Senior User Researcher

Job Title: Senior User Researcher (Contract) - Public Sector / Digital Services

Contract Length: November
Location: London (Hybrid )
Clearance Required: BPSS

Overview

We are supporting a major UK public sector organisation undertaking large-scale digital transformation across citizen-facing services.

They are seeking an experienced Senior User Researcher to join a multidisciplinary User-Centred Design (UCD) team, contributing to the delivery of high-quality, accessible digital services aligned to GDS standards.

This role will focus on Discovery and Alpha phases, helping shape services that meet the needs of the UK public while supporting evidence-based decision-making across product and design teams.

The Role

You will work as part of a cross-functional UCD team alongside designers, product managers, and engineers to plan and deliver user research activities that inform service design and product direction.

You will play a key role in ensuring services are grounded in real user needs, translating insights into actionable recommendations that drive service improvements.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct user research across Discovery and Alpha phases
• Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary UCD team
• Partner closely with Product Managers to shape service direction
• Design and execute appropriate research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative)
• Synthesise research findings into clear, actionable insights
• Advocate for user needs across stakeholders at all levels
• Support the design of accessible, user-centred public services
• Contribute to service design activities aligned to GDS principles

Essential Experience

• Proven experience as a User Researcher within UK Government or NHS environments
• Strong understanding of GDS standards and service design principles
• Experience delivering research across Discovery and Alpha phases
• Demonstrated experience working within cross-functional UCD teams
• Experience collaborating with Product Managers to design effective public-facing services
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills

Desirable Experience

• Experience supporting or contributing to GDS / CDDO / MyGov D1 Service Assessments
• Exposure to assessment requirements at Discovery and Alpha stages
• Experience working in complex, large-scale digital transformation programmes

Candidate Profile

• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, delivery-focused public sector environments
• Able to balance hands-on research with stakeholder engagement
• Confident working autonomously within a contract setting
• Focused on delivering measurable outcomes from research activity