Senior User Researcher

Scottish Government; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in Scotland is seeking a Senior User Researcher to shape user-centered services for the upcoming Census. The ideal candidate will lead user research efforts, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility while collaborating with various teams. Responsibilities include analyzing complex data, managing diverse user research practices, and influencing stakeholders. A background in ethical research and user-centered design is essential for success in this role. The position promotes flexible working arrangements and values diversity.

Benefits

£5,000 annual pay supplement after three-month period

Flexible working options

Inclusive working environment

Qualifications

• Experience in leading ethical and inclusive user research.
• Proven ability to analyze complex data sources.
• Experience supporting the design of inclusive services.

Responsibilities

• Lead analysis and synthesis of complex research data.
• Advocate for inclusive research practices.
• Manage user research activities across diverse teams.

Skills

Agile research practices

Analysis and synthesis

Inclusive research

User research methods

Stakeholder relationship management

Job description

Overview

Do you want to shape the delivery of Scotland’s Census, enabling governments and other public bodies to plan the services we all rely on and telling the story of Scotland’s people for generations to come? If so, this post could be for you.

About the program

Census is a major programme delivered by the National Records of Scotland (NRS). Planning for the next Census in 2031 has begun and will build on the successes of the Census in 2022.

About the role

We are looking for a skilled and motivated Senior User Researcher who will support teams in the design of end‑to‑end services that are user‑centred and evidence‑based. You will collaborate with teams across the programme – operations, statistics, technology, policy, communications, finance, procurement and commercial – and will also work closely with other census‑taking offices in the rest of the United Kingdom. This is an exciting opportunity to undertake research that will support teams to design services for every household in Scotland.

A Senior User Researcher is an experienced researcher who can lead activity on complex services, undertaking research that supports teams to design policy and services. To design services that work well for people and achieve policy intent you will work with the team to develop a shared understanding of the people who use the service and what they need. You will plan design and undertake user research activities and contribute to the design of inclusive and accessible services.

Responsibilities

• Analysis and synthesis

  Execute and manage analysis of complex research data. Help teams to apply a range of methods to analyse research data and synthesise findings. Engage a range of people, including sceptical colleagues, in analysis and synthesis. Advise on the choice and application of techniques and can critique findings to assure best practice and maintain research standards. Present and document clear findings that colleagues can understand, use and reuse across the organisation and practice.

• Inclusive research

  Help teams understand the diversity of users of government services. Champion the inclusion of a diverse range of users in appropriate user research activity to shape the service design, especially those who face the most barriers or are not currently using the service. Develop research that supports the delivery of an equitable service. Advocate inclusive practices and help teams design and deliver accessible and equitable services that work for all users. Understand the importance of assisted digital and champion the needs of people who are unable to use digital services.

• User research methods

  Demonstrate experience in a wide range of user research methods and help teams to adopt them. Plan and manage user research for services with challenging user needs and complex user journeys. Advise practitioners on the choice and application of research methods to assure best practice, identify and effectively manage participation of teams, stakeholders and users in research activities. Trial new methods or approaches to continue to develop the methodological toolkit.

• Agile research practices

  Advocate for agile working. Adapt how you design and conduct user research to respond to the complexity of the product environment. Understand the strategic decisions the team needs to make so you can design appropriate research. Influence decisions about priorities and agile processes in the team. Work in agile teams and help them to manage and visualise outcomes, prioritise work, define scope for research to deliver a minimum viable product (MVP) or change.

• Define the scope and purpose for the user research to align to project goals

  Assure and evaluate good practice user research standards for projects, including ethics and safeguarding. Implement and maintain legal and ethical research standards and processes and produce relevant documentation. Improve your practice through reflection and feedback. Create and document user research strategies and processes balancing business objectives and needs of users. Engage with and contribute to the Scottish Government user research community of practice.

• Stakeholder relationship management

  Influence important stakeholders and communicate with them clearly and regularly to demonstrate the value of user research. Tailor communication to stakeholders’ needs and work with them to build relationships while also meeting user needs. Work to improve stakeholder relationships using evidence to explain decisions made to reach consensus.

• User‑centred practice and advocacy

  Evaluate and choose approaches for building your team’s understanding of the user. Advocate for user‑centred design practices with sceptical colleagues and stakeholders. Help inexperienced teams to adopt a range of user‑centred practices. Identify the most important risks and opportunities for your team’s service development. Align user research plans to address team priorities. Evaluate user research tools and approaches to achieve research goals, including evaluation and management/overseeing of third‑party contracts.

Success profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

• Agile research practices – Practitioner
• Analysis and synthesis – Practitioner
• Inclusive research – Practitioner
• Research management leadership and assurance – Practitioner
• Stakeholder relationship management – Practitioner
• User research methods – Practitioner
• User‑centred practice and advocacy – Practitioner

Experience

• Your experience of leading analysis and synthesis methods allows you to analyse complex data sources and produce robust and actionable research insights that can be used across teams.
• Your experience of leading ethical and inclusive user research activity, including a diverse range of users, allows you to advocate for and support the design of inclusive and accessible services within a team.
• Your experience of leading user research activity ensuring it adheres to legal and organisational standards while aligned to project goals means you can facilitate evidence‑based decision making in a project.
• Your experience persuading and influencing stakeholders and building effective working relationships means that you can communicate clearly and deliver against business and user needs.
• Your experience of leading teams to design and deliver a wide range of inclusive user research using appropriate research methods for different situations and contexts.

Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing – Level 3
• Changing & Improving – Level 3
• Making Effective Decisions – Level 3
• Working Together – Level 3

How to apply

Apply online providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the criteria listed in the success profile above. If invited for further assessment this will consist of an interview and DDaT Technical assessment where the behaviours, experiences and technical skills outlined in the Success Profile will be assessed. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others or generated by AI and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for further information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment. Interviews and DDaT Technical assessments are scheduled for December 2025 however these may be subject to change.

This role is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only.

Qualifications & About the organisation

National Records of Scotland (NRS) is Scotland’s record keeper. Our purpose is to collect, preserve and produce information about Scotland’s people and history and make it available to inform current and future generations. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

NRS is a Non‑Ministerial Department of the Scottish Government and our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for please contact us.

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre‑employment checks: Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions). You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Pay supplement

This post is part of the Scottish Government Digital Data and Technology (DDAT) profession as a member of the profession you will join the professional development post. The post currently attracts a £5,000 annual DDAT pay supplement applicable after a 3‑month competency qualifying period. The payment will be backdated to your start date in the role. Pay supplements are reviewed regularly and there is one currently underway. Changes will be communicated when the review is concluded.

Equality statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes. For further information about the role please contact Larissa Baines. Scotlands Census is a time limited project which will run until 2031/32 depending on the role. Please contact the line manager named in this advert if you have any further questions.