UX Research Manager

UX Research Manager - 12 month FTC

Location: Manchester

Salary: £65,000 - £75,000

Working pattern: Hybrid 2 days WFH

About the Role

We’re hiring on behalf of a leading UK-based digital investment platform that’s reshaping how customers engage with their financial future. With nearly £75 billion in assets under administration and a growing customer base, our client is scaling their UX capability and we’re looking for a passionate UX Research Manager to lead the charge.

In this high-impact leadership role, you’ll manage and develop a team of UX researchers, working closely with design, product, and brand to shape inclusive, user-driven digital experiences. You’ll champion accessibility, elevate research standards, and ensure insights directly inform design decisions across the product suite.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and mentor a team of UX researchers, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous learning
• Embed user-centred research into every stage of the design and product development process
• Ensure consistency and quality in research practices across all products and services
• Drive inclusive design, conducting research with users of all abilities and ensuring accessibility standards (e.g. WCAG) are met
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product, design, tech, and brand teams to align on priorities and deliver impact
• Champion evidence-based decision-making, turning insights into actionable recommendations that shape the end-to-end user experience
• Explore and implement innovative research methods to keep the team ahead of the curve
• Facilitate research critique sessions and knowledge-sharing to drive best practice and team growth
• Own user journey analysis—identify pain points and improvement opportunities that influence product strategy and roadmap

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience leading UX research teams in fast-paced digital environments
• Deep expertise in qualitative and quantitative methods—interviews, usability testing, surveys, journey mapping, personas, etc.
• Strong command of tools such as UserTesting, UserZoom, Hotjar, ContentSquare, or similar
• A collaborative approach and track record of working closely with product, design, dev, and brand teams
• Passion for accessibility and inclusive research—ideally with hands-on experience testing with users with disabilities
• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate insights into compelling narratives for stakeholders
• Clear, confident communicator who’s not afraid to challenge the status quo or be challenged in return
• Experience embedding research into design systems and influencing design standards

Personal Attributes

• Straight-talking and transparent
• Moves with speed—delivering faster and better
• Owns outcomes and drives accountability
• Passionate about doing what’s right for the user
• Collaborative and open to new ideas and challenges

Interested?

This is an outstanding opportunity to shape the research function in a company that values design, innovation, and inclusion. If you're ready to make a meaningful impact and lead a talented team, we'd love to hear from you.

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