At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead user research activities to shape user-centred digital services for millions.
- Company: Join DWP, the UK's largest government department, making a real impact.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, generous holidays, flexible hours, and a fantastic pension scheme.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with clear career progression and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a team that champions inclusive research and user needs.
- Qualifications: Experience in user research methods and collaboration with diverse teams.
The predicted salary is between 68205 - 68205 £ per year.
Pay up to £68,205, plus 28.97% employer pension contributions, hybrid working, flexible hours, and great work-life balance.
DWP Digital with Purpose. We need a skilled Senior User Researcher to lead research activities that shape user-centred digital services. In DWP Digital, our teams use fresh ideas and leading-edge tech to build and maintain digital solutions that will be used by nearly every person in the UK, every day and at key moments in their lives. DWP is the UK's largest government department. We help people into work and make payments worth over £195bn a year to support and empower millions of people. The scale of what we do is extraordinary, and our purpose is unique. We'd love you to join us.
What skills, knowledge and experience will you need to demonstrate in your application?
- Experience of, and can help teams adopt, a wide range of user research methods.
- Can plan user research for services with challenging user needs and complex user journeys.
- Influential, being able to lead and collaborate with other researchers on research projects.
- Significant and demonstrable experience of championing, planning and conducting research approaches which are inclusive of all users.
- Detailed working knowledge and experience of the ethical and data governance requirements of conducting research.
- Proven track record in working effectively with senior stakeholders/clients.
- Experience of persuading others on the value of research, defending research findings and challenging others on the use of research.
- Proven ability to work with constraints, adapting approaches to mitigate against constraints.
You and your role
Our User Researchers work on internal and external user research projects to gather insights and feedback from a diverse range of users. You're an experienced practitioner in User Research, so you'll be used to planning and leading user research activities across complex projects and services. Our User Researchers use a wide range of research methodologies, both qualitative and quantitative depending on the requirements of each project/programme. You have the expertise to define a problem, and pick the right research strategies and methods to help us understand and design for our users' needs. You'll make telling recommendations based on a variety of research outcomes, which inform the way we deliver our wide range of products and services for millions of people. We work in an agile environment, as part of multi-disciplinary project teams, and expert communities of practice. You'll keep our teams locked in on user-centred design based on user needs and quality user research. As a Senior Researcher, you'll be an expert voice in our UR community. You will lead and inspire our User Researchers, championing a user-centred and evidence-based approach. You'll be an advocate for inclusive research principles, planning and conduct, considering the diversity of our users and their different needs - DWP services need to work for everyone.
Our User Research team - culture, learning & community
Our User Research community is well-established, but we continue to grow, and there is a clear progression pathway and opportunity to nurture your skills and career. We're also part of a collaborative UX/Product Design community, working with interaction designers, content designers and more to get better together. You'll have access to whatever learning works for you to keep you at the top of your UR game. And we continually evolve our research methodologies and tools, so we have the clearest understanding of our users and how our services are working.
Details. Wages. Perks.
Location: You'll join us in one of our brilliant digital hubs in Birmingham, Blackpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sheffield, whichever is most convenient for you. Hybrid Working: We work a hybrid model - you'll spend some time working at home and some time collaborating face to face in a hub. Pay: We offer competitive pay of up to £68,205. Pension: You'll get a brilliant civil service pension with employer contributions worth 28.97%, worth up to £19,758. Holidays: A generous leave package starting at 26 days rising to 31 days over time. You can also take up to 3 extra days off a month on flexi-time. You'll also get all the usual public holidays. We have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Flexible working including flexible hours and flex-friendly policies.
- Time off volunteering and charitable giving.
- Bring your authentic self to work with 'I Can Be Me in DWP'.
- Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more.
- Interest-free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket, so it's even easier for you to get to work and start making a difference.
- Sports and social activities.
- Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities.
And we have an award-winning environment and culture: DWP have been recognised as 2024 Diversity Employer of the Year at the Computing Women in Tech Excellence awards, Diverse and Inclusive Leadership at Digital Leaders Awards 2024, Commended as Best Place to Work in Digital category in the Computing Digital Technology Leaders awards 2025, Recognised as one of the Best Public Sector Employers at 2025 Women In Tech Employer Awards.
Process: We know your time is valuable so our application and selection process is just two stages:
- Apply: complete your application on Civil Service Jobs. There'll be full instructions when you click through.
- Interview: a single stage interview online.
CLICK APPLY for more information and to start your application.
Senior User Researcher in Bolton employer: DWP Digital
DWP Digital is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to work at the heart of the UK's largest government department, where your contributions will impact millions of lives. With a strong focus on user-centred design, our collaborative culture fosters professional growth through continuous learning and mentorship, while our generous benefits package, including flexible working hours and a robust pension scheme, ensures a healthy work-life balance. Join us in one of our vibrant digital hubs across the UK, where diversity and inclusion are celebrated, making DWP a truly rewarding place to advance your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior User Researcher in Bolton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at DWP through LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common user research scenarios. Think about how you'd tackle complex user journeys and be ready to share your past experiences. We want to see your thought process!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your soft skills! During the interview, highlight your ability to collaborate and influence others. DWP values teamwork, so make sure they know you're a team player who can lead and inspire.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our awesome team at DWP.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior User Researcher in Bolton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills:Make sure to highlight your experience with various user research methods. We want to see how you've led research activities and collaborated with teams, so don’t hold back on those examples!
Tailor Your Application:Read the job description carefully and align your application with the skills and experiences mentioned. We love it when candidates connect their background directly to what we’re looking for!
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through! We value diversity and authenticity, so don’t be afraid to share your unique perspective and how it can contribute to our user research community.
Apply Through Our Website:Remember to apply via the Civil Service Jobs portal. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application, and you’ll find all the instructions you need there!
How to prepare for a job interview at DWP Digital
✨Know Your Research Methods
Make sure you brush up on a wide range of user research methods. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully applied these in past projects, especially in complex user journeys. This will show that you can lead research activities effectively.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills
Prepare examples of how you've worked with senior stakeholders and clients. Highlight your ability to persuade others about the value of research findings. This is crucial for demonstrating your influential role in the team.
✨Emphasise Inclusivity
DWP values inclusive research principles, so be prepared to discuss how you've championed inclusivity in your past work. Share specific instances where you adapted your research approach to meet diverse user needs.
✨Be Agile and Adaptable
Since you'll be working in an agile environment, think of examples where you've had to adapt your research strategies due to constraints. Show that you're flexible and can pivot when necessary to ensure user-centred design.
