User Researcher
A user researcher finds out what people need from a service. They talk to users, test ideas, and help teams make decisions based on real evidence.
What they do
- conduct qualitative and quantitative research using different methods
- ensure services meet diverse user needs
- involve the team in research activities
- provide insights to guide decision-making
- help the team understand user needs and behaviours
Key outputs
- User research reports - summarise findings from user testing
- Journey maps - show how users interact with the service
- Personas and user stories - represent user needs
- Accessibility research plans and reports - ensure the service works for all users
Project tasks
- Discovery - conduct user research and develop personas
- Alpha - test prototypes and validate user needs
- Beta - run usability testing and refine designs
- Live - gather user feedback and continuously improve the service
Hiring considerations
Before hiring, consider whether the skills already exist in your organisation. Training or reallocating staff might be a more effective way to fill gaps.
- When to hire - if the team lacks direct insight into user needs, or services need to be tested with real users
- When to upskill - if a team member is confident in conducting interviews, running usability testing, and analysing qualitative and quantitative data
- Essential skills - interviewing, usability testing, qualitative/quantitative research, accessibility knowledge
- Common tools - Microsoft Forms, SmartSurvey (for user research), Miro (for journey mapping), Lookback.io (for remote usability testing), Power BI (for analysing trends)