User Researcher SFIA 4

Role Title: User Researcher (SFIA 4)
Location: Leeds (attendance required for workshops)
Rate: Up to £450 per day
Duration: 3 months with possible extension
Security Clearance: BPSS

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced User Researcher (SFIA Level 4) to support a Digital team in delivering user-centred, evidence-based services and products. The successful candidate will work within multidisciplinary Agile teams to plan and conduct research activities, uncover user needs, and ensure insights directly influence service and product design decisions.

This role requires a proactive researcher who can independently manage research activities, engage effectively with stakeholders, and communicate actionable findings that drive continuous service improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, plan and conduct user research activities independently within multidisciplinary Agile teams.
• Apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methods to understand user needs, behaviours and pain points.
• Test service concepts, prototypes and live services, presenting findings and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Generate actionable user insights and ensure research outputs influence product and service design decisions.
• Champion user-centred design practices and support Agile delivery teams in making evidence-based decisions.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience conducting user research using both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Ability to independently plan, execute and analyse research activities.
• Experience working within Agile multidisciplinary delivery teams.
• Strong stakeholder management, engagement and communication skills.
• Ability to present findings clearly and translate insights into practical design recommendations.
• Experience supporting user-centred design and service improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrable ability to build effective relationships across product, design and delivery teams.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience working in data-focused environments or on data-driven products and services.
• Knowledge of DWP Digital or wider public sector digital services.
• Experience researching complex internal, operational or Back Office systems.
• Familiarity with Government Digital Service (GDS) standards and user-centred design principles.

Mandatory Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Teams
• Mural and/or Miro
• Dovetail (or similar research repository tools)
• Forms and survey tools
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Power BI

The successful consultant will:

• Deliver robust research plans and research outputs aligned to project objectives.
• Produce clear, evidence-based recommendations to improve services and user experiences.
• Support Agile teams with ongoing user insight throughout the delivery life cycle.
• Ensure research findings are effectively communicated and understood by stakeholders.
• Contribute to a strong user-centred design culture across the programme.