User Researcher - Community Engagement

Organisation: parkrun Global Limited
Salary: £33,000 - £37,000
Location: Leeds
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 5 October 2025
Job Description: Brief role description:
To keep the voice of the participant at the heart of decision making by building a more rounded understanding of the motivations, behaviours and pain points of participants. Helping inform strategy with a more complete view of participant journeys, and strengthening parkrun’s ability to maximise impact in current communities and reach new ones. Working with a range of stakeholders to plan and conduct user research using a range of methods (e.g. interviews, focus groups, diary studies, surveys, usability testing) to deliver clear, actionable outputs and recommendations.

Main responsibilities:
Planning, designing and executing user research projects using a range of methods (e.g. interviews, focus groups, diary studies, usability testing).
Championing the voice of the participant and the role of research in decision-making
Collaborating with the Data Support Analyst and Head of Analysis to generate mixed-method insights.
Maintaining a library of research insights to optimise the sharing of insights across the charity.
Engaging stakeholders across the charity, including staff, walkers and runners, volunteer teams to those yet to participate.
Building capability by mentoring others and developing research tools and competency across the staff team
Ensuring high standards of ethical research and legal compliance.

Essential experience requirements:
Experience of qualitative and quantitative research methods including surveys, interviews, focus groups, diary studies, workshop facilitation and usability testing.
Analysing multiple sources of information to extract themes and insights.
Presenting to a wide range of stakeholders both internally and externally.
Identifying research participants and proven experience tailoring research methods to fit.
Contributing to the optimisation of user-facing digital experiences.

Desirable experience requirements:
Experience within the physical activity sector.

Professional certification requirements:
N/A

Most relevant skills:
Attention to Detail: Meticulous with a sharp eye for detail and accuracy.
Communication: Able to talk and work with people at all levels in a professional and mature manner across the whole parkrun network.
Initiative: Able to be proactive, take initiative and take steps to improve ways of working seeking support where necessary
Interpersonal Skills: Ability to communicate and establish rapport at all levels, internally and externally.
Presentation: Able to present ideas and plans clearly, using available resources.
Priority Management: Able to manage competing priorities with resilience and thrive in a fast paced environment.
Problem Solving: Able to detect problems, recognise important information and link various data; to trace potential causes and look for relevant details
Able to use a variety of IT systems and tools, such as google workspace.
Demonstrates high levels of discretion and confidentiality.
Demonstrates a growth mindset, with a desire to improve and learn new skills.
How to apply: https://blog.parkrun.com/uk/2025/09/23/join-us-as-a-user-researcher/