User Researcher (Public)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: User Researcher (Public)

Company: Kainos

Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom; Belfast, United Kingdom; Homeworker - UK

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Product Research

Date Posted: 2026-07-31

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

Remote Status: Hybrid/On-site (with remote options available)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on delivering actionable insights to define and improve digital service experiences, ensuring they are centered around user needs.

• The User Researcher will be a key advocate for user-centered design, design thinking, and service design principles within the Experience Design capability.

• Responsibilities include designing and executing research plans, conducting qualitative and quantitative studies, and translating findings into strategic recommendations.

• Collaboration with wider project teams, including Agile delivery teams, is crucial to establish and demonstrate the value of user research in creating impactful digital products and services.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the original listing is for a "User Researcher," given the context of "Experience Design capability creating exemplary digital services" and "Workday solutions," this role aligns closely with Revenue Operations and GTM functions by directly impacting the usability and effectiveness of digital platforms that drive business outcomes. The focus on user needs, service design, and measurable impact on millions of people suggests a direct link to customer experience and adoption, which are critical for GTM success.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• User Research Strategy & Planning: Design and document comprehensive research plans that clearly define research objectives, scope, methodologies, and success metrics, ensuring alignment with broader project and business strategies.

• Methodology Execution: Conduct a variety of qualitative research methods (e.g., interviews, usability testing, contextual inquiry) and quantitative research methods (e.g., surveys, analytics review) to gather deep user insights and validate design decisions.

• Insight Generation & Communication: Analyze research data, synthesize findings into clear, actionable insights, and present compelling reports and recommendations to project teams, stakeholders, and clients to inform product development and service design.

• User Advocacy: Champion user needs and advocate for user-centered design principles throughout the product development lifecycle, ensuring that design decisions are data-driven and focused on delivering positive, measurable user experiences.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Experience Designers, Product Managers, Developers, and other project team members, particularly within Agile delivery frameworks, to integrate user research seamlessly into the development process and demonstrate its value.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities have been expanded to reflect typical User Researcher duties within a digital services context, emphasizing strategic planning, diverse methodology application, insight synthesis, user advocacy, and cross-functional collaboration, all critical for driving effective product development and service improvement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 2-5 years of experience in User Research, UX Research, or a similar role, with a proven track record of delivering impactful research findings in a professional setting.

Required Skills:

• Research Methodology Expertise: Excellent knowledge of qualitative research methods (e.g., interviews, focus groups, ethnography, usability testing) and sound knowledge of quantitative research methods (e.g., surveys, A/B testing, analytics).

• Research Planning & Design: Ability to design and write detailed research plans, understanding the difference between business requirements and user needs to select appropriate research methods.

• Interviewing Skills: Proficiency in conducting user interviews with empathy, active listening, and the ability to elicit rich, nuanced information.

• Data Analysis & Synthesis: Strong analytical skills to interpret qualitative and quantitative data, identify patterns, and synthesize findings into meaningful insights.

• Reporting & Presentation: Ability to produce clear, concise reports and confidently present research findings and actionable recommendations to diverse audiences, including stakeholders and clients.

• Commercial Awareness: Sound understanding of commercial objectives and how user research can contribute to business success and ROI.

• Agile Familiarity: Experience working within Agile delivery methodologies, understanding how to integrate research sprints and feedback loops into iterative development cycles.

Preferred Skills:

• Demonstrable knowledge in user-centered design (UCD) practices and principles.

• Understanding of information architecture, interaction design, and visual design principles.

• Experience working in a full-service digital agency environment or with public sector digital services.

• Active participation in relevant professional communities (e.g., online forums, speaking at conferences).

📝 Enhancement Note: The skills and qualifications have been detailed to align with a mid-level User Researcher role, specifying the types of research methods, analytical capabilities, and communication skills expected. The "Desirable" skills have been incorporated and expanded to provide a clearer picture of an ideal candidate profile within a digital services context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Research Case Studies: Demonstrable examples of end-to-end user research projects, showcasing the problem, methodology, process, findings, and impact.

