User Researcher - Public Sector

Contract User Researcher (Government / GDS Experience)

Location: UK (Remote / Hybrid options)

The Role

We’re looking for an experienced Contract User Researcher with strong UK Government and GDS experience to join a multidisciplinary digital team delivering user-centred public services.

You’ll play a key role in ensuring services meet real user needs, working closely with product managers, designers, developers, and policy colleagues. This role requires confidence operating in complex government environments and a solid understanding of the GDS Service Standard and Service Assessments.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and conduct qualitative and quantitative user research across discovery, alpha, beta, and live phases
• Advocate for user needs and ensure research insights directly inform service and policy decisions
• Work collaboratively within agile, multidisciplinary teams
• Design inclusive research approaches, engaging hard-to-reach or vulnerable users where required
• Analyse and synthesise research findings into clear, actionable insights
• Communicate research outcomes effectively to a range of stakeholders, including senior civil servants
• Support teams through GDS service assessments with robust evidence of user-centred design

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience as a User Researcher within UK Government or GDS-aligned organisations
• Strong knowledge of the GDS Service Standard and government design principles
• Experience delivering research across the full service lifecycle
• Expertise in a wide range of user research methods (e.g. interviews, usability testing, surveys, diary studies)
• Confidence working in agile environments and multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Experience designing inclusive and accessible research

Desirable

• Experience working on large-scale or complex public services
• Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design practices
• Previous involvement in successful GDS service assessments