Senior User Researcher

Maritime & Coastguard Agency; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service pension

25 days annual leave rising to 30

8 bank holidays + privilege day

Staff discount portal

Professional development opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme

Work-life balance

Job summary

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency in Southampton is seeking a skilled User Research Lead to drive evidence-based design across complex services. The role combines agile research, stakeholder collaboration, and rigorous data analysis to improve accessibility and user outcomes.

You will plan and conduct research, develop personas and journey maps, and present actionable recommendations to shape digital experiences.

Qualifications

• Experience leading, planning, designing and conducting user research in an AGILE project environment.
• Experience analysing quantitative and qualitative data to produce UX artifacts.
• Strong understanding of user-centred practices.
• Awareness of the importance of inclusive research.

Responsibilities

• Lead user research that helps shape digital experiences across complex service areas.
• Generate insights into user needs by developing personas, journey maps, stories and other artifacts.
• Engage with end users and target audiences to gather needs and usage information for research, design, usability testing and improvement.
• Evaluate qualitative and quantitative research to uncover user needs and behaviours.
• Present findings and recommendations to set out robust, actionable service improvements.

Skills

Leading user research

Agile project environment

Quantitative & qualitative analysis

User-centred practices

Inclusive research awareness

Job description

Salary: £44,241 - 44,241 per year

Requirements:

• Previous experience of leading, planning, designing, and conducting appropriate user research in an AGILE project environment
• Experience in analysing both quantitative and qualitative data to produce user experience artifacts
• Strong understanding of user-centred practices
• Awareness of the importance of inclusive research

Responsibilities:

• Lead user research that helps shape digital experiences across complex service areas
• Generate insights from research into formulas to increase understanding of user needs by developing user personas, journey maps, stories and other artifacts
• Understand and engage with end users and target audiences to gather information about their needs and how they interact with products and services, to discover what requires research, design, usability testing and continuous improvement
• Evaluate qualitative and quantitative research to uncover user needs and behaviours
• Confidently present and promote findings to set out robust and actionable recommendations for services

Technologies:

• AI
• Support

More:

We are the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Our Digital and Technology function delivers world-class services through technology innovation, strategic transformation, and customer-focused solutions. Our Digital and AI team leads our digital, AI, and innovation strategies, while our User-Centred Design team ensures our services are designed around user needs and business objectives. Through expert user research and service design practices, we help create accessible, effective, and user-focused digital services that support our mission and deliver meaningful outcomes. This is a permanent role based in Southampton, suitable for hybrid working, with flexible working options including full-time, job share, and part-time. We offer a Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%, 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days, 8 bank holidays plus an additional privilege day, access to a staff discount portal, professional development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workforce, an Employee Assistance Programme, and a strong focus on work-life balance.

last updated 36 week of 2026