User Researcher

DSIT • Full-time • United Kingdom • £46.06k - £53.70k / year • 3w ago

Locations: Croydon, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield

Use user research to protect and support vulnerable people across the UK

We’re looking for a User Researcher who is a strong, confident advocate for users and wants their work to make a real difference.

In this role, you’ll help improve government services that protect some of the most vulnerable people in society, supporting those affected by modern slavery and the professionals working to safeguard them.

Where you’ll work

You’ll join the Home Office’s Policing and Public Protection Technology (PPPT) portfolio, embedded within a central User‑Centred Design (UCD) team that operates like an in‑house agency across public safety and homeland security.

Your initial focus will be modern slavery services, working at the intersection of:

Safeguarding
Serious crime
Victim and survivor support

The impact you’ll have

Day to day, you’ll work closely with the Modern Slavery Unit (MSU), improving how a wide range of users navigate critical services, including:

Emergency service workers
Voluntary and support organisations
People directly affected by modern slavery

You’ll carry out research from discovery through to live services, running interviews, observations and usability testing, then turning findings into clear, actionable insights that directly shape design decisions.

This is research with real‑world consequences. The insights you produce will help shape services that support victims and those working to protect them.

What you’ll be doing

As a User Researcher, you will:

Plan, design and conduct user research and usability testing
Use a range of methods to understand user needs and behaviours
Analyse and synthesise complex research data into meaningful insight
Clearly communicate findings to teams and stakeholders
Advocate for user‑centred design principles and ways of working
Ensure research is accessible and inclusive, including participants with access needs
Work collaboratively within multidisciplinary delivery teams
Manage research logistics, including recruitment and scheduling

What we’re looking for

You don’t need prior Home Office experience. We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate:

Experience using a range of user research methods
Strong communication skills to persuade and advocate using evidence
A good understanding of research ethics, particularly in sensitive contexts
Experience conducting inclusive and accessible research
Confidence in analysis and synthesis of findings
A collaborative approach to working in multidisciplinary teams

Interested?

Apply today via Civil Service Jobs for full role and selection details

Apply