Senior User Researcher
Welcome to Public Health Wales, the national public health organisation for Wales
Our vision is Working to achieve a healthier future for Wales
To find out more visit Public Health Wales and watch this video about our Strategic Plan
Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference
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Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English. To support our all Wales service, we particularly welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
Important Note for vacancies offered on a fixed-term or secondment basis.Individuals who hold permanent (substantive) employment within the NHS may only be appointed via secondment. Approval for a secondment must be obtained from your current line manager prior to submitting an application.
The Agenda for Change Pay Award for 2026/27 is effective from 1^st April 2026.
Please note successful applicants with a start date from 1^st April onwards the salary will be as per the 2026/27 pay award. For further detail the pay circular is available via this link https://www.nhs.wales/files/pc-resources/afc-w-02-2026-pdf-pdf?ts=1773244958086
Job overview
We’re looking for a Senior User Researcher to help shape high‑quality digital and non‑digital health services that meet the needs of people in Wales.
Main duties of the job
In this role, you’ll plan, design and deliver user research across multiple projects and portfolios, working closely with users, clinicians, analysts and delivery teams.
You’ll be using a range of methods such as in‑depth interviews, workshops and ethnographic research to develop a deep understanding of people’s needs, behaviours and contexts.
You’ll share research insights, build understanding of user needs, and support teams to turn learning into next steps.
You’ll also play a key role in strengthening and evolving user‑centred research practice across Public Health Wales, helping embed research into everyday work, influencing roadmaps, and challenging assumptions about what “good” research looks like in a healthcare setting.
Working for our organisation
We are Public Health Wales – the national public health agency in Wales. Our purpose is ‘Working together for a healthier Wales'. We exist to help everyone in Wales live longer, healthier, happier lives. Together with our partners, we work to increase healthy life expectancy, improve health and well-being, and reduce inequalities for everyone in Wales, now and for future generations.
Our teams work to prevent disease, protect health, and provide leadership, specialist services and public health expertise. We are the leading source of public health information, research and innovation in Wales. In a world facing complex health challenges, our work has never been so important.
We are guided by our Values, 'Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference'. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace that values equality and diversity. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and are supportive of flexible working arrangements, including part time roles and job sharing.
To find out more about working for us and the benefits we offer please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/careers/
For guidance on the application process, please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/working-for-us/applicant-information-and-guidance/
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As a senior practitioner, you’ll:
- Lead and deliver high‑quality user research, from planning and recruitment through to analysis and insight sharing
- Collaborate across disciplines to create a holistic picture of user needs and service experiences
- Champion user‑centred design, influencing how services are shaped and improved
- Contribute to a shared library of research and user needs, ensuring best practice and continuity
- Ensure all research meets NHS, government and industry standards
- Support Public Health Wales Digital and Data Strategy by helping create services that are informed by evidence, insight and real user experience
This is a fantastic opportunity to help reframe user research in the NHS Wales, not as an add‑on, but as a core part of delivering better, fairer and more effective health services for Wales.
If you’re interested, feel free to reach out to the hiring manager to learn more about the role and how to apply.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.
Person specification
QUALIFICATIONS & KNOWLEDGE
Essential criteria- Educated to Masters level or equivalent level or equivalent in Human-Computer Interaction, User Experience, Psychology, Information Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
- Evidence of continued professional development.
- Current knowledge of the public sector/NHS.
- Knowledge of NHS, Welsh Government and strategies, policies and plans.
EXPERIENCE
Essential criteria- Extensive experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative user experience research using a variety of research methods with a demonstrated understanding of the strengths and shortcomings of the different methods
- Recent experience or in-depth knowledge of organising and executing agile research/validation sprints for digital and service touchpoints (e.g., field research, usability testing, contextual inquiry), especially in a healthcare or professional environment
- Project management
- Experience of mentoring junior members of staff in both quantitative and qualitative user research methods
- Demonstrable partnership working and collaboration
- Software design
- Demonstrated expertise in a Healthcare environment
Aptitude & Abilities (SKILLS)
Essential criteria- Problem-solving aptitude
- Analytical and creative thinker
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication (including presentation) skills.
- Demonstrable ability to act upon incomplete information, using experience gained to make inferences and appropriate recommendations.
- Significant ability to analyse complex information, assess options and draw appropriate initiatives
- Demonstrable ability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
- Demonstrable ability to work effectively between competing activities where required.
- Demonstrable ability to manage own workload
- Excellent inter- personal skills and ability to build and maintain successful working relationships.
- Time management skills and reliability in consistently delivering against deadlines.
- Ability to speak Welsh or willingness to learn
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES & VALUES (Demonstrable)
Essential criteria- Able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to patients and the public.
- Demonstrate the ability to work under pressure.
- Strong sense of commitment to openness, honesty and integrity.
- A strong sense of accountability.
- Consistently looks to improve what they do.
- Values diversity and difference operates with integrity and openness.
- Self-awareness in terms of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers with cultural sensitivity and awareness.
OTHER
Essential criteria- Willingness and ability to travel between sites.
Public Health Wales, reserves the right to close this vacancy early. We therefore encourage early applications.
Priority is given to staff awaiting redeployment. We therefore reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any stage.
If you have a disability and have any particular requirements to enable you to participate in the application process, please contact [email protected]
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS: Applications for our roles are carefully reviewed and shortlisted based on specific criteria, which varies from job to job.
Using a generic application or automated AI application services, such as Lazy Apply or AI Apply, does not usually provide enough personal evidence of your skills and experience relevant to the role. This can make it difficult for us to assess your suitability and will reduce your chances of being shortlisted.
To ensure your application is given full consideration, we recommend submitting a tailored application that directly addresses the criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the advert, providing clear evidence and examples to demonstrate how you meet each requirement.
Visa Sponsorship Eligibility- If you require sponsorship under the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Visa routes, please ensure you self‑assess your eligibility for sponsorship for this role before applying.
- Check the Skilled Worker visa guidance or Health and Care visa guidance for details on job eligibility, salary, English language, and sponsorship requirements.
If you are successful and short listed for interview you will be contacted by email using the address with which you registered. Please ensure you check your email account regularly.
We are committed to fair, transparent recruitment and believe in equality of opportunity in our workplace and will not tolerate discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender identity, religion or belief, race or nationality, marriage or civil partnership status, sex, sexual orientation, working pattern, caring responsibilities, trade union activity or political beliefs – or on any other grounds.We welcome applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements.
The salary scale shown is for a full-time member of staff, with the amount being adjusted pro rata for those working less than 37.5 hours per week.
In general, anyone joining our Trust who has not previously worked in the NHS will, by default, start on the first point of the advertised pay band. Pay progression will then be determined by annual Performance and Development Reviews in accordance with the NHS Wales Pay Progression Policy.An application for Incremental Credit may be considered, but can only be awarded based on evidenced, reckonable service and/or equivalent, relevant experience.