Senior Agile User Researcher
Keywords
Skills
GDS Discovery Coach/ User Researcher with over 23 years’ research experience who combines a qualitative research background with research methods to guide digital product teams and approach complex problems. I am good at influencing, driving impact and implementing change. Pragmatic and adaptable with the ability to deal with ambiguity and effectively manage through conflict. DBS Security cleared, BPSS Security Cleared.
Core Skills
Research Skills
Core Skills
- GDS assessments (recent Discovery, Alpha & Beta phase projects)
- Competent with Atlassian Jira, Trello and Confluence
- Agile methodology
- Card sorting
- Excellent ability to multi-task
- Usability testing
- Excellent written & spoken communication skills
- Process and Culture change
- Presentations
Research Skills
- Focus Group interviews
- Group interviews
- One to One interviews
- Structured & Semi Structured interviews
- Open, Axial & Selective coding
- Questionnaires
- Qualitative research methods
- Quantitative research methods
- Purposive Sampling
- Observations
- Report writing
- Ethics and confidentiality
Project history
08/2021
-
08/2021
Client: Birmingham City Council, Lotus Notes (GDS)
Role Senior Agile User Researcher
This project involved a discovery phase for the decommission of Lotus Notes.
* led the user research for this project
* contacted over 60 departments
* liaised between the developers and business owners
* created a list of needs
* reported progress back to stakeholders through daily stand-up's and show and tells.
Outcomes
60-page Alpha Phase report, backlogs, user stories,
Role Senior Agile User Researcher
This project involved a discovery phase for the decommission of Lotus Notes.
* led the user research for this project
* contacted over 60 departments
* liaised between the developers and business owners
* created a list of needs
* reported progress back to stakeholders through daily stand-up's and show and tells.
Outcomes
60-page Alpha Phase report, backlogs, user stories,
08/2021
-
08/2021
User Researcher
Client: Knowledge Seeds Training & Development Consulting
User Researcher
This project was to conduct user research for a water company that wanted to develop an App.
* planned user research strategy
* conducted user research with 50 users
* analysed data
* reported findings back to stakeholders
* created a business flow process
Outcomes
User journey, pain points, mock-ups, user stories
Client: Adult & Social Care Directorate, Birmingham City Council- Discovery Phase (GDS)
Role Senior Agile User Researcher
This project was a continuation of the field worker discovery phase that aimed to develop a
standard vanilla user journey for field workers within the Adult & Social care directorate
within the council. They could not be contacted during the discovery phase due to the COVID
pandemic.
* led the planning for user research
* led the recruitment of user research participants via purposive sampling
* conducted one to one and focus group interviews
* collated & themed data
* led analysis of findings & communicated back to the team and senior stakeholders of Birmingham
City council
* complied an end of project report
Outcomes
User stories, user journeys, personas, workflows, empathy maps, pain points, needs and themes
Client: Birmingham City Council: Field Worker Discovery Stage (GDS)
Role Senior Agile User Researcher
This project was a discovery phase that aimed to develop a standard vanilla user journey for
field workers across the council.
* led the planning for user research
* led the recruitment of user research participants via purposive sampling
* conducted one to one and focus group interviews for over 60 participants across 13
directorates
* collated & themed data
* led analysis of findings & communicated back to the team and senior stakeholders of Birmingham
City council
Outcomes
User stories, user journeys, personas, flows, empathy maps, pain points, needs and themes,
50-page Discovery Phase report
User Researcher
This project was to conduct user research for a water company that wanted to develop an App.
* planned user research strategy
* conducted user research with 50 users
* analysed data
* reported findings back to stakeholders
* created a business flow process
Outcomes
User journey, pain points, mock-ups, user stories
Client: Adult & Social Care Directorate, Birmingham City Council- Discovery Phase (GDS)
Role Senior Agile User Researcher
This project was a continuation of the field worker discovery phase that aimed to develop a
standard vanilla user journey for field workers within the Adult & Social care directorate
within the council. They could not be contacted during the discovery phase due to the COVID
pandemic.
