User Researcher SFIA 5

User Researcher - Government / Public Sector

Rate: £520 per day (Inside IR35)
Location: Fully Remote
Contract: Initial until 30th September 2026 + 6-month rolling extensions

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced User Researcher (SFIA Level 5) to join a high-profile Government / Public Sector digital payments programme.

This is a key role where you'll lead and coordinate user research across multiple agile teams, ensuring services are designed around real user needs and deliver measurable outcomes for citizens.

You'll play a critical part in shaping and improving digital payment services within a complex, large-scale public sector environment.

Key Responsibilities

Research Leadership & Delivery

Lead and coordinate user research across multiple delivery teams
Take ownership of research for a dedicated product area within the payments programme
Plan, design and execute end-to-end research activities
Conduct qualitative research and support quantitative analysisStakeholder Engagement

Work closely with Product Owners and Delivery teams to define research priorities
Engage and influence senior stakeholders across government programmes
Present clear, actionable insights to drive decision-makingInsight & Service Improvement

Translate research findings into tangible service improvements
Partner with analysts and product teams to identify trends and opportunities
Contribute to continuous improvement of digital public servicesMentoring & Collaboration

Support and mentor other user researchers
Promote best practice across teams
Contribute to building user research capability within the programme

Essential Skills & Experience

Strong experience as a User Researcher (SFIA Level 5 or equivalent)
Proven ability to lead research across multiple agile teams
Expertise in:
Research planning and delivery
Qualitative and quantitative research methods
Insight synthesis and storytelling
Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
Experience working in agile, multidisciplinary environmentsMust have experience working within the UK Government or wider Public Sector (e.g. GDS, central government, local authorities, or public bodies)
Familiarity with GDS service standards and public sector delivery frameworks
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed