At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead user research to shape impactful public services and improve citizen outcomes.
- Company: Empyrean Digital, a leader in user-centred digital service design.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a collaborative culture.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on inclusive and sustainable service design.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in public sector transformation and user experience.
- Qualifications: Experience in user research and understanding of GDS standards required.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 58000 £ per year.
Location: Hybrid / Client Site (UK Public Sector), Liverpool & London
Company: Empyrean Digital
Salary: £50,000 pa
About Empyrean Digital
Empyrean Digital partners with public and private sector organisations to design and deliver impactful, user-centred digital services. We combine strategy, service design, governance and delivery expertise to help clients solve complex problems and improve outcomes for citizens. We work at the heart of major transformation programmes, supporting organisations to design services that are inclusive, sustainable and aligned to Government Digital Service (GDS) standards.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced User Researcher to join our team, supporting large‑scale public sector service transformation programmes. The successful candidate will lead and deliver high‑quality user research across discovery, alpha, beta and live phases, ensuring that services are grounded in real user needs. You will work within multidisciplinary teams to generate actionable insight that shapes service design, policy interpretation and delivery decisions. This role requires strong research capability, confidence working with diverse user groups and experience operating in GDS‑aligned environments.
Key Responsibilities
- User Research & Insight Generation
- Plan, design and conduct qualitative and quantitative research activities.
- Select appropriate research methods (e.g. interviews, usability testing, surveys, diary studies).
- Engage with diverse user groups, including vulnerable or hard‑to‑reach populations.
- Synthesise findings into clear, actionable insights.
- Ensure research is ethical, inclusive and aligned with accessibility standards.
- Supporting GDS Delivery Phases
- Lead user research activities across Discovery, Alpha, Beta and Live stages.
- Develop and maintain research plans and participant recruitment strategies.
- Ensure evidence‑based decision making throughout service design and delivery.
- Contribute to preparation for GDS service assessments.
- Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
- Work closely with Service Designers, Business Analysts, Product Managers and Delivery Managers.
- Facilitate playback sessions and insight workshops with stakeholders.
- Build user‑centred capability within client teams.
- Advocate for user needs at programme and governance forums.
- Continuous Improvement & Measurement
- Support development of service performance measures and user satisfaction metrics.
- Embed feedback loops and ongoing research into live services.
- Contribute to iterative improvement and optimisation of services.
Essential Experience
- Experience conducting user research within complex public sector or digital environments.
- Strong understanding of GDS Service Standard and user‑centred design principles.
- Experience working within agile, multidisciplinary delivery teams.
- Skilled in a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- Ability to communicate complex findings clearly to senior stakeholders.
- Experience designing and conducting accessible and inclusive research.
What We Offer
- Opportunity to shape high‑impact public services.
- Exposure to major government transformation programmes.
- Collaborative and values‑driven culture.
- Professional development and leadership opportunities.
At Empyrean Digital, we are committed to designing services that genuinely improve citizens’ lives. If you are passionate about service design, systems thinking and public sector transformation, we would love to hear from you.
User Researcher employer: Vargo Group
Empyrean Digital is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and values-driven culture that empowers employees to shape high-impact public services. With a strong commitment to professional development and leadership opportunities, team members can thrive in a dynamic environment while contributing to meaningful government transformation programmes in vibrant locations like Liverpool and London.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land User Researcher
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common user researcher questions. Think about your past experiences and how they relate to the role. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your research skills! Bring a portfolio of your work to interviews, highlighting projects where you’ve made a real impact. This will help demonstrate your ability to generate actionable insights that align with user needs.
✨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 Empyrean Digital.
We think you need these skills to ace User Researcher
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the User Researcher role. Highlight your experience with user research methods and GDS standards, showing us how you can contribute to our mission of improving public services.
Showcase Your Research Skills:In your application, don’t just list your skills—give us examples! Share specific projects where you’ve conducted user research, detailing the methods you used and the insights you generated. We want to see your impact!
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your written application. We value a collaborative culture, so show us who you are and why you’re passionate about user-centred design and public sector transformation.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vargo Group
✨Know Your User Research Methods
Make sure you’re well-versed in various user research methods like interviews, usability testing, and surveys. Be ready to discuss which methods you would choose for different scenarios and why they’re effective in gathering insights.
✨Familiarise Yourself with GDS Standards
Since the role requires experience in GDS-aligned environments, brush up on the Government Digital Service standards. Show that you understand how these principles guide user-centred design and can apply them in your research.
✨Prepare Real-Life Examples
Think of specific projects where you’ve successfully conducted user research. Be prepared to share how you engaged diverse user groups and synthesised findings into actionable insights. This will demonstrate your hands-on experience.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Highlight your collaboration skills by discussing how you’ve worked with multidisciplinary teams in the past. Be ready to explain how you facilitated workshops or playback sessions to ensure user needs were at the forefront of decision-making.
