Job Description

:Join our team at the Guardian and be a part of a diverse and inclusive global organisation that delivers fearless, investigative journalism, and holds power to account. Our team of award-winning journalists, cutting-edge commercial professionals, and industry-leading digital experts are committed to making a difference and represent a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. We offer a challenging and exciting environment for career development, with a focus on training, growth and fostering an inclusive culture.We are looking for a Senior User Experience (UX) Researcher for a 1 year maternity cover contract to inform decisions about product development through evidence driven, user centred, high quality research. In this role you will work across a range of cross-functional teams, conducting both strategic and directional research and being a champion for user-centred design and product development in the department.Your work will ensure that Product, Design and Strategy teams are aligned with a deep, actionable understanding of our digital users, contributing to the growth and retention of our readers and supporters.About the Role

• Plan, run and deliver strategic and tactical research for a range of product teams and be responsible for end-to-end delivery, with minimal input from the Practice Lead.
• Create well-crafted research proposals that communicate rationale, align stakeholders, and reflect a deep understanding of the business priorities
• Engage proactively with stakeholders throughout the research process, managing expectations and ensuring the right people are informed, engaged and involved. Collaborate with designers, product managers, and engineers on processes that gather, distil, communicate, and create actionable knowledge to influence product decisions.
• Clearly communicate insights and help teams to act on them practically, beyond the research report
• Continually raise the bar for user research at the Guardian, demonstrating a deep understanding of best practices and actively seeking ways to evolve and improve our practice and identify opportunities for user research to add further value.
• Contribute to scaling User Research by empowering and educating others through workshops, mentorship, training sessions and reviews.

About You

• Have a keen interest in news media / technology and show awareness of current trends and changes within the sector.
• Prior experience in a senior user research role, demonstrating expertise in a range of methodologies including in-depth interviews (in person and remote), focus groups, usability testing, diary studies, desk research. You are an authority in UX best practices and approaches, with a strong track record of leading complex research and tactical projects to success. Preferably, you can demonstrate familiarity with UserTesting.com or a similar platform
• Experience working with product roadmaps to plan advanced research and identify gaps in user knowledge as it relates to new features or improvements
• You have excellent stakeholder management skills: you're a confident communicator and presenter, and up for the challenge of pushing the needs of readers into all areas of the business
• Experience planning and facilitating workshops and training for a diverse range of stakeholders as well as offering mentorship and peer to peer coaching with junior researchers and colleagues from other disciplines
• Demonstrate curiosity and commitment to your team's objectives and beyond: you are engaged with thinking about where the organisation is moving as a whole and the role of user research within that

We value and respect all differences (seen and unseen) in all people. We aspire to have inclusive working experiences and an environment that reflects the audience we serve, where our people have equal access to career development opportunities, their voices are heard and can contribute to our future. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Many of our staff work flexibly and we will consider all requests for flexible working arrangements.How to ApplyTo apply, please upload your latest CV and a cover letter which outlines why you'd love to take on this role, and why you're a great match for what we're looking for.The closing date for applications is Monday 10th March 2025.All roles at the Guardian are open for everybody to apply. It is important to us that you feel supported and comfortable throughout your recruitment process, in order to perform your best. Please let us know if there are any changes we could make to help your application, this includes providing documents in accessible formats or personalising the process to better support your needs. Please contact Anna on anna.vipers@guardian.co.uk to discuss further so we can work with you to support you through your application.Benefits at the GuardianCulture & WellbeingWe want everyone to feel like they belong at the Guardian and we champion diversity of thought. Our various employee forums provide a platform to use their voice to foster an inclusive workplace.We offer great tools to help you prioritise your wellbeing including free yoga and pilates. These run alongside our corporate gym membership and cycle to work scheme.Learning & DevelopmentWe encourage personal and professional growth. Employees have access to a broad range of tools and solutions, and we are happy to support the pursuit of professional qualifications through vocational courses and apprenticeships.Our Working EnvironmentWe take pride in our surroundings and are pleased to offer versatile meeting rooms and colourful communal areas. We have a brilliant canteen that caters to breakfast, lunch and dinner, with views overlooking Regent's Canal.Additional Benefits & PoliciesWe offer 30 days annual leave per annum, plus an additional 5 day holiday purchase scheme. Our pension scheme is generous; if you contribute 5% then we will contribute 8-12% (depending on your age). We believe in giving back, which is why employees are given 2 volunteering days annually and the option of payroll giving. Season ticket loans are also available.You are entitled to life cover, income protection, healthcare, sick pay and eye tests. You can also opt in to dental insurance.We have enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave policies in place. We also support our employees by offering an IVF, menopause, baby loss, and trans equality policy.

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