User Researcher

MERITUS are recruiting for a User Researcher to join our digital software client on an initial contract, supporting the development of user-centred products within the public sector. USER RESEARCHER - £500 to £600 PER DAY - REMOTE (UK) WITH OCCASIONAL TRAVEL - IMMEDIATE START - SECTOR: DIGITAL SOFTWARE / PUBLIC SECTOR An established software organisation is looking to appoint an experienced User Researcher to support the ongoing development of a suite of products used across the public sector. Working as part of a collaborative UX team, you'll play a key role in understanding user needs throughout the product lifecycle, helping to shape intuitive, accessible and user-focused digital services. This is an excellent opportunity to work closely with Product, Design and Engineering teams, influencing product decisions through high-quality user research and insight. The OpportunityReporting into the UX leadership team, you'll take ownership of planning, delivering and communicating user research activities across multiple stages of product development, from early discovery through to live services. You'll engage directly with end users, facilitate research sessions, analyse findings and translate insights into meaningful recommendations that influence product direction and improve user experience. What You'll Be Doing • Planning and delivering user research across Discovery, Alpha, Beta and Live phases. • Conducting user interviews, usability testing and research workshops. • Selecting appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methods. • Creating research plans, discussion guides and test scripts. • Developing user personas, journey maps and other research artefacts. • Producing wireframes and prototypes to support usability testing. • Analysing research findings and presenting actionable insights to stakeholders. • Working closely with Product Managers, Designers and Engineering teams within an Agile environment. • Championing user-centred design and promoting best practice across the wider business. • Supporting accessibility and inclusive design principles throughout the product lifecycle. About YouWe're looking for an experienced User Researcher who is passionate about understanding user behaviour and translating research into meaningful product improvements. You'll be confident managing research activities independently, engaging with stakeholders at all levels and influencing product decisions through evidence-based recommendations. You'll thrive in Agile environments and enjoy working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams. What We're Looking ForEssential • 10+ years' experience in User Research. • Experience planning and delivering end-to-end user research programmes. • Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills. • Experience conducting user interviews, usability testing and workshops. • Ability to create personas, user journeys and research outputs. • Experience working within Agile product development environments. • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. • Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities. Desirable • Experience creating wireframes and prototypes using Figma. • Knowledge of accessibility standards, including WCAG 2.2. • Experience using product analytics tools such as Pendo. • Previous experience delivering research within public sector or government Why Join?This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established digital product organisation delivering software that has a genuine impact across the public sector. You'll work alongside experienced Product, Design and Engineering professionals in a collaborative environment where user research plays a central role in shaping future product development, while enjoying the flexibility of a predominantly remote contract with occasional travel.