Company Description
This is an exciting time to join an organisation with an essential role in the UK’s tertiary education sector.
QAA is the UK’s independent quality body for tertiary education, and our purpose is to ensure that students and learners experience the highest possible quality of education. We have changed to meet the evolving needs of a sector that has undergone reform across all nations of the UK.
We are the UK’s authority on quality and standards, acting as custodian on behalf of the sector of reference points including the UK Quality Code for Higher Education, Subject Benchmark Statements, and the Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications.
Throughout the UK we are the trusted partner of governments and funding bodies. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, we work in collaboration with the sector to meet the needs of each nation. In England, our highly successful membership programme provides a rich source of resources to strategic leads, quality specialists and students and learners alike. Globally we are recognised as one of the world's leading quality bodies and support the UK sector as it welcomes international students and extends its reach through transnational education.
We are a world-leading quality agency with unmatched experience of providing impartial regulatory and collaborative quality assurance and enhancement. We support universities and colleges in working with students and learners, governments, funders and regulatory bodies to evidence and enhance the excellent quality and high standards of the education they provide.
We are a remote first organisation and encourage day-to-day flexibility. It’s important to us that our working environment enables us to deliver our services in a way and location that provides the best outcomes for our stakeholders and customers and meets their expectations. Alongside this we want individuals and teams to feel empowered to work where, when, and how they want, providing that business needs are met.
Position
We’re looking for a User Researcher to play a key role in shaping how QAA understands and serves its users. Reporting to the Head of Product, you’ll lead discovery and Jobs to be Done (JTBD) research to uncover insights that drive better products and services, helping embed user-centric practices across the organisation.
In this role, you’ll design and deliver research across the product lifecycle, conducting interviews, surveys, and usability testing, and translate findings into clear, actionable outcomes. You’ll also contribute to building internal research capability by developing tools, templates, and guidance that make user research a core part of how we work.
This is a 6-month fixed term contract, offering a great opportunity to make an impact and gain valuable experience within our organisation
Requirements
We’re looking for someone experienced in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, skilled at uncovering user needs and turning insights into stories that inspire action. Experience with JTBD frameworks and user-centred design is essential, and familiarity with learning or knowledge management systems (LMS/KMS) is an advantage.
If you’re passionate about turning user insight into impact and want to help build a culture that puts people at the heart of every product decision, we’d love to hear from you!
Other information
Position: User Researcher
Location: We offer employees the opportunity to work flexibly from home, providing it is within the UK.
Job type: Full-time, 6-month FTC
Hours: 35 hours per week, flexible working available
Band: 5
Salary: £40,500 - £51,000, pro rata, per annum, dependent upon knowledge, skills and experience, plus excellent benefits
This is a 6-month fixed-term contract. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the role may close earlier than the proposed closure date of 31 October 2025, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
To apply, please create a profile on our recruitment portal and submit your CV with a covering letter outlining your experience. Only applications which include a CV, and a cover letter will be considered for the role.
QAA recognises the positive benefits of equity, diversity and inclusion. Our aim is to be truly representative of all sections of society, and for all to feel respected, free to be themselves no matter what their identity or background, and able to give their best. We value the differences that a variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives and skills brings and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants to apply and join us.
If you have not heard from QAA within three weeks of the closing date for this vacancy, then your application has not been successful. Please be aware that we are unable to provide feedback on individual job applications.