User Researcher

Location - Bristol, Manchester

About the jo

bJob summar

yThe Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of government. We are responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government

.Our priorities are to drive a modern digital government, by

• :joining up public sector service
• sharnessing the power of AI for the public goo
• dstrengthening and extending our digital and data public infrastructur
• eelevating leadership and investing in talen
• tfunding for outcomes and procuring for growth and innovatio
• ncommitting to transparency and driving accountabilit

yWe are home to the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (I.AI), the world-leading GOV.UK and at the forefront of coordinating the UK’s geospatial strategy and activity. We lead the Government Digital and Data function and champion the work of digital teams across government

.We’re part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and employ more than 1,000 people all over the UK, with hubs in Manchester, London and Bristol

.The Government Digital Service is where talent translates into impact. From your first day, you’ll be working with some of the world’s most highly-skilled digital professionals, all contributing their knowledge to make change on a national scale

.Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You'll solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they nee

d
Job descripti

onWe are hiring three User Researchers, two for GOV.UK and one for GOV.UK Cha

t.GOV.UK is the trusted online home for government information and services. Every week millions of people rely on it to complete essential and often life-changing tasks. GOV.UK also supports government colleagues to publish content, ensuring accurate and accessible information is always available to the publi

c.GOV.UK Chat is our AI-powered chatbot that allows users, for the first time, to get quick, personalised answers to their questions based on GOV.UK guidanc

e.As a User Researcher, you wil

• l:make an impact: work on and tackle challenges in public infrastructure, improving lives through solutions that are informed by high quality, evidence-based, insigh
• tsdeliver work that matters: driving change, delivering better value and outcomes for users and government, to empower and transfo
• rmgrow with us: thrive in a supportive research community that values experimentation, learning, failing fast and reflection as key steps to growth. With dedicated development resources, training and cross-government networks, you will have plenty of opportunities to gr

ow
Your main responsibilities ar

• e: plan and conduct a wide range of user research projects that are aligned with your teams’ vision and go
• alsdeliver high-quality, end-to-end research: from planning, research design, and participant recruitment to analysis and actionable report
• ingdesign and execute user research that drives the development and continuous improvement of government products/services, ensuring insights lead to informed decision-mak
• ingcollaborate with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders throughout the research process, working closely with product managers, designers, and developers to transform user insights into impactful product and service featu
• resadvocate for the user by maintaining a clear focus on their needs and behaviours, while also understanding wider business goals - bringing both perspectives together to deliver impactful research that fosters empathy and supports informed, balanced decision-mak
• ingclearly and effectively communicate user research insights to teams, fostering a shared and deep understanding of research learni
• ngsbe a reflective practitioner - consistently explore and implement innovative ways to deliver better outcomes, whether by refining existing methods/practices or experimenting with new, creative approac
• hesmanage time effectively to deliver high-quality research on time, while sharing ideas and learnings to support team growth and contribute to research libraries and reusable knowledge - helping to shape the future of the research community through collaborat

ion
Person specifica

tionYou don't need government experience to apply for this role. We’re looking for User Researchers for GOV.UK and GOV.UK Chat with experience in applying a range of research methods and approaches. You’ll be a good communicator with a proven track record of advocating for users, delivering impactful research insights that drive informed decision-mak

ing.
We’re interested in people who can demonst

• rate:experience and understanding of established user research methods, including those related with planning, analysis, and sharing of findings - to generate insights that inform inclusive, human-centred design, grounded in an understanding of user behaviour and psych
• ologyability to present clear insights that colleagues can understand and use, through clear, compelling storyte
• llingexperience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, actively engaging colleagues in research activ
• itiesability to include all kinds of users in appropriate research activities to help teams understand the diversity of users of government ser
• vicesunderstanding of social and technological contexts and their influence on user behavior and solutions. Knowledgeable in user-centered design, accessibility, and inclusion prac
• ticesinitiative and a proactive mindset by seeking creative and collaborative solutions - whether working independently or with support on complex projects - and consistently reflects on practice to drive improvement and deliver meaningful c
• hangeexperience of conducting research in the context of an AI Chat Bot (desirable, not essential for the GOV.UK Chat