User Researcher

Ubds-Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training opportunities

Private medical cover

Discretionary bonus

Holiday entitlement 25 days + extended

Pension scheme

Death in service

Job summary

UBDS Group is seeking a User Researcher to work in multidisciplinary delivery teams, planning and conducting research to inform service design and delivery in public sector projects. You’ll translate insights into concrete recommendations and support teams across discovery to live phases, ensuring inclusivity, ethical practice and adherence to GDS standards.

You’ll collaborate with designers, product managers and engineers, turning evidence into action and helping services improve for users

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct user research to understand user needs and pain points across digital and non-digital public services.
• Choose and apply qualitative and quantitative research methods (interviews, usability tests, surveys, diary studies).
• Collaborate with product managers and designers to shape problem statements and research questions.
• Synthesize findings into clear, actionable insights to inform design and delivery.
• Communicate outcomes via artefacts like insight reports, personas, journey maps and playback sessions.
• Support teams to iterate services based on evidence across discovery, alpha, beta and live phases.
• Ensure research is inclusive, ethical and aligned with accessibility and safeguarding considerations.
• Work in line with Government Digital Service (GDS) standards and support service assessments.
• Contribute to building research capability by sharing methods and insights.

Skills

User research

Research methods

Delivery phases

Synthesis of insights

GDS standards

Ethics & data protection

Job description

UBDS Group helps organisations deliver meaningful digital transformations through modern technology and ways of working. We work across the public and private sector to design and build products, platforms and services that genuinely make a difference to users.

In the public sector, that means helping teams design services that are accessible, inclusive and evidence-led, meeting real user needs while aligning with government standards and constraints.

We’re looking for a User Researcher who is passionate about understanding people, confident working in delivery teams, and experienced in applying research to shape better public services.

The Role

As a User Researcher at UBDS, you’ll work as part of multidisciplinary delivery teams alongside designers, product managers, engineers, analysts and client stakeholders. You’ll plan and carry out user research to inform service design and delivery, ensuring decisions are grounded in evidence rather than assumptions.

You’ll operate in fast-moving, sometimes ambiguous public sector environments, balancing rigour with pragmatism and helping teams continuously learn from users throughout delivery.

This is a hands-on role focused on doing high-quality research and helping teams turn insight into action.

What You’ll Do

• Plan and conduct user research to understand user needs, behaviours and pain points across digital and non-digital public services.
• Choose and apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g. interviews, usability testing, surveys, diary studies).
• Work closely with product managers and designers to shape problem statements, hypotheses and research questions.
• Synthesize research findings into clear, actionable insights that inform design and delivery decisions.
• Communicate research outcomes through clear artefacts such as insight reports, personas, journey maps and playback sessions.
• Support teams to iterate services based on evidence, testing and learning throughout discovery, alpha, beta and live phases.
• Ensure research activities are inclusive, ethical and aligned with accessibility and safeguarding considerations.
• Work in line with Government Digital Service (GDS) standards, supporting service assessments where required.
• Contribute to building research capability in teams by sharing methods, insights and good practice.

What We’re Looking For

User Research Skills

• Experience conducting user research in public sector or complex service environments.
• Strong understanding of a range of user research methods and when to use them.
• Experience working across different phases of delivery (Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live).
• Ability to synthesise research into clear insights that directly influence product and service decisions.
• Experience working with or aligning to GDS standards, including Service Standard and accessibility requirements.
• Awareness of research ethics, data protection and consent, particularly in public-facing services.

Ways of Working

• A user-centred mindset and genuine curiosity about people and how they interact with services.
• Confidence working in multidisciplinary, Agile teams.
• Ability to communicate clearly with a wide range of stakeholders, including non-research specialists.
• Comfortable working in ambiguous problem spaces and helping teams make sense of complexity.
• Strong organisation and attention to detail, including clear documentation of research plans and findings.
• Willingness to adapt research approaches to time, budget and operational constraints while maintaining quality.

Why people choose to grow their careers at UBDS Group

Professionals choose to grow their careers at UBDS Group for its reputation as a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation that is deeply committed to both innovation and employee development. At UBDS Group, employees are given unique opportunities to work on cutting-edge projects across a diverse range of industries, exposing them to new challenges and learning opportunities that are pivotal for professional growth. The Group’s culture emphasises continuous improvement, offering ample training programs, mentorship, and the chance to gain certifications that enhance their skills and marketability.

UBDS Group fosters a collaborative environment where creativity and innovation are encouraged, allowing employees to contribute ideas and solutions that have a tangible impact on the company and its clients. This combination of professional development, a culture of innovation, and the opportunity to make meaningful contributions makes UBDS Group an attractive place for those looking to advance their careers and be at the forefront of technological and operational excellence.

Employee Benefits

• Training – All team members are offered a number of options in terms of personal development, whether it is technical led, business acumen or methodologies. We want you to grow with us and to help us achieve more
• Private medical cover for you and your spouse/partner, offered via Vitality
• Discretionary bonus based on a blend of personal and company performance
• Holiday – You will receive 25 Days holiday, plus 1 day for Birthday and 1 day for your work anniversary in addition to UK bank holidays
• Electric Vehicle leasing with salary sacrifice
• Contributed Pension Scheme
• Death in service cover

About UBDS Group

At UBDS Group our mission is to support entrepreneurs who are setting new standards with technology solutions across cloud services, cybersecurity, data and AI, ensuring that every investment advances our commitment to innovation, making a difference, and creating impactful solutions for organisations and society.

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability or age.