Senior User Researcher

⏰ Application Deadline: Monday 30th June at 23:55pm ⏰

The Home Office Policy and Innovation Lab (CoLab) is a creative team of designers and researchers, that work closely with policy and operations teams from across the Home Office to bring user-centred and explorative approaches to policy making.

CoLab works in policy spaces that require a deeper understanding of service users, like how we can improve the experiences of asylum seekers in the UK or how we can improve users’ experiences of the passport system.

We’re looking for a Senior User Researcher to help us deliver impactful policies in the Migration and Borders area, which spans asylum, border security, visas and immigration and passports.

👀 What will you be doing? 👀

Your main day to day responsibilities will be:

• Leading the planning, design and execution of user research to understand user needs and behaviours and inform the design and development of government policy and services.
• Facilitating activities that help teams and stakeholders understand the problem space and assess the implication of policy decisions.
• Engaging with senior stakeholders and presenting project findings and related recommendations to senior decision makers across government.
• Identifying and evidencing opportunities to improve existing policies and services.
• Creating compelling policy and service solutions, in collaboration with designers, by drawing on findings from user research, data patterns, policy and operational intent and technical architecture.
• Leading other user researchers within the team, mentoring and up-skilling researchers and supporting the growth and development of the team.

🚀 Your skills for this role 🚀

As a Senior User Researcher, you will have experience leading complex research projects and encouraging teams to use user-centred design practices. During the selection process, you’ll be assessed on your experience of this and the following technical skills:

• Managing people and leading: planning and leading research projects and teams, including experience developing research plans, overseeing recruitment and managing stakeholders.
• User research: understanding and applying a range of user research methods to understand issues affecting policies and services, and design solutions.
• Analysis and synthesis: communicating insights from research in a clear and impactful way that drives change in the design of policies and services.
• Communicate, persuade and advocate: convincing senior stakeholders about the benefits of adopting a user-centered approach, based on evidence.
• Research ethics: establishing and applying ethical research standards and practices to ensure the safeguarding and wellbeing of participants and researchers.
• Accessibility and inclusion: researching with diverse audiences to help teams deliver accessible and inclusive services.

🙌 Why join us? 🙌

• Exceptional pension: Employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Generous leave: 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 with service), 8 public holidays, and 1 day for the King’s Birthday.
• Flexible working: Options include full-time, part-time, compressed hours, job sharing, and a hybrid model (minimum 60% on-site).
• Learning and development: Access to training, technical accreditations, and funded qualifications (subject to approval).
• Inclusion and recognition: A culture that champions diversity, enhanced parental leave schemes, annual bonuses, and recognition awards.

Learn more about our benefits: Benefits - Home Office Careers

Please note: This role requires SC clearance. To meet national security vetting requirements, you must typically have been resident in the UK for at least five years.

Ready to lead and innovate? Click "Apply" to access the full job description and salary details.