At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead user research to shape digital experiences and understand user needs.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking agency focused on digital innovation and user-centred design.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous pension contributions, and 25 days annual leave.
- Other info: Flexible working options and excellent career development opportunities await you.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by championing user voices in a diverse and inclusive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading user research and analysing data in an AGILE setting.
The predicted salary is between 57692 - 70512 £ per year.
- Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 6th September 2026
- Salary: £44,241 - A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
The MCA Digital and Technology function delivers world-class services through technology innovation, strategic transformation, and customer-focused solutions.
The Digital and AI team leads the Agency's digital, AI, and innovation strategies, while the User-Centred Design team ensures services are designed around user needs and business objectives.
Through expert user research and service design practices, they help create accessible, effective, and user-focused digital services that support the MCA's mission and deliver meaningful outcomes.
The Senior User Researcher leads the planning, design, and delivery of user research to understand user needs, shape services, and inform policy, strategy, and product development.
Working within multidisciplinary teams, they champion the voice of the user, ensuring services are accessible, intuitive, and aligned with GDS standards.
They manage supplier research outputs, influence decision-making through evidence-based insights, and help deliver inclusive digital services that meet both user and business needs.
- Top Responsibilities
- Responsible for leading user research that helps shape digital experiences across complex service areas.
- Generate insights gained from research into formulas to increase the understanding of user needs by developing user personas, journey maps, stories and other artifacts.
- Understand and engage with end users and target audiences to gather information about their needs and how they interact with products and services, to discover what requires research, design, usability testing and continuous improvement.
- Evaluate qualitative and quantitative research to uncover user needs and behaviours.
- Confidently present and promote findings to set out robust and actionable recommendations for services.
For more information on the role and responsibilities please see the full job advert on CS Jobs using the link provided.
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
- 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
- Access to the staff discount portal.
- Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
- Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
- 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
- Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
About You
- To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:
- Previous experience of leading, planning, designing, and conducting appropriate user research in an AGILE project environment
- Experience in analysing both quantitative and qualitative data to produce user experience artifacts
- Strong understanding of user-centred practices
- Awareness of the importance of inclusive research
- This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Sunday 6th September
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior User Researcher in Southampton employer: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Southampton where innovation meets public service. With a strong focus on employee development, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to compliance and excellence, you will find meaningful opportunities to grow your career while making a significant impact on national safety and security.
Contact Details:
Maritime and Coastguard Agency Recruitment Team
