Overview
The User Researcher will play a crucial role in understanding user needs and behaviors through a broad range of research activities. Collaborating closely with product managers, designers, and developers, the researcher will gather insights to inform the design of user-centered, accessible, and secure digital services. This contract position is for 6 months and requires a mix of remote work and on-site presence in the Portsmouth office.
Responsibilities
- Plan and execute user research activities to gather data on user needs and behaviors.
- Identify core user groups and document the user journey to provide actionable insights.
- Work autonomously to guide research methods aligned with user-centered design principles.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to embed user research into agile delivery processes.
- Contribute research evidence to inform prioritization, backlog refinement, and design iterations.
- Support continuous improvement of services through ongoing research and feedback loops.
- Ensure compliance with Government Service Standard principles, particularly regarding user needs and accessibility.
Requirements
- Minimum 3–5 years of experience in a user research role, preferably within an Agile environment.
- Proven experience in generative and evaluative research methods.
- Strong communication and presentation skills to advocate for users.
- Experience in facilitating workshops and collaborative analysis sessions.
- Ability to recruit and engage research participants effectively.
- Proficient in conducting virtual interviews and securing research tools.
- Experience with developing user-related artifacts such as personas and user journey maps.
- Bonus: Familiarity with the GDS Service Standard or similar frameworks, especially in secure environments like the Ministry of Defence.