Junior 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.

Come and join an established User Research team at Spotlight Sports Group (SSG) a global media and technology company specialising in fan engagement, content and data within horse racing, sports and sports betting. With over 300 employees, SSG is the parent group for multiple award-winning brands, including Racing Post, the world’s leading horse racing media brand alongside a portfolio of other specialist sports and betting brands. 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. This means that SSG is both customer and business focused. 

This is a permanent opportunity offered as a hybrid role, working out of our London Southbank office 3 days per week with 2 from home. You will be part of the Product Design and User Research Team (PD&R) that works on products across the UK and International projects. The role will be a mixed methods research role with a primary focus on qualitative work including field visits.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Lead Researcher and User Researcher to ensure that the research activities are run efficiently
• Work effectively with UX & UI designers and product managers to translate research findings into actionable insights
• Assist to collect and analyse research findings for a variety of projects, ranging from discovery to validation
• Assist in planning and conducting user research activities (e.g. usability testing, interviews, surveys)
• To build up to taking lead responsibility for qualitative interviews in research projects
• Responsible for user research operations and participant data management
• Responsible for the development and the maintenance of the user research repository, including research findings, reports and documentation
• Contribute to research projects, conduct research sessions, and effectively document and analyse findings
• Start presenting user research findings within the Product and PD&R and occasionally other related departments

Requirements

• Recent graduate or seeking to transition into the field of user research
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in related fields, e.g. Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Sociology
• Basic knowledge and appreciation for qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Prior research experience (academic or professional) in user research or usability testing is desirable
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong ability to synthesise qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to clearly present research findings to diverse audiences
• 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)
• Ability to work collaboratively to support larger projects
• Willingness to learn and develop as a User Researcher
• A strong passion for understanding user behaviour and delivering exceptional user experiences
• Desire to take a major role in qualitative research in projects which will include evening interviews and some field visits in the UK

Skills:

• methods: familiarity with a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Some experience with interview practice is a plus
• Communication: excellent written and verbal communication skills; confidence in presenting research findings and insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Strong storytelling and data visualisation skills are highly desirable
• Attention to detail: a meticulous approach to detail in research planning, execution and documentation
• Organisational skills: ability to multitask and prioritise
• Critical thinking: strong analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate complex user behaviours and translate them into actionable insights
• Continuous learning: a growth mindset and a passion for continuous learning in the field of user research
• Domain knowledge: prior knowledge of horse racing or bloodstock is not required, but curiosity and an eager willingness to learn are essential 
• Empathy: the ability to have a deep understanding of user needs, behaviours, and motivations
• AI: ability to demonstrate effective use of AI tools to enhance work, improve efficiency whilst maintaining core research processes

Benefits

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 or local charity.