• Methodology Application: Evidence of applying a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods effectively to address specific research questions.

• Insight-to-Action: Clear articulation of how research insights translated into tangible design or product improvements, ideally with quantifiable results.

• Stakeholder Communication: Examples of reports, presentations, or other artifacts used to communicate research findings and recommendations to diverse audiences.

• Process Documentation: Ability to document research plans, methodologies, and findings clearly and systematically.

Process Documentation:

• Research Plan Templates: Ability to create and utilize standardized research plan templates that outline objectives, hypotheses, participant criteria, methodologies, and timelines.

• Usability Testing Protocols: Proficiency in developing detailed protocols for usability testing sessions, including task scenarios, scripts, and data collection methods.

• Data Analysis Frameworks: Experience with frameworks for analyzing qualitative data (e.g., thematic analysis, affinity mapping) and quantitative data (e.g., statistical analysis, survey analysis).

• Recommendation Reporting: Standardized formats for delivering research recommendations that are actionable, prioritized, and linked back to user needs and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Specific portfolio requirements have been outlined to guide candidates on what to prepare, focusing on demonstrating practical application of research skills, the ability to translate insights into action, and effective communication of findings. This is crucial for operations roles where demonstrating impact is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a User Researcher with 2-5 years of experience in the UK, particularly in locations like Birmingham and Belfast, the estimated salary range is typically £35,000 - £55,000 per annum. This can vary based on specific experience, project complexity, and the exact location within the UK.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: As indicated by the estimated range, reflecting experience and market value.

• Pension Scheme: Generous company pension contributions to support long-term financial security.

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

• Generous Annual Leave: Ample paid time off to ensure work-life balance.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, certifications, conference attendance, and learning new research methodologies and tools.

• Flexible Working: Options for hybrid working, with potential for remote work arrangements (as indicated by "Homeworker - UK").

• Share Incentive Plans: Potential for participation in company share schemes.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility often available depending on project needs and individual arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: A salary range has been estimated based on UK market data for a mid-level User Researcher role in the specified locations. Benefits have been detailed to align with typical offerings for a company like Kainos, emphasizing professional growth and work-life balance, which are attractive to operations professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Digital Services / Software Development (with a focus on public sector and Workday solutions).

Company Size: Large (over 1,000 employees). Kainos is a significant player in the UK tech scene, indicating a structured environment with ample opportunities for career development and cross-functional exposure.

Founded: 1989. With a long history, Kainos has established a strong reputation and a mature organizational structure.

Team Structure:

• Experience Design Capability: The User Researcher will be part of a dedicated team focused on user experience, likely comprising other UX designers, researchers, and service designers.

• Project-Based Teams: Work will be organized around specific projects, often in Agile delivery environments, requiring close collaboration with product owners, developers, testers, and business analysts.

• Reporting: Likely reports to a Head of Experience Design or a Senior UX Lead, with close functional reporting to Project Managers or Delivery Leads on specific engagements.

Methodology:

• User-Centred Design (UCD): A core philosophy that guides all design and development efforts, prioritizing user needs and feedback.

• Agile Delivery: Emphasis on iterative development, collaboration, and rapid feedback loops, where user research is integrated into sprints.

• Design Thinking: Application of a human-centered, iterative design process that includes empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing.

• Service Design: Focus on creating holistic, end-to-end service experiences that are seamless and effective for users.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Company context has been inferred from the provided data and typical industry knowledge for a company of Kainos's size and specialization. The emphasis on user-centered design, Agile, and service design provides a clear picture of the operational environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-level (Senior Associate), indicating a need for independent contribution and the ability to guide research processes. It's a step beyond junior roles, requiring practical experience and a solid understanding of research methodologies.

Reporting Structure: The User Researcher will likely report to a lead within the Experience Design team and work closely with project delivery teams. This provides exposure to both operational management and project-specific execution.

