Senior User Researcher - #1742908

Application Deadline: Monday 16th June at 23:55pm

As a Senior User Researcher, you will plan and lead user research activities in large teams and on complex services. You will develop research strategy and test design, as well as lead on expansive discovery research and analysis within the broad problem space. You will lead research using a range of methods, including usability testing, contextual interviews, pop-up testing, and will lead on rapid analysis that involves the wider team whenever possible.

You will also carry out line management, mentoring, training and other activities designed to up-skill junior staff in primary research techniques, as well as recruitment activities to ensure that we continue to have the required skills within the organisation.

What will you be doing?

Your main day to day responsibilities will be:

• Leading the planning, design and execution of user research and usability testing to understand user needs and behaviours, and inform the design and development of government services.
• Influencing how decisions are made and constructively challenging ways of thinking at both the team and senior stakeholder level.
• Leading other user researchers within a digital delivery team, mentoring and up-skilling researchers and supporting the growth and development of the team.
• Taking a user centred, evidence-based approach by turning user research findings into actionable insights that influence service/product development.
• Supporting digital delivery teams to build accessible digital services by ensuring that participants with access needs and low digital skills are included in all research.
• Sharing insights from research and examples of best practice where they can help other researchers across the Home Office.
• Aligning user research activities with wider organisational objectives to provide strategic insights that inform policy and proposition

Your skills for this role

As a Senior User Researcher, you will have experience of establishing and leading an effective user centered design culture in a team and supporting them to embed user centred design practices into their agile workflow. During the selection process, you’ll be assessed on your experience of this and the following technical skills:

• Managing People and Leading: establishing an effective user centred design culture in a team, and supporting them to embed user centred design practices into their agile workflow (Lead essential criteria).
• User Research: understanding and applying a range of user research methods correctly for different life cycle phases, and advising others on these methods at a senior level.
• Analysis and Synthesis: communicating insights from research in a clear and impactful way that drives change in the design of services and informs policy and proposition.
• Communicate, persuade and advocate: convincing senior stakeholders about the benefits of adopting a user-centred approach, based on evidence.
• Research Ethics: establishing and applying ethical research standards and practices to ensure the safeguarding and wellbeing of participants and researchers.
• Accessibility and inclusion: researching diverse audiences to help teams deliver accessible and inclusive digital services.

Why join us?

• Exceptional pension: Employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Generous leave: 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 with service), 8 public holidays, and 1 day for the King’s Birthday.
• Flexible working: Options include full-time, part-time, compressed hours, job sharing, and a hybrid model (minimum 60% on-site).
• Learning and development: Access to training, technical accreditations, and funded qualifications (subject to approval).
• Inclusion and recognition: A culture that champions diversity, enhanced parental leave schemes, annual bonuses, and recognition awards.

Learn more about our benefits: Benefits - Home Office Careers

Please note: This role requires SC clearance. To meet national security vetting requirements, you must typically have been resident in the UK for at least five years.

Ready to lead and innovate? Click "Apply" to access the full job description and salary details.