At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead user research to shape digital public services based on real user needs.
- Company: Join a dynamic team within the Government Digital Service, making a difference in public services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborate with diverse teams and mentor junior researchers in an inclusive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by advocating for users in high-scale government environments.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Senior User Researcher with strong knowledge of GDS standards.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
The Role
As a Senior User Researcher, you will play a critical role in shaping digital public services by ensuring they are grounded in genuine user needs. You will lead the design, planning, and execution of research programmes across complex services, working within Government Digital Service (GDS) standards and ways of working. You will operate across multiple phases of delivery - Discovery, Alpha, Beta, and Live - providing actionable insights that influence service design, policy decisions, and delivery priorities. You will collaborate closely with designers, product managers, business analysts, and technical teams to ensure user-centred design is embedded within agile workflows.
The role involves working in complex, high-scale government environments where accessibility, inclusivity, and evidence-led decision-making are paramount. You will champion the voice of the user while balancing organisational and policy constraints.
Your responsibilities:
- Plan and design comprehensive user research programmes, testing both high-level concepts and detailed service interactions
- Conduct research across all phases: Discovery, Alpha, Beta, and Live, ensuring continuous user insight
- Lead contextual research and discovery phase activities, including ethnographic research and field studies
- Apply a broad range of qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g., usability testing, surveys, interviews, analytics)
- Analyse and synthesise research findings to produce clear, actionable insights and recommendations
- Work within GDS standards, ensuring research outputs meet government service assessment criteria
- Embed user-centred design practices within agile, multidisciplinary teams
- Collaborate with stakeholders to influence product strategy, service design, and policy decisions
- Advocate for accessibility and inclusive design, ensuring services meet diverse user needs
- Communicate findings effectively through reports, presentations, workshops, and stakeholder engagement
- Mentor and support junior researchers and contribute to wider research community practices
- Ensure research is conducted ethically and in compliance with data protection and governance standards
Essential skills/knowledge/experience:
- Strong experience working as a Senior User Researcher within Central Government, with deep understanding of GDS ways of working
- Proven ability to plan and deliver end-to-end user research programmes
- Demonstrable expertise in a wide range of user research methods
- Strong experience conducting contextual and discovery research
- Proven experience of both qualitative and quantitative data analysis
- Experience working across all phases of service delivery: Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live
- Strong understanding of user-centred design principles and how to embed them into agile delivery
- Experience working within multidisciplinary agile teams
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills
- Ability to translate complex research findings into clear, actionable insights
Desirable skills/knowledge/experience:
- Holding Active SC Clearance, previously held clearance, or SC eligible
- Experience in large-scale government transformation programmes
- Familiarity with service design and accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG)
- Experience contributing to service assessments and governance processes
- Knowledge of analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) and data-driven research methods
- Experience mentoring or leading research teams
- Ability to work effectively in hybrid and distributed team environments
Senior User Researcher (SC Cleared or SC Eligible) in London employer: Tcs Uk
As a Data Governance Specialist at our company, you will be part of a dynamic team dedicated to driving customer excellence through robust data governance practices. We pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative work culture that values innovation and continuous learning, offering ample opportunities for professional growth in a supportive environment. Located in a vibrant area, our workplace not only provides a stimulating atmosphere but also encourages a healthy work-life balance, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior User Researcher (SC Cleared or SC Eligible) in London
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Tcs Uk for a Senior User Researcher (SC Cleared or SC Eligible), make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Tcs Uk before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior User Researcher (SC Cleared or SC Eligible) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Senior User Researcher (SC Cleared or SC Eligible) at Tcs Uk, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Tcs Uk does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Tcs Uk. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Tcs Uk.
How to prepare for a job interview at Tcs Uk
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Tcs Uk, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Tcs Uk might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Tcs Uk!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Tcs Uk is looking for.
