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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead user research and shape design decisions for impactful public sector projects.
- Company: Join a high-profile public sector digital programme with a focus on security.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in secure environments while leading UX design.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in user research, UX design, and stakeholder engagement required.
- Other info: Work in a structured environment with excellent career advancement opportunities.
I'm currently looking for an experienced User Researcher / Lead UX Consultant to join a high-profile Public Sector digital programme. This is a senior, hands-on role where you'll lead user research, shape design decisions, and work closely with technical teams to deliver accessible, build-ready solutions. This role suits someone confident operating in secure, regulated environments who enjoys influencing outcomes - not just contributing artefacts.
The basics
- Contract: 6 months (01/06/2026 - 30/11/2026)
- Rate: £690 per day
- IR35: Inside IR35 (Umbrella only)
- Location: Hybrid - predominantly remote, with travel to London / South ~4-5 times per month
- Clearance: Active MOD SC required (DV preferred)
- Nationality: UK National only
What you'll be doing
In this role, you'll be trusted to lead from the front. You will:
- Plan and deliver user research, including interviews, workshops and usability testing
- Work directly with senior stakeholders and end users to capture and prioritise user needs
- Turn research insight into clear, defensible design decisions
- Create personas, user journeys and experience maps that actively shape delivery
- Design wireframes, interactive prototypes and high-fidelity mock-ups in Figma
- Define and maintain design systems using components, variants and design tokens
- Work closely with developers to ensure designs align with React (TypeScript) components
- Document research findings, design decisions and UX guidance in Confluence
- Champion inclusive design and WCAG accessibility compliance throughout delivery
- Design with performance in mind, understanding Core Web Vitals
This is not a purely research-only role and not a junior UX position - you'll be expected to own the UX end-to-end.
What I'm looking for in you
You'll bring a strong mix of research leadership, hands-on design ability, and stakeholder credibility. Specifically, you will have:
- Extensive experience delivering user research and UX design on complex products or services
- Strong, demonstrable expertise in Figma, including components, variants, tokens and prototyping
- Experience engaging confidently with senior stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams
- A practical understanding of React (TypeScript) and responsive design principles
- Solid knowledge of WCAG accessibility standards and inclusive design
- Experience working with Jira, Confluence and Slack
- Awareness of Cypress (end-to-end testing) and k6 (performance testing)
- Experience working in public sector, government, defence or other regulated environments
Just as importantly, you'll be comfortable working in a structured Public Sector environment where documentation, assurance and security matter.
Clearance & eligibility (essential)
To be considered, you must:
- Hold active MOD SC clearance (DV highly desirable)
- Be a UK National
- Be available for an inside-IR35 contract via umbrella
- Be able to travel to London / South sites as required
Important - CV guidance
To ensure your application is flagged as relevant, please make sure your CV explicitly references the required skills listed above (for example: Figma, user research methods, accessibility, React collaboration and government experience where applicable). CVs that do not clearly evidence the essential skills and clearance requirements are unlikely to be shortlisted.
If this sounds like the kind of work you enjoy - leading UX in a genuinely impactful, secure environment - I'd welcome an application or a conversation.
User Reearch Lead UX Consultant - MOD SC CLearance in London employer: Hays Technology
Contact Detail:
Hays Technology Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land User Reearch Lead UX Consultant - MOD SC CLearance in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get your networking game on! Connect with professionals in the UX and user research space, especially those who've worked in public sector projects. Attend meetups or webinars to make those valuable connections that could lead to job opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your user research and design work, especially projects that demonstrate your experience with Figma and accessibility standards. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and visually appealing—first impressions matter!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of MOD security clearance processes and the specific challenges of working in regulated environments. Be ready to discuss how you’ve influenced design decisions and engaged with stakeholders in past roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace User Reearch Lead UX Consultant - MOD SC CLearance in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight the skills mentioned in the job description. We want to see your experience with Figma, user research methods, and accessibility standards clearly laid out. This helps us quickly see how you fit the role!
Showcase Your Leadership: Since this is a senior role, don’t shy away from showcasing your leadership experience. We’re looking for someone who can lead user research and influence design decisions, so share examples of how you've done this in past roles.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and get straight to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that make it easy for us to understand your qualifications and experiences.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays Technology
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in user research methods and UX design principles. Brush up on your Figma skills, especially components and prototyping, as you'll need to demonstrate your hands-on abilities during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that highlight your leadership in user research and design. Be ready to discuss how you've influenced design decisions and engaged with senior stakeholders in regulated environments.
✨Understand the Public Sector
Familiarise yourself with the nuances of working in public sector projects, especially around security and compliance. Highlight any relevant experience you have in government or defence sectors to show you understand the context of the role.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions about your understanding of React (TypeScript) and WCAG accessibility standards. Brush up on these topics so you can confidently discuss how they relate to your design process and user research.