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- Tasks: Conduct hands-on user research to drive real change in a secure environment.
- Company: Join a leading UK public sector programme with a critical national focus.
- Benefits: Earn £760 per day, enjoy hybrid work, and gain invaluable experience.
- Why this job: Make a tangible impact on services while working with senior stakeholders.
- Qualifications: Must have active DV clearance and strong user research skills.
- Other info: Engage in a dynamic Agile team with opportunities for professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
DV Clearance is required (UK Public Sector, Classified Programme) £760 per day | Inside IR35 | Hybrid (London & South of England).
I'm currently looking for a senior User Researcher to join a highly classified UK public sector programme delivering a critical national capability. This is a hands-on, delivery-focused role where your work directly informs business change, onboarding, operational processes, and service design in a secure environment. This isn't a theory-heavy or UI-led UX role. You'll be embedded with delivery teams and senior stakeholders, spending your time understanding how people really work, the constraints they operate under, and what needs to change to make services function effectively.
What you'll be working on:
- Planning and conducting qualitative user research onsite in classified environments, working closely with senior civilian and operational stakeholders.
- Translating what you learn into practical, decision-ready outputs that feed directly into delivery.
- Conducting user research with constrained and specialist user groups.
- Engaging confidently with senior stakeholders who don't 'speak UX'.
- Producing personas, journey maps, and process models that reflect real operations.
- Turning research into business change assessments, onboarding and IMPEX outputs.
- Supporting service wrap and operational design.
- Documenting findings using approved, secure systems.
- Working as part of an Agile delivery team.
What you'll need to have:
- Active DV clearance (sole UK national - non-negotiable).
- User research experience within the UK public sector.
- Strong qualitative research and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Experience working with restricted or hard-to-reach user populations.
- Ability to translate research into business change and operational outputs.
- Confidence working with senior, time-poor stakeholders.
- Experience working in Agile delivery environments.
- Comfort working onsite in secure, classified settings with constrained tooling.
- Experience with the GDS Service Standard, producing business change documentation, or tools such as Jira and Confluence is helpful but not essential.
Important note on applications:
Please make sure your submitted CV clearly includes all the required skills and experience listed above. DV Clearance is mandatory for this position. Profiles that don't explicitly demonstrate these will not be flagged as relevant for the programme.
If this sounds like the kind of work you enjoy - practical, grown-up research that genuinely influences how services and operations run - I'd love to hear from you. Happy to talk it through and give you more context before anything formal.
User Researcher - DV Cleared (UK Public Sector) in London employer: Hays Technology
Contact Detail:
Hays Technology Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land User Researcher - DV Cleared (UK Public Sector) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company and its culture before your interview. Research their recent projects, values, and any news related to them. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your storytelling skills! When discussing your past experiences, frame them as stories that highlight your problem-solving abilities and how you've made an impact. This makes your answers more engaging and memorable.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask at the end of your interview. This shows that you're not just focused on getting the job but are also interested in how you can contribute to the team and grow within the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email reiterating your interest in the position can set you apart from other candidates. Plus, it’s a great way to keep the conversation going!
We think you need these skills to ace User Researcher - DV Cleared (UK Public Sector) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your DV Clearance: Make sure your CV prominently features your active DV clearance. This is a non-negotiable requirement, so don’t bury it in the details – put it front and centre!
Tailor Your CV to the Role: We want to see how your experience aligns with the specific needs of this role. Highlight your user research experience in the UK public sector and any work with hard-to-reach user groups. Make it easy for us to see why you’re a great fit!
Speak Their Language: When detailing your experience, use terminology that resonates with the public sector and UX community. Mention your familiarity with Agile environments and how you've engaged with senior stakeholders who may not be familiar with UX concepts.
Keep It Clear and Concise: Your CV should be easy to read and straight to the point. Use bullet points for clarity and ensure your key achievements are highlighted. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets to the heart of your experience quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays Technology
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in user research methodologies, especially qualitative techniques. Brush up on your experience with restricted user groups and be ready to discuss specific examples of how your research has led to tangible business changes.
✨Engage with Confidence
You’ll be working with senior stakeholders who may not be familiar with UX terminology. Practice explaining your research findings in straightforward terms, focusing on how they impact operational processes and service design.
✨Showcase Your Outputs
Prepare to discuss the personas, journey maps, and process models you've created. Bring examples that demonstrate how your work has directly influenced decision-making and operational improvements in previous roles.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Agile
Since this role is embedded within an Agile delivery team, be ready to talk about your experience in Agile environments. Highlight how you’ve collaborated with teams to integrate user research into the development process effectively.