User Researcher

Spotlight Sports Group is a global media and technology company specialising in content and data within sports betting, horse racing and fantasy sports. With over 400 employees, the group operates multiple award-winning brands, including Racing Post, the world’s largest horse racing affiliate, Pickswise, myracing and Free Super Tips. We partner with leading operators across the betting industry to produce and build multilingual, best-in-class digital products and content to engage and educate customers. ICS-digital, an international marketing agency including ICS-translate, also operates under the group.

Role Overview

This is a great opportunity to take a central role in and make a real difference to our Product team helping to lead on product direction with valuable insights. The User Researcher will bring strong quantitative research experience to the team, leveraging data and user insights to advocate for a user-centred approach within the company.

You will already have some user research experience under your belt, strong on quantitative research but with a mixed-methods mindset. You will be part of the Product Team that works on predominantly products in the UK, both B2B and B2C. You will have the opportunity to help shape the best practice for user research, and take different initiatives as part of your personal development. This will be a remote role with the flexibility of hybrid if preferred.

Responsibilities

1. Work closely with the Lead Researcher to ensure that the research activities are run efficiently.
2. Lead on quantitative projects.
3. Work in tandem with the Data Intelligence Unit to help drive insights from our customer data.
4. Enhance research methodologies and advocate for a user-centred mindset across the company.
5. Collaborate effectively with UX & UI designers and product managers to translate research findings into actionable insights.
6. Synthesise complex data (qualitative and quantitative) into clear insights that drive product and design decisions.
7. Develop and execute a variety of research activities, such as usability testing, user interviews, and surveys.
8. Be accountable for user research projects from planning and conducting studies to analysing and presenting findings.
9. Manage and maintain user research operations, including participant recruitment and data management.
10. Responsible for the development and maintenance of the user research repository, including research findings, reports and documentation.

Essential

1. Proven background in user research with practical experience in a range of research methods.
2. Bachelor's or Master's degree in related fields, e.g. Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Sociology.
3. At least two years experience of working using qualitative and quantitative research methods.
4. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; has a data driven mindset.
5. Strong ability to synthesise qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights.
6. Detail-oriented and highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects and facilitate research operations (e.g. recruiting research participants, documenting results and participant details).

Desirable

1. Be comfortable with field visits when necessary.
2. Strength in working both independently and collaboratively to support larger projects.
3. A strong passion for understanding user behaviour and delivering exceptional user experiences.
4. A prior knowledge of the horse racing and the sports betting industry is not required, but curiosity and eager willingness to learn are essential.

Skills:

1. Research methods: familiarity with a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Proficiency in statistical analysis, survey design, and large-scale data handling.
2. Tools & software: Proficiency in data analysis tools / languages.
3. Familiarity with survey-building and analytics platforms.
4. Communication: excellent written and verbal communication skills; confident in presenting research findings and insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Strong storytelling and data visualisation skills are highly desirable.
5. Attention to detail: a meticulous approach to detail in research planning, execution and documentation.
6. Organisational skills: ability to multitask and prioritise.
7. Critical thinking: strong analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate complex user behaviours and translate them into actionable insights.
8. Continuous learning: a growth mindset and a passion for continuous learning in the field of user research.
9. Empathy: the ability to have a deep understanding of user needs, behaviours, and motivations.

We offer a range of well-being initiatives, including private medical insurance, excellent parental leave, a working globally policy, mental health support, assistance programs, and social gatherings. We also provide a pension scheme and various other benefit schemes. Plus, we all get our birthdays off work and enjoy 25 days of holiday per year.

We’ve also got you covered with life assurance and exclusive perks like the Star card and our Step Further Awards (our employee recognition program) to recognise your dedication. For those working via the hybrid model (in the office and at home) we’ve made commuting easier with our Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work Scheme.

You can also take advantage of complimentary access to our Racing Post Members Club, complete with an Ultimate Membership. We believe in making a positive impact beyond the workplace, and you'll have the chance to volunteer two days per year with our charity partner, Autism in Racing.