* led the planning for user research
* led the recruitment of user research participants via purposive sampling
* conducted one to one and focus group interviews
* collated & themed data
* led analysis of findings & communicated back to the team and senior stakeholders of Birmingham
City council
* complied an end of project report
Outcomes
User stories, user journeys, personas, workflows, empathy maps, pain points, needs and themes
Client: Birmingham City Council: Field Worker Discovery Stage (GDS)
Role Senior Agile User Researcher
This project was a discovery phase that aimed to develop a standard vanilla user journey for
field workers across the council.
* led the planning for user research
* led the recruitment of user research participants via purposive sampling
* conducted one to one and focus group interviews for over 60 participants across 13
directorates
* collated & themed data
* led analysis of findings & communicated back to the team and senior stakeholders of Birmingham
City council
Outcomes
User stories, user journeys, personas, flows, empathy maps, pain points, needs and themes,
50-page Discovery Phase report
03/2021
-
08/2021
Senior Agile User Researcher/BA
Client: Birmingham City Council, The Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space Moratorium and
Mental Health Crisis Moratorium) (GDS)
Role Senior Agile User Researcher/BA (10 March 21 - 7 May 21)
This project was looking at the UK government's Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space) and how
Birmingham City Council would implement it.
* led the planning for user research
* managed the functional requirements (creation and testing)
* created week notes to keep all stakeholders in the loop
* led the show and tells
* collaborated with data warehouse to ensure that a reasonable search could be conducted
* led the creation of the MVP
Outcomes
Within 6 weeks manged to have the Breathing Space process ready to go live on the 4th May 2021
so that notifications could be received, searched and forwarded to implement Breathing Spaces
for eligible debtors.
Client: Birmingham City Council, Field Worker Alpha Phase (GDS)
Role Senior Agile User Researcher
This project was an Alpha phase that aimed to test the riskiest assumptions made within the
discovery phase of the field worker project within an Agile team.
* led the planning for user research
* led the recruitment of user research participants via purposive sampling
* conducted one to one and focus group interviews
* worked closely with the integration layer specialist to test assumptions
* user testability
* led analysis of findings & communicated back to the team and senior stakeholders of Birmingham
City council
* instrumental in creating a product owner group
Outcomes
60-page Alpha Phase report, backlogs, user stories, mock-ups, design prototypes, enhanced user
journeys
Mental Health Crisis Moratorium) (GDS)
Role Senior Agile User Researcher/BA (10 March 21 - 7 May 21)
This project was looking at the UK government's Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space) and how
Birmingham City Council would implement it.
* led the planning for user research
* managed the functional requirements (creation and testing)
* created week notes to keep all stakeholders in the loop
* led the show and tells
* collaborated with data warehouse to ensure that a reasonable search could be conducted
* led the creation of the MVP
Outcomes
Within 6 weeks manged to have the Breathing Space process ready to go live on the 4th May 2021
so that notifications could be received, searched and forwarded to implement Breathing Spaces
for eligible debtors.
Client: Birmingham City Council, Field Worker Alpha Phase (GDS)
Role Senior Agile User Researcher
This project was an Alpha phase that aimed to test the riskiest assumptions made within the
discovery phase of the field worker project within an Agile team.
* led the planning for user research
* led the recruitment of user research participants via purposive sampling
* conducted one to one and focus group interviews
* worked closely with the integration layer specialist to test assumptions
* user testability
* led analysis of findings & communicated back to the team and senior stakeholders of Birmingham
City council
* instrumental in creating a product owner group
Outcomes
60-page Alpha Phase report, backlogs, user stories, mock-ups, design prototypes, enhanced user
journeys
03/2019
-
08/2021
Senior User Research Consultant
Gateway Digital
Gateway is a global leader in creating smarter business models, growth strategies and integrated
experiences for customers through their deep digital expertise, services and technologies.
Client: Prince Sattam University (UK and Saudi)
Agile User Researcher
This project involved working on an educational tool's discovery in order to assist the
accreditation process at universities in Saudi Arabia.
* led the planning for user research
* provided design direction to the UX team via mid-to-high fidelity concepts and prototypes
* conducted one to one and focus group interviews for over 60 participants across 13
directorates
* collated & themed data
* collaborated with stakeholders including UX team members and Product Manager to identify and
prioritize research opportunities
Outcomes
User Journeys, pain points,
experiences for customers through their deep digital expertise, services and technologies.
