London
Lead User Researcher - Central Gov
Posted on Wednesday, 4th November 2026
Public Sector
London
£600 per year + Depending on experience
Contract
Lead User Researcher
Location: Remote first with occasional visits to London
Clearance: Active SC Clearance Required
Day Rate: £600 per day (Inside IR35)
Contract Length: 6 Months+
Start date: End of November
About the Role
We are seeking a highly experienced Lead User Researcher to support the delivery of a high-profile Government programme. Working within a multidisciplinary team, you will be responsible for shaping research strategy, championing user needs and ensuring evidence-based decision making throughout the service lifecycle.
You will work closely with Service Designers, Product Managers, Content Designers and Delivery Managers to understand complex user needs and translate insight into actionable recommendations.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and deliver user research activities across Discovery, Alpha, Beta and Live phases
- Design and execute qualitative and quantitative research studies
- Plan and facilitate interviews, usability testing, workshops and research sessions
- Synthesize complex findings into clear, actionable insights
- Advocate for user-centred design principles across the programme
- Support product and service teams in making evidence-based decisions
- Manage stakeholder relationships across technical and non-technical teams
- Mentor and support junior researchers where required
Essential Experience
- Extensive experience delivering User Research within Government or public sector environments
- Strong understanding of GDS Service Standard and Service Manual
- Proven experience across Discovery, Alpha, Beta and Live delivery
- Expertise in qualitative research methodologies
- Strong stakeholder engagement and workshop facilitation skills
- Experience working within agile multidisciplinary teams
- Ability to communicate research findings to senior stakeholders
Desirable Experience
- Active SC Clearance
- Experience supporting GDS assessments
- Service Design experience
- Experience working on large-scale digital transformation programmes
If this of interest please don’t hesitate to apply.
Disclaimer: Any remuneration stated in this advertisement is indicative and will be dependent on the successful candidate’s experience, skills and qualifications. Final remuneration will be agreed with the successful candidate and will be subject to the terms of the contract.
