Senior User Researcher - #1791489

Application Deadline: Tuesday 8th July at 23:55pm

We are looking for an experienced Senior User Researcher who can be a vocal advocate for user needs.

You will work in an agile, multi-disciplinary team in the Migration, Borders and Technology Portfolio (MBTP). Your research will make a lasting impact on our user-centred products and services.

Some of the projects you could work on include:

• building and improving systems for people and goods that cross the UK border and the process of applying for asylum
• building and improving systems and tools for internal staff (such as caseworkers, Border Force officers, Immigration Enforcement officers)
• continuously improving products and services for visas, passports and registration of marriages, births and deaths

What will you be doing?

Your main day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Planning and leading user research activities to ethical standards to understand user needs and behaviours and align with project goals.
• Sorting, categorizing, and transforming raw research data into valuable information for complex projects.
• Effectively communicating user research findings to your team and the wider organisation to influence decision-making.
• Effectively communicating and advocating UCD principles and ways of working with stakeholders.
• Supporting the development of accessible services by ensuring that participants with access needs are included in all research.
• Mentoring and coaching user researchers in method selection, research execution, ethical research, data analysis and synthesis.

Your skills for this role

As a Senior User Researcher, you will have experience of establishing and leading an effective user centred design culture in a team and supporting them to embed user centred design practices into their agile workflow. During the selection process, you’ll be assessed on your experience of this and the following technical skills:

• Managing People and Leading: Establishing an effective user centred design culture in a team, and supporting them to embed user centred design practices into their agile workflow.
• User Research: Understanding and applying a range of user research methods correctly for different life cycle phases, and advising others on these methods at a senior level.
• Analysis and Synthesis: Communicating insights from research in a clear and impactful way that drives change in the design of services and informs policy and proposition.
• Communicate, persuade and advocate: Convincing senior stakeholders about the benefits of adopting a user-centred approach, based on evidence.
• Research Ethics: Establishing and applying ethical research standards and practices to ensure the safeguarding and wellbeing of participants and researchers.
• Accessibility and inclusion: Researching diverse audiences to help teams deliver accessible and inclusive digital services.

Why join us?

• Exceptional pension: Employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Generous leave: 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 with service), 8 public holidays, and 1 day for the King’s Birthday.
• Flexible working: Options include full-time, part-time, compressed hours, job sharing, and a hybrid model (minimum 60% on-site).
• Learning and development: Access to training, technical accreditations, and funded qualifications (subject to approval).
• Inclusion and recognition: A culture that champions diversity, enhanced parental leave schemes, annual bonuses, and recognition awards.

Learn more about our benefits: Benefits - Home Office Careers

Please note: This role requires SC clearance. To meet national security vetting requirements, you must typically have been resident in the UK for at least five years.

Ready to lead and innovate? Click "Apply" to access the full job description and salary details.