Operations Impact: By ensuring digital services are user-friendly and meet user needs, this role directly impacts customer adoption, satisfaction, and operational efficiency of government and enterprise services. This translates to reduced support costs, increased user engagement, and successful digital transformation initiatives, all critical for GTM success.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Develop deeper expertise in specific research methodologies (e.g., advanced quantitative analysis, generative research) or domains (e.g., public sector services, enterprise software).

• Leadership: Progress to Senior User Researcher, Lead UX Researcher, or Managerial roles within the Experience Design team, mentoring junior researchers and leading larger research initiatives.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Gain experience in adjacent areas such as service design, interaction design, or product management through project exposure and internal training.

• Industry Recognition: Opportunities to contribute to the UX community through presentations, publications, and active participation in professional networks.

📝 Enhancement Note: Career growth has been framed within the context of operations and GTM, highlighting how user research contributes to business objectives and the potential career trajectory within a large tech organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Kainos operates with a hybrid model, offering both office-based and remote work options. The offices are likely modern, collaborative spaces designed to support teamwork and innovation.

Office Location(s): The role is advertised for Birmingham and Belfast, with a "Homeworker - UK" option, indicating flexibility in where the candidate is based within the United Kingdom.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hubs: Offices are equipped with meeting rooms, breakout areas, and common spaces designed to facilitate team collaboration and knowledge sharing.

• Technology Access: Access to necessary research tools, software, and hardware for conducting studies, analyzing data, and presenting findings.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for in-person and virtual team meetings, workshops, and social events to foster a strong team culture and professional relationships.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours with an emphasis on flexibility, allowing for effective management of research activities, client engagements, and personal commitments. This supports the iterative nature of research within Agile workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment description is tailored to a hybrid model, emphasizing collaboration, access to resources, and flexibility, which are key considerations for operations professionals balancing project demands with personal well-being.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A conversation with the Talent Acquisition team to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Technical Interview: A deep dive into your user research experience, methodologies, and problem-solving skills. This may involve discussing past projects and how you approached specific challenges.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A session where you present selected case studies from your portfolio, demonstrating your research process, insights, and impact. This is a critical stage to showcase your practical application of skills.

• Stakeholder/Team Interview: Meeting with potential team members and hiring managers to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with Kainos's values and ways of working.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss career aspirations and overall fit within the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 strong case studies that showcase a range of methodologies and demonstrate impact.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to follow a narrative: the problem, your approach (research plan, methods), your findings, your recommendations, and the outcome/impact.

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

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results wherever possible (e.g., "reduced task completion time by X%", "identified Y critical usability issues that led to Z design changes").

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your methodology choices, how you handled challenges, and how you communicated findings.

Challenge Preparation:

• Mock Research Scenarios: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical research problem relevant to public sector or enterprise digital services.

• Methodology Justification: Be ready to explain why you would choose specific research methods for a given scenario.

• Insight Presentation: Practice articulating insights concisely and persuasively, linking them directly to actionable recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review tips have been detailed to provide actionable guidance, emphasizing the critical need for a strong, well-presented portfolio that demonstrates a clear link between research activities and business/user outcomes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Wireframing Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (for collaborating with designers and visualizing user flows).

• Usability Testing Platforms: UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback (for remote and in-person testing).

• Survey & Form Tools: SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, Typeform (for quantitative data collection).

• Collaboration & Whiteboarding: Miro, Mural (for affinity mapping, journey mapping, and collaborative analysis).

• Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (for understanding user behavior on live services).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI (potentially used for presenting quantitative findings).

• Spreadsheet Software: Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets (for data organization and basic analysis).

CRM & Automation: (Less directly applicable to User Researcher role, but may overlap with product teams)

• Project Management Tools: Jira, Asana, Trello (for tracking research tasks within Agile sprints).

• Documentation Platforms: Confluence (for detailed research documentation and knowledge sharing).

