Lead User Researcher

Role: Lead User Researcher (x2) - GDS

Location: Cardiff, Wales. Hybrid - minimum of 1 day a week on site.

Salary: Band 8a (£55,690)

Pension: 23.7%

The Opportunity:

Digital Health and Care Wales vision is to provide world leading digital services, empowering people to live healthier lives, and transforming health and care for everyone in Wales. It is a multi-award-winning organisation, and was twice voted the UK's Best Place to Work in IT.

We are now helping DHCW to find x2 Lead User Researchers who can plan and lead user research activities in teams and on more complex services.

Management, Leadership & Training

• Mentor, coach and develop researchers, advising on tools and methods.
• Deliver core training on specialist research practices across programmes.
• Act as an expert advocate for user-centred approaches.
• Build organisational buy-in and continuously improve team practice.

Planning & Design

• Lead and plan user research for complex services and user journeys.
• Select, promote and embed appropriate research approaches across teams.
• Align research activities with organisational priorities, service design, and policy.
• Propose and implement service or policy improvements impacting the wider organisation.
• Understand the social and technological context of services and apply research accordingly.

Improvement & Monitoring

• Collect, analyse and synthesise data on user needs, behaviours, and experiences.
• Present evidence to influence design and product decisions.
• Assure research quality by reviewing methods and findings.
• Support adoption of user-centred practices within agile workflows.
• Explore innovative tools and methods to improve efficiency and practice.

Communications

• Communicate research insights clearly to stakeholders at all levels.
• Influence decision-making by presenting evidence in engaging, accessible ways.
• Build strong relationships across disciplines to embed user-centred thinking.
• Advocate for users' needs and perspectives within organisational strategy.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Ability to align research with service strategy and organisational goals.
• Knowledge of iterative design methods, human-machine interaction, and ergonomic principles in software, products, or services.
• Skilled in designing effective user experiences across diverse devices and environments.
• Competent in delivering accessible presentations to diverse audiences.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.

Desirable

• FEDIP Senior Practitioner or equivalent advanced professional qualification.
• CXA - Certified User Experience Analyst or equivalent.
• Experience supervising and developing other user researchers.

Think this one's for you

If you think this Lead User Researcher opportunity is for you then please apply online.

Yolk Public Sector & Not-for-Profit team works with organisations across the UK to fulfil their recruitment needs and to achieve their D&I objectives. We recruit temporary, contract and permanent hires for 1 off specialist needs or for volume campaigns. We support our applicants to navigate the public sector recruitment processes and secure their dream jobs.

Yolk Recruitment is an equal opportunities employer and embraces diversity in our workforce. We employ the best people for the job at hand and actively encourage applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, educational background, parental status, gender identity or any other protected characteristic. We champion and celebrate diversity at Yolk allowing our team to bring their whole selves to work.