WE ARE LOOKING FOR A SENIOR UX RESEARCHER TO JOIN OUR INDUSTRY-LEADING PRODUCT TEAM, HELPING TO SHAPE USER RESEARCH AND DRIVE PRODUCT DECISIONS.

Salary: Up to £57,500 per annum
Work Days & Hours: Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week
Location: Chester HQ (Hybrid-working policy, with a minimum of 2 days a week from the office post probation)
Team: Product
Reporting to: Lead UX Researcher

ABOUT US

Sykes Holiday Cottages is a business with big dreams and bursting with ambition. We have pinned our sights on becoming the UK’s number one holiday rental agency and will stop at nothing to reach our goal, combining over 30 years’ industry experience with our fierce company drive to become the best in the market for what we do. What started as a small, family-run company has now grown to be a 2000-strong workforce of ambitious, passionate professionals working under the Forge Holiday Group parent brand. Sykes Holiday Cottages is extremely proud to be B Corp Certified, which means we are part of a global community of businesses leading a worldwide movement for an equitable, inclusive and regenerative economy.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As part of our central research team, you’ll shape how we understand users and ensure research is at the heart of product decisions. Your primary focus will be on generative (exploratory) research—uncovering user needs, identifying opportunities and shaping the direction of our products and services.
While much of your work will be early-stage research, you’ll also support evaluative research when needed, ensuring the solutions we build truly meet user needs. But research isn’t just about gathering insights, it’s about making an impact. You’ll be a champion for user needs across the business, influencing stakeholders in Product and beyond to foster a research-led culture.
In this hands-on, high-impact role, you’ll own research initiatives from discovery to delivery, collaborating with designers, product managers, analysts, engineers, and the Experimentation team. You’ll lead research, challenge assumptions, and embed user insights into every decision.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead early-stage generative (exploratory) research to define user problems, uncover opportunities, and inform product strategy
• Own research initiatives from start to finish, balancing quick wins with long-term strategic insights
• Conduct research using a range of methods (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys, diary studies, and ethnographic research) to uncover insights and turn them into actionable recommendations.
• Support evaluative research, refining solutions to meet user needs
• Identify knowledge gaps and initiate new research projects
• Translate findings into compelling, actionable insights, effectively communicating them to stakeholders
• Work with business stakeholders to advocate for research, providing guidance, training, and collaboration
• Work with the Lead UX Researcher to align the research function with strategy and best practices
• Champion user needs across the business, influencing stakeholders and fostering a research-led culture
• Coach and guide junior & mid-weight UX researchers, supporting their development
• Contribute to shaping the UX team and maintaining a high-performance environment
• Own key objectives, including personal growth and continuous learning