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools and technology stack have been inferred based on common practices in UX research and digital service development. Highlighting these demonstrates an understanding of the operational environment and the technical proficiencies expected.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

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

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and mutual support across different disciplines and project teams.

• Impact & Excellence: Driven by a desire to create meaningful, positive change and deliver high-quality, effective digital services.

• Innovation & Curiosity: Encouraging exploration, experimentation, and a continuous learning mindset to push boundaries and find better solutions.

• Integrity: A commitment to ethical research practices and transparency in findings and recommendations.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively working alongside designers, developers, product managers, and clients to ensure research insights are understood and integrated into the product lifecycle.

• Open Feedback: Fostering an environment where constructive feedback is welcomed and regularly exchanged to improve processes and outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of research findings, methodologies, and best practices across the Experience Design team and wider organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Team culture and values have been articulated based on Kainos's stated mission of "problem solvers, innovators, and collaborators" and their emphasis on a "people-first culture," contextualized for a User Researcher role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Constraints: Navigating situations where user needs may conflict with technical limitations, budget constraints, or aggressive timelines, requiring strong negotiation and advocacy skills.

• Recruitment for Niche Audiences: Finding and recruiting participants for research studies involving specific or hard-to-reach user groups, particularly within specialized domains.

• Demonstrating ROI: Clearly articulating and quantifying the return on investment for user research activities to gain buy-in and continued support from stakeholders.

• Integrating Research in Fast-Paced Agile Environments: Ensuring research remains thorough and insightful while keeping pace with rapid development cycles.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunities to train in and apply more advanced research techniques, such as diary studies, longitudinal research, or complex experimental designs.

• Domain Expertise: Developing deep knowledge in specific industry sectors or types of digital services Kainos works with.

• Mentorship: Access to senior researchers and UX leaders for guidance on career progression, skill development, and navigating complex projects.

• Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending industry conferences (e.g., UXPA, CHI) and obtaining relevant certifications to enhance professional credibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are framed to provide a realistic outlook for candidates, highlighting potential hurdles and the supportive environment for professional development within Kainos.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a user need that conflicted with a business requirement. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your negotiation, data-driven advocacy, and ability to find compromises).

• "Walk us through a research project where your findings led to a significant change in product direction or design. What was your process, and how did you measure the impact?" (Showcase your end-to-end research capability and focus on measurable outcomes).

• "How would you approach researching the needs of citizens for a new public service website, considering a wide range of digital literacy levels?" (Demonstrate your ability to design appropriate research plans for diverse user groups). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Kainos and our work in digital services, particularly for the public sector?" (Research Kainos's projects and values; align your interests with their mission).

• "How do you ensure your research findings are actionable and understood by non-researchers (e.g., developers, product managers)?" (Highlight your communication skills and experience collaborating with diverse teams).

• "Describe your experience working within an Agile development team. How does user research fit into that process?" (Show your understanding of Agile principles and how to integrate research effectively). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Process: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your research questions, the methodologies you chose and why, your participant recruitment strategy, your data collection and analysis methods, and your key findings.

• Emphasize Impact: Dedicate a section to the recommendations made and, if possible, the resulting impact or changes implemented. Use metrics to support your claims.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your decision-making at each stage of the research process.

• Showcase Collaboration: If it was a team project, clearly define your specific role and contributions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to the User Researcher role, focusing on demonstrating methodological rigor, impact, and collaborative skills, with specific question examples to guide candidate preparation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this User Researcher position:

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

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your experience with qualitative and quantitative research, your ability to generate actionable insights, and your impact on product development, especially within digital service contexts.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, specific research methodologies used, key skills (e.g., user interviewing, research planning, data analysis), and quantifiable achievements. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your research process and findings concisely. Prepare to discuss your portfolio case studies in detail, focusing on problem-solving, methodology justification, and demonstrated impact.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Kainos's mission, values, and recent projects, particularly those related to digital services and the public sector. Understand their commitment to user-centered design and Agile methodologies.

⚠️ 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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