Senior User Researcher

Department of Business and Trade; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Business and Trade seeks four Senior User Researchers to lead and conduct user research, mentoring teams and shaping public service design. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on government services by ensuring that user insights drive policy and design decisions.

Qualifications

• Capable of planning, designing, and conducting complex user research.
• Able to interpret research outputs and present actionable findings.
• Experience in leading teams and adopting user-centered practices.

Responsibilities

• Conduct user research and mentor other researchers for high-quality practices.
• Promote user-centered practices using agile and iterative design methods.
• Communicate research findings to influence service delivery and policy.

Skills

Expertise in research methods

Strong analysis and synthesis skills

Research leadership abilities

Job description

About us

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has a clear mission - to grow the economy. Our role is to help businesses invest, grow, and export to create jobs and opportunities across the country. We operate in multiple locations including London, Darlington, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham, and Salford.

We aim to build a strong, competitive business environment where consumers are protected and companies are rewarded for treating their employees properly.

We also open international markets and ensure resilient supply chains through Free Trade Agreements, trade facilitation, and multilateral agreements.

Additionally, we partner with businesses daily, providing finance and deal-making support to those looking to start up, invest, export, and grow.

The Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) directorate develops tools and services to support these goals. The team has been nominated three times consecutively for ‘Best Public Sector Employer’ at the Women in Tech awards.

About the role

We are recruiting 4 Senior User Researchers to plan, design, and conduct research activities with users—helping teams develop a deep understanding of government service users, including citizens, businesses, and government. User Research informs policy, service design, content, and interactions to ensure services are effective and meet policy goals. As a Senior User Researcher, reporting to a Lead User Researcher, you will be an experienced practitioner capable of leading research in large teams and complex government services.

Job description

You will:

• Conduct user research in complex areas and oversee and mentor other researchers to ensure high-quality, ethical, and safe research practices.
• Promote user-centered practices within multidisciplinary teams using agile and iterative design methods.
• Communicate research findings effectively to influence service delivery and policy.
• Research inclusively with diverse user groups, including those with additional needs and hard-to-reach populations.
• Contribute to the DBT user research community, helping to develop and refine research practices across the department.
• Assist teams in building services that meet the government Service Standard and prepare for service assessments following CDDO guidelines.
• Identify and utilize available metrics and data to support and enhance user research insights.

Person specification

Skills and experience

It is essential that you have:

• Expertise in research methods and design, capable of planning, designing, and conducting complex user research using various methods correctly.
• Strong analysis and synthesis skills, able to interpret research outputs, involve stakeholders, and present clear, actionable findings.
• Research leadership abilities, able to work with teams and stakeholders to adopt user-centered practices and iterative workflows driven by research insights.