User Research Lead

User Research Lead - Digital Products & Customer Experience (12-month FTC)

Location: Hybrid (Manchester, 3 days onsite)

Salary: £65,000 - £75,000 + Excellent Benefits Package

Are you passionate about delivering customer-first digital experiences through insight-driven research?

We're looking for a User Research Lead to head up research efforts across a range of online products and services, ensuring user needs are at the heart of every design decision.

This is a fantastic 12-month fixed-term opportunity to join a well-established, digitally focused organisation where customer experience and accessibility are front and centre. You'll help shape product strategy, mentor researchers, and embed user-centred thinking across teams.

The Role:

Lead and mentor a small team of user researchers, encouraging collaboration, continuous learning, and research excellence.
Drive user research strategies that uncover actionable insights and influence product, design, and business decisions.
Ensure consistency in research approaches and findings across multiple digital products and services.
Champion inclusive design by embedding accessibility research and working with users of diverse abilities.
Work closely with stakeholders in product, design, engineering, and brand to integrate research into every stage of development.
Encourage innovative methods and experimentation in research practices.
Facilitate workshops, journey mapping, and research critiques to foster alignment and drive optimisation.
Align research priorities with strategic goals to deliver maximum impact across customer journeys.

What You'll Bring:

Strong background in user-centred research with experience in both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Previous leadership or management experience in a research setting.
Proficiency with tools such as UserTesting, Hotjar, or similar usability and survey platforms.
Solid understanding of digital accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and inclusive research practices.
Experience working with cross-functional teams in an Agile or product-led environment.
Ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Familiarity with design systems and their relationship to research and usability standards.
Confident communicator and stakeholder manager, able to balance business needs with user priorities.

Why Apply?

Join a user-driven culture focused on meaningful digital experiences
Shape research direction across multiple high-impact digital products
Enjoy a flexible hybrid working model and collaborative environment
Access a competitive salary and well-rounded benefits
Make a real impact in a senior, fixed-term leadership role

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a business that is experiencing significant growth and investing in its future success. If you have the skills and experience outlined above, then please apply with an updted CV.

Please note: This role requires all candidates to have no current or future requirement for sponsorship to work in the UK.

Role: User Research Lead - Digital Products & Customer Experience (12-month FTC)

Location: Hybrid (Manchester, 3 days onsite)

Salary: £65,000 - £75,000 + Excellent Benefits Package