomes of your work.

• Research Kainos: Understand Kainos' mission, its work in the Defence sector, and its commitment to user-centred design. Be prepared to articulate why you are a good fit for their culture and this specific role.

⚠️ 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.