User Researchers - Government Client

Square One Resources; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is looking for two Senior User Researchers to help shape a vital digital service for the UK government. The ideal candidates will have extensive experience in qualitative research methodologies and agile environments. Responsibilities include conducting user research sessions and collaborating with designers to enhance the service. This role is based in various locations across the UK on a contract expected for 12 months.

Qualifications

• Extensive practical experience of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
• Experience in an agile project environment.
• Proven experience in usability testing and analysing research sessions.

Responsibilities

• Lead on research projects to define and deliver methodologies.
• Plan and conduct user research sessions regularly.
• Analyse findings to identify themes and provide recommendations.
• Work collaboratively with designers and analysts to iterate services.

Skills

Qualitative research methodologies

Agile project environment

Quantitative research methodologies

Service design

Web-based services requirements gathering

Usability testing

Audience modelling

Education

Degree in HCI/Usability/Cognitive Psychology/Market Research

Job description

Job Title: User Researchers x2 - Government Client
Location: Once or twice a month - Offices in London/Manchester/Newcastle/Portsmouth
Salary/Rate: Up £365 a day inside IR35
Start Date: November 2025
Job Type: 3 months and extension expected for 12 months

Company Introduction

We are looking for two Senior User Researchers, who can make a positive impact, and who want to contribute to the most demanding and exciting new digital service for the UK government.

Candidates must have a strong research background, with experience in the full range of user research and design methods and the ability to translate research findings into actionable recommendations and be ready to quickly get to work in an agile multidisciplinary team.

You must have good problem-solving skills and be able to deliver innovative technology that carries real value for users.

You will also be able to integrate user insights into the design process of a service, ensuring that quality user research is both carried out and delivered effectively into the design process and final service.

Job Responsibilities/Objectives

• Lead on research projects, working with a wider team of Designers, Analysts and Developers to help define and deliver the best methodology to address the specific needs in producing a responsive digital service
• Familiarise yourself with the project's user research work to date and devise a strategy for moving the work forward
• Plan, design and conduct user research sessions on a regular basis, testing both high-level concepts, and aspects of the service as it is designed and developed, and developing and maintaining a picture of the users
• Collaboratively analyse the findings of user research to identify common themes and points of user contention and provide actionable recommendations to the relevant team members.
• Apply knowledge in human factors, ethnography, and the user-centred design process to product and service design in an iterative development environment
• Use findings of user data to work closely with designers and analysts to iterate the developing service
• Thrive working in an agile environment, using your own creativity, resourcefulness and initiative to maximise the quality of user research and its impact on the service development
• Be visible within the team and be able to engage, build trust and energise a team culture that is responsive to the findings of user research.

Required Skills/Experience

• Extensive practical experience of qualitative research methodologies, in terms of design, execution and analysis
• Experience of working within an agile project environment, and maintaining effective performance in difficult and challenging circumstances
• Practical experience of quantitative research methodologies
• An understanding of service design, visual design, Front End development and agile methodologies.
• Proven experience of gathering user requirements for web based services.
• Proven experience of managing, executing and analysing usability test and research sessions.
• Proven experience of working in an agile development environment with User Experience teams, designers and developers to create new digital products and services.
• Experience of audience modelling and developing design personas.
• An in-depth understanding of the available research methodologies.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Degree in HCI/Usability/Cognitive Psychology/Market Research or related field.
• Experience across web content, tools and transactional services, especially those with complex user journeys.
• Experience within a research and digital environment.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply now with your updated CV in Microsoft Word/PDF format.

Disclaimer

Notwithstanding any guidelines given to level of experience sought, we will consider candidates from outside this range if they can demonstrate the necessary competencies.

Square One is acting as both an employment agency and an employment business, and is an equal opportunities recruitment business. Square One embraces diversity and will treat everyone equally. Please see our website for our full diversity statement.