User Researcher - GDS

User Researcher - Central Government - Remote/London - £450/day (Inside IR35) - Contract via Umbrella Company

We are seeking an experienced Senior User Researcher to support a Central Government department on key digital service initiatives. This predominantly remote role, with occasional travel to London offices, focuses on complex user research delivered to Government Digital Service (GDS) standards using the GOV.UK Design System.

The Role

You will lead and coordinate user research activities, ensuring evidence-based insights inform service design and strategic decisions. Acting as a senior practitioner, you will guide teams on best practice, advocate for user-centred approaches, and influence stakeholders to deliver services that meet user needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead user research programmes, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.

• Conduct and synthesise complex research, delivering actionable insights for service design.

• Set and maintain high standards of research quality, ethics, and accessibility in line with GDS guidance.

• Advise stakeholders and ensure research findings are applied effectively.

• Apply inclusive research practices, representing diverse users and meeting accessibility standards.

• Operate effectively in secure, collaborative government environments.

• Work within agile teams, adapting methods to product complexity.

• Support and mentor junior researchers to foster a culture of research excellence.

Essential Experience

• Senior-level user research experience in the public sector, ideally with multiple Central Government roles.

• Expertise in GOV.UK User Design & User Research, and the GOV.UK Design System.

• Proven ability to lead complex research programmes and translate findings into strategic insights.

• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills.

• Comfortable working remotely with occasional London travel.

Desirable

• Experience mentoring or leading a research community of practice.

• Familiarity with government digital services and agile product delivery.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.

If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason , please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.