Role Title: UX Researcher Location: Manchester – 2 days onsite per week Role Description: The User Experience Researcher will be primarily responsible for managing the research team, implementing and managing research processes, and overseeing workload allocation (sprint planning) to ensure the team operates efficiently and aligns with SME priorities. You will provide roadmaps and timelines for project completion, offering strategic insight. You will supervise and collaborate on designing, conducting, analysing, and reporting on user-centred design research and usability testing for Co-operative Bank channels. This includes identifying user needs and goals, task and workflow modelling, ethnography and persona development, rapid iterative usability testing, and more formal, in-depth testing. A successful Senior User Experience Researcher must be able to mentor and manage a team of UX professionals and work independently across multiple concurrent projects. Key Accountabilities: As a UX Researcher for the Co-operative Bank, you will be accountable for: Managing the UX research team and taking responsibility for outputs and deliverables Working alongside the Digital Performance & Optimisation Lead to define, implement and champion user-centred design strategy and processes Ownership of the SME Customer Research Panel – recruitment, engagement and controls Designing and conducting usability research both online and in the field and providing recommendations for improvement Acting as part of a team that serves as a repository of research-based usability knowledge Working with project stakeholders and team members to test business requirements using the most appropriate methods Leading, developing and motivating the UX research team Determining user needs by conducting in-depth analysis across a range of research practices Working with designers and content designers to test proposed look and feel initiatives, developing the most appropriate solution for customers Managing and developing other researchers to improve research practice Leading moderated user testing and workshops Observing the UX team conducting user testing and workshops to ensure they are carried out compliantly and effectively, providing feedback as appropriate Promoting user-centred design principles and best practice across Digital, SME and the Bank, developing a culture of research-first Conducting in-house research to test new product and concept developments, including user requirements gathering and early-stage concept and prototype testing Ensuring all work complies with Consumer Duty and relevant regulatory requirements Technical Capabilities: Team management Usability moderating (all types, particularly one-to-one) Experimental design Test method selection Statistical, qualitative and quantitative analysis Presentations (verbal and written) Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required: Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and oral Strong relationship skills, able to operate effectively with internal stakeholders and external suppliers/partners Proven experience in mentorship and management Effective time management for self and others Ability to assess workload impact and manage delivery expectations and deadlines Ability to choose appropriate methods and advise on research best practice High level of customer focus and understanding of customer needs Experienced in usability test moderating (all types, particularly one-to-one) Participant recruiting and screener creation Proven experience in managing, executing and analysing usability test sessions Experience working in an agile development environment with UX teams, designers and developers Demonstrable ability to take initiative and drive innovation Precise attention to detail Passion for information architecture, usability and accessibility Experience within a research and digital environment Ability to use strategic insight to align user research activities with decision making