Jisc

UX Design for Jisc, the UK digital, data, and technology agency focused on tertiary education, research, and innovation. A not-for-profit organisation which believes that education and research improves lives, and technology improves education and research.

Focusing on the area of research management, designing digital products with and for researchers, librarians, archivists, students, and others in FE and HE.

UX Designer

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)

Leading research in the UCD team for the "Enforcement" service area, working across areas including counter-fraud, intelligence, market surveillance, and legal and prosecution services. Planning and carrying out discovery and Alpha research using a range of research methods, to the Government Service Standard. Working closely with Service Designers, Content Designers, Business Analysts, and subject matter experts.

I resigned from this job in December 2023, following a conflict between my personal ethics and values, and recent Government decisions.

Senior User Researcher

Qrious

UX Design and User Research at Qrious, an Experience Transformation Studio in Newcastle. Working collaboratively in a team of UX Designers, Analysts, and Developers to advocate for the needs of users in digital transformation, and new digital products and services.

➡️ CLIENT PROJECTS:

🔹 Client: Ringtons. A 6-week discovery project leading to the creation of a company-wide digital transformation roadmap, and securing the contract for a high-value multi-year digital transformation programme. While contributing to all discovery work (interviews, ethnography, artefacts), I also led on data analysis and reporting.

🔸Designing and conducting research for a 10-week client project to identify user requirements for a mobile sales app. Contributing to all research and leading on surveys. Working closely with Interaction Designers to feed research findings into designs, and contribute to user testing of concepts and prototypes.

🔹Designing and conducting research on a 6-week client project to identify user requirements for a new CRM solution. Communicating research findings to the client's Executive team.

🔸 Creating a research plan for an imminent UX research project, in consultation with the client.

➡️ INTERNAL PROJECTS:

▪️ Contributing to the launch of a new website: content design, project management.

➡️ UX RESEARCH, TOOLS & SYSTEMS:

▪️ Research methods included: interviews, ethnography, surveys, competitive analysis, contextual interviews, usability testing, SUS testing. 

▪️ Data analysis: grounded theory, affinity mapping, quantitative data analysis in Excel.

▪️ UX tools: personas, journey maps, process flows, service blueprints, story maps.

▪️ Research communications: comprehensive evidence-based written reports, stakeholder playbacks, executive playbacks, video playback.

▪️ Systems: Miro, Figma, Jira, Umbraco.

Sadly, the company went into liquidation and all roles were made redundant.

User Researcher & UX Designer

UN Women UK

Official UN Women UK Delegate for the United Nations 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67)

UN Women UK Delegate

Dynamo North East

Managing the development of Dynamo's new Digital [Tech] Talent Engine, part of the North of Tyne Combined Authority's £10 million Digital Growth and Innovation Programme.

Digital Talent Engine Manager

Durham University

(Fixed-term contract) TechUP specialises in running blended learning training programmes which train individuals from minority groups into entry level tech roles. Developed in collaboration with industry TechUP programmes include a mix of training in relevant tech skills, one to one mentoring, empowerment and confidence building. Our flexible approach to training ensures that anyone can benefit whatever their learning style and other commitments.

Working closely with industry we custom design the curriculum of each programme and provide networking events, careers fairs and interview.

TechUP Assistant Project Manager

Newcastle University

University Liaison Manager for Newcastle University’s new partnership with The Alan Turing Institute. Working with researchers and professional staff in The Alan Turing Institute and across all three faculties in Newcastle University. Providing comprehensive support to manage new research fellowships, research projects, PhD studentships, communications, events and activities.

Working with the Director of the Digital Institute and academics from across all three faculties to establish a Newcastle University Centre of Research Excellence (NUCoRE) in Data. Taking a leading role in developing the proposals, coordinating consultations, defining governance structures, and managing activity in advance of the launch in October 2019.

Turing Liaison and Digital Institute Manager

Northumbria University

(Fixed term contract) Project managing Northumbria University’s activity for 'Creative Fuse North East': a collaborative project within which Northumbria University, Newcastle University, Durham University, Sunderland University and Teesside University are working together to support innovation and growth in the Creative, Digital and IT sector.

Project Development Manager (Creative Fuse North East)

Setting up and managing a complex new national collaboration between Durham University, the Church of England and 18 external training institutions (the ‘Common Awards Scheme’): managing the initial validation process; providing professional advice and training; writing formal reports; coordinating contracts; managing a team; developing a suite of new policies, procedures, and systems; recruiting, training, and developing a team.

Quality Assurance Manager (Common Awards Scheme)

Project management, events management, and guiding and advising students, relating to student recruitment and widening access.

Student Recruitment Officer / Access Officer (Conferences & Post-16 Supported Progression) 

Managing quality assurance and enhancement processes in Arts and Humanities.

