Specialist User Researcher (Openreach Design Practice)

Why this job matters

We’re on an exciting journey to embed user-centred design at the heart of Openreach Technology. As a relatively new function, our User Experience team is playing a pivotal role in shifting the organisation from business-led to user-led design practices. This is where you come in.

As a User Research Specialist, you’ll be instrumental in shaping and evolving our UX research capability. You’ll lead the development of our research practices and processes, working closely with UX Designers and key stakeholders across a variety of projects and programmes. Your work will help demonstrate the value of UX through robust, multi-method research that uncovers real user needs and drives better product decisions.

You’ll translate complex business and design questions into clear research strategies, delivering actionable insights that shape product direction and enhance the end-user experience. Along the way, you’ll build strong, collaborative relationships across the Technology team and wider business, championing the voice of the user at every step.

What you’ll be doing

As a Specialist User Researcher, you’ll:

• Shape and deliver user research strategies across multiple product areas, working closely with design and product teams.
• Lead complex discovery and research activities to uncover user needs and inform experience improvements.
• Connect insights across research and business contexts to build a deep understanding of our users.
• Champion a range of research methods, helping teams scale their approach to evidence-based design.
• Support stakeholder learning and alignment through inclusive, mixed-method research – from interviews and usability testing to surveys and journey mapping.
• Keep the team informed on emerging trends in UX and continuously improve how we work.
• Build strong relationships across the business, advocating for user-centred design at every opportunity.

The skills you’ll need to succeed

We’re looking for a Specialist User Researcher who brings a thoughtful, curious, and collaborative mindset to their work. You’ll thrive in this role if you have:

• Strong experience in user research and/or UX design, with a user-centred mindset.
• Confidence in applying both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• The ability to translate complex problems into clear research strategies and actionable insights.
• A service design mindset – connecting user needs with practical solutions in a complex tech environment.
• Familiarity with digital technologies and comfort working alongside technical teams.
• A knack for reading between the lines – understanding what users really need, not just what they say.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence working with ambiguity and managing multiple projects at once.
• Motivation to overcome challenges – from accessing users to navigating organisational complexity.
• Experience with tools and techniques such as journey mapping, persona development, usability testing, content testing, and accessibility best practices.

Desirable (but not essential)

• A qualification in UX Design, UX Research, or a related field.

Our leadership standards

Looking in:
Leading inclusively and Safely
I inspire and build trust through self-awareness, honesty and integrity.
Owning outcomes
I take the right decisions that benefit the broader organisation.

Looking out:
Delivering for the customer
I execute brilliantly on clear priorities that add value to our customers and the wider business.
Commercially savvy
I demonstrate strong commercial focus, bringing an external perspective to decision-making.

Looking to the future:
Growth mindset
I experiment and identify opportunities for growth for both myself and the organisation.
Building for the future
I build diverse future-ready teams where all individuals can be at their best.