At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead user research to enhance London's Strategic Licensing services and improve user experiences.
- Company: Join the Greater London Authority, shaping the future of London's cultural and creative economy.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working hours, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic, fast-paced environment with a focus on innovation and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on how Londoners interact with cultural and economic services.
- Qualifications: Experience in user research and service design, with strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Good Growth is responsible for delivering and implementing the Mayor’s environment, transport and economic strategies and for the effective implementation of the London Plan. The Directorate is also responsible for regeneration, enterprise, growth, capital projects and design work.
About the team
London is a city recognised as the global capital for arts and culture. Our theatres, music venues, museums and galleries are renowned across the world. Our creative industries are vital to London’s success and the recording studios, rehearsal spaces, artists’ workspaces, grassroots music, and LGBTQ+ venues all contribute to this success.
The Culture, Creative Industries and 24‑Hour London portfolio at the Greater London Authority focuses on supporting London’s cultural and creative economy, strengthening cultural infrastructure, and ensuring the city functions as a global, inclusive 24‑hour city. This includes overseeing major projects such as Creative Enterprise Zones, London Borough of Culture, the Fourth Plinth commission, and initiatives that support the night‑time economy.
Alongside programme delivery, the team is preparing for devolved powers of licensing to the Mayor—working with boroughs, the police, industry and communities to ensure that licensing and regulatory frameworks support vibrancy, safety and economic growth while balancing local impacts.
The Culture, Creative Industries and 24‑Hour London Unit, in partnership with teams across the Greater London Authority (GLA), is leading an exciting new government‑backed pilot to establish strategic licensing powers for the Mayor of London. This high‑profile initiative is a cornerstone of the Government’s and Mayor’s shared growth agenda—unlocking opportunities for London’s hospitality, cultural and nighttime economies.
About the role
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Culture, Creative Industries and 24 Hour London (CCI24) Unit delivering the Mayor’s and the Strategic Licensing policy. You’ll be at the heart of a fast‑paced, cross‑organisational effort to design and implement new licensing powers—with the ambition to launch by Summer 2026.
This is a unique opportunity to:
- Support and shape a new policy and regulatory function within the GLA
- Drive innovation in how licensing supports London’s economic and cultural vibrancy
- Work with senior stakeholders across government, industry, and the city
- Make a visible impact on how London works, plays, and grows
As the Senior User Researcher, you will lead the planning, design and delivery of user research activities to help the GLA get a deep understanding of the people that use our digital and data services and products, to support delivery of London’s Strategic Licensing policy.
What your day will look like
- Designing and delivering user research to understand how people interact with Strategic Licensing services and where they can be improved.
- Running interviews, usability testing and data analysis to gather insight and turn it into practical recommendations.
- Working closely with product, design and policy colleagues to shape services around user needs.
- Supporting senior stakeholders to understand research findings and use them to inform decisions and priorities.
- Leading research in complex or high‑risk areas, balancing multiple projects and focusing on what will have the biggest impact.
- Embedding user‑centred design across the programme by setting standards and promoting good practice.
- Turning research into clear, compelling insight that helps teams improve services and user experiences.
- Using data and feedback to test, measure and continuously improve products and services.
- Building a shared evidence base to deepen understanding of Londoners’ needs.
- Championing inclusive, accessible design so services work for all users.
- Working in a fast‑paced, agile environment with colleagues across teams and organisations.
- Supporting and quality assuring the work of others, helping to build strong research capability.
Skills, knowledge and experience
To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:
- Proven deep experience of the user research profession and skills and user‑centred design and service design.
- Ability to use diverse research methods to elicit insights into citizen and staff need, designing comprehensive research exercises, and translating these into recommendations and reports.
- Significant experience of working as a user researcher in teams building products and platforms from inception to live.
- Successful track record of working across multidisciplinary teams to deliver digital products using agile methodology in a large and complex organisation.
- Can show evidence of experience in product thinking and leading a user research function that functions effectively within the product development lifecycle as part of an agile delivery function.
- Ability to build and execute a backlog of work, translating user need into user stories for the product team to deliver against.
- Experience of working across modern technology platforms, including cloud technology, architecture, agile delivery methods and software practices.
- Candidate demonstrates a deep understanding of digital inclusion and how to build accessible online services.
- Candidate demonstrates strong research communications skills.
- Candidate demonstrates experience of advising organisations on the best research methods and best practice and implementing standards frameworks and training that guide the delivery of best practice across an organisation.
Communicating and Influencing (core) … is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us.
Stakeholder Focus (core) … is consulting with, listening to and understanding the needs of those our work impacts and using this knowledge to shape what we do and manage others’ expectations.
Problem Solving (core) … is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions.
Strategic thinking (core) … is using an understanding of the bigger picture to uncover potential challenges and opportunities for the long term and turning these into a compelling vision for action.
Senior User Researcher in London employer: London Gov
At the Greater London Authority, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions creativity and inclusivity. Our dynamic work culture fosters collaboration across diverse teams, providing ample opportunities for professional growth while making a tangible impact on London's vibrant cultural landscape. With a commitment to user-centred design and innovation, you will play a crucial role in shaping policies that enhance the lives of Londoners, all within the inspiring backdrop of one of the world's most iconic cities.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior User Researcher in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even hit up social media platforms like LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Senior User Researcher role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your user research projects and the impact they had. Use real examples to demonstrate how your insights shaped products and services. This will make you stand out when we’re looking for someone who can drive innovation.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to user research. Think about how you would approach complex problems and communicate your findings. We want to see how you think, so be ready to showcase your problem-solving skills!
✨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, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Good Growth. Let’s make London’s cultural and creative economy thrive together!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior User Researcher in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior User Researcher role. Highlight your experience in user research and how it aligns with the GLA's goals. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission!
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t just list your skills—demonstrate them! Use specific examples from your past work that showcase your user-centred design expertise and how you've successfully influenced product development. We love seeing real-world applications!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point—this shows us you can communicate effectively!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our team there!
How to prepare for a job interview at London Gov
✨Know Your User Research Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in user research methodologies and can discuss your experience confidently. Prepare examples of how you've used different research methods to gather insights and how those insights have influenced product design.
✨Understand the GLA's Vision
Familiarise yourself with the Greater London Authority’s goals, especially around cultural and creative industries. Be ready to discuss how your role as a Senior User Researcher can contribute to their strategic licensing policy and overall mission.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
This role involves working closely with various teams. Be prepared to share examples of how you’ve successfully collaborated with product, design, and policy colleagues in the past. Highlight your ability to communicate research findings effectively to diverse stakeholders.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to handle complex situations. Think of scenarios where you had to balance multiple projects or navigate high-risk areas in user research, and be ready to explain your thought process and outcomes.