Faculty Support Officer

Project management, project research, events management, and delivering doctoral training, in the Postgraduate Training Team.

Training Team Support Officer

Managing quality assurance and enhancement processes in Social Sciences and Health.

Faculty Support Administrator

Discrete project management, project research, and report writing on behalf of the Acting Academic Registrar.

Personal Assistant to the Acting Academic Registrar

Designing, delivering, and assessing seminars and workshops in Theology and study skills.

Part-Time Postgraduate Teaching Assistant

Mentoring and supporting children and young people with complex special educational, behavioural, and medical needs.

Mentor

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education

Conducting audits to examine how universities manage academic standards and the quality of educational provision: analysing and synthesising complex evidence; conducting team visits to universities; co-authoring reports to highlight good practice and define actions for improvement.

Auditor

Fuelled by the vision of a better future for us all, designed by us all, together 💫

I'm a versatile UX Designer, a collaborative thinker and doer, an insatiable learner, and a passionate change-maker, with experience in UX across the private and public sectors.

Specialising in User Research, I work closely with people to discover their needs, with a view to designing new or improved products, services, and experiences. 

I have a background in research, including a PhD, Research Master's, and project research in higher education.

I'm a grateful recipient of the Women in Software Awards 2023, and winner of the first #30UXchallenge.

I'm a Code First Girls Ambassador, a proud member of the Cajigo women in tech accelerator community, a supporter of TechUPWomen, and an advocate for maternal mental health.

In 2022, I co-founded “Women in Tech North East”: a free and thriving community of ~1000 women and non-binary people who are interested in tech, supported by sponsors including Waterstons, Credera, and Aspire Technology Solutions (www.bit.ly/WiT_NE).

Previously, I set up Newcastle’s first #techmumsClub with the social enterprise #techmums (founded by Prof. Sue Black).

I have given talks at universities and regional training programmes, shared my experiences on podcasts and blogs, and worked with primary schools through Inspiring the Future, and the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) network.

In 2022, I was one of 125 women selected from 28,000 applicants globally to complete a programme for emerging women leaders with Santander and London School of Economics.

I worked in universities for ~14 years, across management, research, teaching, and training, including:

⭐️  retraining people from underrepresented backgrounds to get into tech, with TechUPWomen in the School of Computing at Durham University

⭐️  managing data science and AI projects and partnerships with The Alan Turing Institute (the UK's national institute for Data Science and AI) and Newcastle University

⭐️  building data science research capacity and supporting the growth of research software engineering, in Newcastle University’s Digital Institute, and Newcastle University Centre of Research Excellence in Data

⭐️  facilitating the fusion of digital and creative capabilities to support innovation and growth in North East SMEs, through Creative Fuse North East, in Northumbria University's School of Design.

All views expressed are my own, and not those of my employer, other organisations I work with, or AI 🤖

📢 Can you help me find a new job?! 

I'm a Senior User Researcher and Service Designer who thrives in inclusive organisations where good people do good things for the right reasons. 

I'm personable, versatile, and I have an exceptional work ethic. I bring passion, curiosity, method, and creativity. 

I confidently lead projects from planning through to discovery, concept design to prototyping, user testing and iteration, through to hand-off.

Most recently, I've worked for and with charities and not-for-profits: Girlguiding, Shelter, Bridges Programmes, EHCP Limited, Scottish Tech Army, Cancer Card, ELAM.

I've also worked in the public sector (DVSA), and with private sector clients through design agency work. 

Before working in Experience Design, I was a Project Manager for digital and tech projects for several years. Before that,  I completed a PhD, and then worked in higher education administration and management across 3 universities. 

I care deeply about my work, and I give it 100%. 

I am fuelled by the vision of a better future for us all, designed by us all, together. This vision has helped me shape my career, and will help me choose my next move.



*Ideally* I'm looking for:

- Part-time (4 days per week)

- Remote (or near-remote)

- Permanent or temporary, but ideally not working as a contractor (although I would consider it for the right organisation)

- I'm on a Senior level salary, but I am not driven by salary alone. Vision, values, and culture mean a lot to me. I can flex on the former; not on the latter. 



If you can, please help me find my next dream job! Perhaps you could...

➡️ Like, comment on, or share this post (or do all 3!)

➡️ Let me know of any opportunities that might suit me

➡️ Consider giving me a recommendation here on LinkedIn 



Thank you! 

Please wish me luck!


Image: Elena, a brown woman with dark brown mid-length hair, smiles (slightly awkwardly) for the camera.

Elena G.

Inclusive Service Design with and for charities 🌟 Fuelled by the vision of a better future for us all, designed by us all, together 🌍 All views my own.

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