Client: Prince Sattam University (UK and Saudi)
Agile User Researcher
This project involved working on an educational tool's discovery in order to assist the
accreditation process at universities in Saudi Arabia.
* led the planning for user research
* provided design direction to the UX team via mid-to-high fidelity concepts and prototypes
* conducted one to one and focus group interviews for over 60 participants across 13
directorates
* collated & themed data
* collaborated with stakeholders including UX team members and Product Manager to identify and
prioritize research opportunities
Outcomes
User Journeys, pain points,
06/2021
-
07/2021
Senior Agile User Researcher
The British Army (GDS)
This discovery was looking at the THEIA program which aims to digitise the army
* led the discovery
* researched focused on Agile ways of working & Digital and Cultural Skill
* presented to over 80 major stakeholders'
* gave training on how to perform user research.
* created a process for how to perform a discovery and how to prioritise in coming digital
projects.
Outcomes
Complied a report and presentation of the discovery with recommendations on how to conduct a
discovery, a framework for agile delivery and how to impact transformational change. The
recommendations given will be used as the foundation for the digitalisation process.
* led the discovery
* researched focused on Agile ways of working & Digital and Cultural Skill
* presented to over 80 major stakeholders'
* gave training on how to perform user research.
* created a process for how to perform a discovery and how to prioritise in coming digital
projects.
Outcomes
Complied a report and presentation of the discovery with recommendations on how to conduct a
discovery, a framework for agile delivery and how to impact transformational change. The
recommendations given will be used as the foundation for the digitalisation process.
08/2014
-
04/2019
Director of QA
Laureate Vocational College
This five-year project involved leading the state up of a vocational college in Saudi Arabia.
* implemented agile management ideals by facilitating exercises such as sprint planning and team
leading stand-ups.
* managed the project timelines and communicate with management staff and clients to ensure
project progress satisfactorily.
* created and maintained the solution vision, roadmap, and backlog of work through the project's
life cycle and translated features into user stories within the team's backlog while managing,
ranking, and prioritizing this backlog to reflect stakeholder's requirements.
* created an adaptive and innovative culture by using techniques such as framing and identifying
spaces within which movement members can craft strategy and discuss tactics.
* implemented agile management ideals by facilitating exercises such as sprint planning and team
leading stand-ups.
* managed the project timelines and communicate with management staff and clients to ensure
project progress satisfactorily.
* created and maintained the solution vision, roadmap, and backlog of work through the project's
life cycle and translated features into user stories within the team's backlog while managing,
ranking, and prioritizing this backlog to reflect stakeholder's requirements.
* created an adaptive and innovative culture by using techniques such as framing and identifying
spaces within which movement members can craft strategy and discuss tactics.
11/2009
-
07/2014
Assistant ELC Director
Taibah University
This was a university preparatory Year English language program that covered 9 male and female
campuses across the kingdom
* supervised, equipped, and coached up to 250+ teachers within the Preparatory Language
Programme and initiated cascade framework where applicable, delegating topic leaders to
facilitate over 50 sessions.
* boosted performance by 70%, through leading classroom-based and external observations surveys
and focus group interviews and feeding back to senior management.
* applied lean principles to tasks in order to better optimize time management and achieve goals
which transformed the culture within the workplace.
* managed to cut staff attrition by 95% via exemplary recruitment, selection, leadership, and
staff development by presenting findings and research-backed recommendations to colleagues and
senior management
campuses across the kingdom
* supervised, equipped, and coached up to 250+ teachers within the Preparatory Language
Programme and initiated cascade framework where applicable, delegating topic leaders to
facilitate over 50 sessions.
* boosted performance by 70%, through leading classroom-based and external observations surveys
and focus group interviews and feeding back to senior management.
* applied lean principles to tasks in order to better optimize time management and achieve goals
which transformed the culture within the workplace.
* managed to cut staff attrition by 95% via exemplary recruitment, selection, leadership, and
staff development by presenting findings and research-backed recommendations to colleagues and
senior management
Local Availability
Only available in these countries:
United Kingdom
