Senior User Researcher

Senior User Experience Researcher
Initial 6-month contract
£650 p/d (Inside IR35)
Manchester or London (1-2 days per week in office, with occasional monthly meetings in either Manchester or London)

We’re supporting a major UK Government department looking for an SME-level Senior User Experience Researcher to lead user-centred design across complex digital services. You’ll work closely with delivery, policy, and technology teams to ensure services are intuitive, inclusive, and genuinely meet user needs.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead and plan user research for complex services, applying expert-level methods and frameworks.
• Embed user-centred practices in new or developing teams, raising the standard of research across the organisation.
• Align research insights with wider service strategies to drive informed decision-making.
• Mentor and develop other researchers, sharing your expertise and assuring best practice.
• Advocate for inclusive research and accessibility, ensuring diverse user needs are represented.
• Collaborate closely with cross-disciplinary teams, integrating research seamlessly into agile workflows.

Who you are:

• A recognised subject matter expert in user research, with hands-on experience across complex, multi-user journeys.
• Skilled at analysis and synthesis, translating research data into actionable insights that influence strategy.
• Knowledgeable about the technologies and social context of digital services.
• Able to influence sceptical stakeholders and champion user needs across teams.
• Experienced in inclusive design and accessibility, ensuring services work for all users.