Senior User Researcher at Faculty

WHY FACULTY? We established Faculty in 2014 because we thought that AI would be the most important technology of our time. Since then, we’ve worked with over 350 global customers to transform their performance through human-centric AI. You can read about our real-world impact here [Upgrade to PRO to see link] We don’t chase hype cycles. We innovate, build and deploy responsible AI which moves the needle - and we know a thing or two about doing it well. We bring an unparalleled depth of technical, product and delivery expertise to our clients who span government, finance, retail, energy, life sciences and defence. Our business, and reputation, is growing fast and we’re always on the lookout for individuals who share our intellectual curiosity and desire to build a positive legacy through technology. AI is an epoch-defining technology, join a company where you’ll be empowered to envision its most powerful applications, and to make them happen. ABOUT THE TEAM Our Public Services Business Unit is committed to leveraging AI for the benefit of individual citizens and the public good. From our work informing strategic government decisions, to optimising our NHS, through to reducing bureaucratic backlogs - we know that AI offers opportunities to drive improvements at every level of Government and we are proud to lead on some of the most impactful work happening in the sector. Because of the nature of the work we do with our Government clients, you may need to be eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC) and willing to work on site with these clients from time to time. ABOUT THE ROLE As a Senior User Researcher you’ll play a pivotal role in building the foundational UR capability for a leading AI firm and lead high-profile public sector projects. At Faculty, you will lead end-to-end research from discovery to live, ensuring our AI solutions meet the GDS Service Standard and truly serve user needs. You’ll act as a founding practitioner, establishing ethical frameworks and mentoring teams across the organisation to build a world-class research culture. This is a pivotal role for someone eager to shape the future of human-centric AI in government. WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING: - Leading end-to-end user research for complex public sector projects, navigating the CDDO/GDS Service Assessment process to ensure successful delivery. - Establishing foundational research operations, including standardised methodologies, ethical frameworks, and consent processes for the business unit. - Partnering with technical teams and designers to translate complex AI domains into clear, human-centric product roadmaps. - Implementing and managing research tooling and participant recruitment databases, ensuring AI is deployed safely, ethically, and equitably. - Mentoring and up-skilling colleagues including data scientists and product managers on best practices in qualitative and quantitative research. - Advocating for user needs at a leadership level, ensuring human-centric insights directly influence high-level business decisions. WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR: - You bring extensive experience leading research within the Government Digital Service (GDS) framework and successfully navigating service assessments. - You possess advanced proficiency in qualitative methods like interviewing and usability testing, with a keen eye for turning noisy data into actionable stories. - You are a clear and effective communicator, capable of navigating complex client environments and influencing senior leadership. - You have a high level of attention to detail, particularly regarding research ethics, data storage, and informed consent. - You’re comfortable working as a founding practitioner, with the drive to build research processes from scratch in a fast-paced, technical environment. THE INTERVIEW PROCESS 1. Talent Team Screen (30 minutes) 2. Introduction Interview (60 minutes) 3. Case Study Interview (60 minutes) 4. Meet the team (30 minutes) OUR RECRUITMENT ETHOS We aim to grow the best team - not the most similar one. We know that diversity of individuals fosters diversity of thought, and that strengthens our principle of seeking truth. And we know from experience that diverse teams deliver better work, relevant to the world in which we live. We’re united by a deep intellectual curiosity and desire to use our abilities for measurable positive impact. We strongly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, religions and sexual orientations. Some of our standout benefits: - Unlimited Annual Leave Policy - Private healthcare and dental - Enhanced parental leave - Family-Friendly Flexibility & Flexible working - Sanctus Coaching - Hybrid Working If you don’t feel you meet all the requirements, but are excited by the role and know you bring some key strengths, please don't hesitate in applying as you might be right for this role, or other roles. We are open to conversations about part-time hours.