Senior User Researcher

Company Description

Hitachi Solutions Europe is a global Digital, Data and Technology consultancy, Microsoft Inner Circle and Cloud Services partner, specialising in end-to-end transformation. We build services that are user centred and accessible, designed by our brilliant agile teams, capable of harnessing the power of the latest technologies.

Our capabilities include Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform and Azure, Application Modernisation, Modern Data Platform, Performance & Analytics, Fraud and Error, Grants, User Centred Design, Accessibility and Agile DevOps.

Be part of our Hitachi family

We place value on collaboration, open communication, and transparency. We emphasise the importance of team spirit, cohesion, and appreciation – And through our talented people, innovative culture, and technical and business expertise, we deliver game changing outcomes every day. Our learning culture and flat hierarchy are our recipes for success. But don´t take our word for it – Have a look at what our employees are saying: Hitachi Solutions: Recruiting the best talent and offering outstanding career opportunities (hitachi-solutions.co.uk)

Diversity and Inclusion at Hitachi Solutions

Diversity is the wellspring of our innovation, and we believe that creativity is fuelled by inclusivity. Our collective success is achieved by fostering and respecting our employees’ and customer’s individualities coming together as One Team. Hitachi strives to create an environment not only where genders, races, cultures, sexual orientations, and identities can work together, but where the beliefs and views of those participating feel equally represented. You can about Hitachi’s mission and values here: hitachi-solutions.co.uk

What to expect, your benefits

Hitachi Solutions offers competitive compensation packages (incl. bonuses), pension and benefits plans. Work/Life balance is an essential part of our culture, and all our employees are home workers, although you will be expected to come into our or customer’s offices regularly. We operate a comprehensive career development programme that includes mentoring and training plans to ensure that you will continue to grow and develop your career at Hitachi.

Job Description

The Role

We are looking for a Senior User Researcher to join our User-Centred Design (UCD) practice.

You will work within multidisciplinary teams delivering complex digital transformation programmes across public and private sector organisations. Senior User Researchers play a key role in helping teams understand real user needs, behaviours and contexts, and ensuring those insights shape decisions throughout the design and delivery process.

This role involves working across the full lifecycle of digital services, from early problem exploration and discovery through design and delivery to live service improvement.

You will collaborate closely with designers, project and product managers, engineers and stakeholders to ensure services and products are grounded in evidence and informed by a deep understanding of users.

Key Responsibilities

Research strategy and planning

Plan and deliver research activities that help teams understand user needs, behaviours and pain points

Select appropriate research methods based on the problem being explored and the stage of delivery

Contribute to shaping research strategies for complex products or services

Ensure research activities support evidence-based decision making within delivery teams

Conducting and synthesising research

Conduct qualitative and quantitative research using a range of appropriate methods

Analyse and synthesise research findings to generate meaningful insights

Translate research findings into clear recommendations that support product and service decisions

Help teams understand the implications of research insights for design and delivery

Working across the delivery lifecycle

Contribute to early problem exploration and discovery activities

Support design and delivery teams in testing concepts and validating design decisions

Ensure research insights continue to inform improvements once services are live

Help teams develop an ongoing understanding of user needs as services evolve

Collaboration and consulting

Work closely with designers, service designers, engineers, project and product managers in multidisciplinary teams

Facilitate research activities with stakeholders and support teams in interpreting research findings

Communicate insights clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences

Support teams in making decisions grounded in evidence and user insight

Contributing to design practice

Advocate for user-centred and evidence-based approaches within delivery teams

Promote ethical research practices and inclusive research approaches

Support and mentor less experienced researchers where appropriate

Contribute to improving research practices and knowledge sharing within the UCD team

Qualifications

Skills and Experience

We are looking for researchers who combine strong research capability with the ability to work effectively in complex organisational environments. You may have gained your experience in consulting, government, product teams or large digital transformation programmes.

Essential

Experience planning and conducting user research for complex digital products or services

Ability to select appropriate research methods and adapt them to different delivery contexts

Experience analysing and synthesising research findings into clear insights and recommendations

Strong communication skills and ability to present research findings clearly to diverse audiences

Experience working within multidisciplinary teams alongside designers, engineers and product managers

Understanding of inclusive research practices and accessibility considerations

Experience supporting teams in making decisions informed by user insight

Preferred Experience

We would particularly welcome candidates with experience in:

Consulting or digital transformation environments

Enterprise technology ecosystems

UK Government or public sector services

Designing experiences within complex organisational or regulatory environments

We are interested in designers who are curious about how emerging technologies are changing digital services. This includes interest in:

how artificial intelligence is changing digital products and services

how new tools and technologies can support research, synthesis and insight generation

how organisations can responsibly integrate emerging technologies into services that work for people

Additional Information

AIn applying for a role with Hitachi Solutions Europe Limited and/or its affiliates (“Hitachi”) you consent to Hitachi collecting and storing your personal information (including your name, job title and email address) in relation to this role and any others that may be suitable in the future. For more information please refer to our Privacy Policy located at http://www.hitachi-solutions.co.uk/privacy-policy

Beware of scams

Our recruiting team may communicate with candidates via our @hitachisolutions.com domain email address and/or via our SmartRecruiters (Applicant Tracking System) notification@smartrecruiters.com domain email address regarding your application and interview requests.

All offers will originate from our @hitachisolutions.com domain email address. If you receive an offer or information from someone purporting to be an employee of Hitachi Solutions from any other domain, it may not be legitimate.