At a Glance
- Tasks: Create user-led content for the Home Office intranet and support internal communications.
- Company: Join a vital team in the Home Office, ensuring safety and security for the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, civil service pension, flexible working, and generous leave.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for career growth and impactful work.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by simplifying complex information for users and enhancing digital services.
- Qualifications: Experience in user research and leading user-centred design practices.
The predicted salary is between 46062 - 50182 £ per year.
Salary: £46,062 (National) or £50,182 (Croydon) plus skills allowance of up to £6,000 pending assessment.
Location: Croydon, Manchester or Sheffield on a hybrid basis.
Advert Close: 11:55 pm Monday 9th March 2026.
Please note that this role requires Security Check (SC) clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years.
What you’ll bring to the role:
You’ll work in a fast-paced Digital Channels team to create and manage clear, accurate and user-led content for the Home Office intranet and other internal channels. We design and publish content to help staff find policy and guidance they need to do their jobs, helping the Home Office to keep the UK safe and secure. We also train and support channel owners to ensure their content meets writing and accessibility standards. You will work flexibly on business-as-usual tasks and projects.
You’ll know how to:
- Make complex language and processes simple to understand.
- Make the case for designing content based on user needs.
You’ll work closely, and build relationships, with our internal communications teams, content designers working on GOV.UK and online services, Home Office Digital technical teams, operational staff and policy officials.
As a Senior User Researcher, you will have experience of establishing and leading an effective user centred design culture in a team and supporting them to embed user centred design practices into their agile workflow. During the selection process, you’ll be assessed on your experience of this and the following technical skills:
- Managing People and Leading: establishing an effective user centred design culture in a team, and supporting them to embed user centred design practices into their agile workflow.
- User Research: understanding and applying a range of user research methods correctly for different life cycle phases, and advising others on these methods at a senior level.
- Analysis and Synthesis: communicating insights from research in a clear and impactful way that drives change in the design of services and informs policy and proposition.
- Communicate, persuade and advocate: convincing senior stakeholders about the benefits of adopting a user‑centred approach, based on evidence.
- Research Ethics: establishing and applying ethical research standards and practices to ensure the safeguarding and wellbeing of participants and researchers.
- Accessibility and inclusion: researching diverse audiences to help teams deliver accessible and inclusive digital services.
What’s in it for you?
- A civil service pension with employer contribution rates of at least 28.97%.
- In-year reward scheme for one‑off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
- The ability to potentially adopt flexible working options that suit your work/life balance, plus the opportunity in future to take a career break.
- 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service.
- Eight days public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
- 26 weeks maternity, adoption or shared parental leave at full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid, after qualifying service.
- Maternity and adoption support leave (also known as paternity leave) of two weeks full pay, after qualifying service.
- Paid leave for fostering approval processes, support when a child is substantively placed with you plus a foster to adopt policy.
- Support for guardians and kinship carers.
- Corporate membership of ’Employers for Carers’ providing additional information and advice for carers, plus a ’Carer’s Passport’ to discuss workplace needs and underpin supportive conversations.
- Time off to deal with emergencies and certain other unplanned special circumstances.
Please click on apply now where you will be redirected to the full job advert and our application portal.
Senior User Researcher in Sheffield employer: UK Home Office
Join a forward-thinking team in Liverpool, Sheffield, or Salford as a Senior Interaction Designer, where your passion for creating accessible services will be valued. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to mentor junior designers while enjoying a supportive work culture that prioritises collaboration and innovation. Benefit from a competitive salary, generous leave, and a Civil Service Pension, all while contributing to meaningful government projects that enhance user experience.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior User Researcher in Sheffield
✨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 UK Home Office for a Senior User Researcher, 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 UK Home Office before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior User Researcher in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Senior User Researcher at UK Home Office, 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 UK Home Office 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 UK Home Office. 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 UK Home Office.
How to prepare for a job interview at UK Home Office
✨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 UK Home Office, 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. UK Home Office 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 UK Home Office!
✨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 UK Home Office is looking for.
