Senior User Researcher (Ref: 16916)

Job summary

This position is based Nationally

Job description

Senior User Researcher

Location: National*

Closing Date: 3rd May 2026

Interviews: W/C 18th May 2026

Grade: 7

(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)

Salary: London: £63,343 - £70,725

National: £58,511 - £65,329

Working pattern: full-time, part-time, flexible working

Contract Type: Permanent

Vacancy number: 16916

*We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office. Office locations can be found ON THIS MAP

The Role

We’re recruiting for a Senior User Researcher here at Justice Digital, Data & Science, to be part of our warm and collaborative LAA Digital team.

This role aligns against the Senior User Researcher role in the Government Digital and Data Framework

In LAA Digital we design user-centred services that make the legal aid system more accessible for all. We work to improve access to legal aid for our users, often at very difficult times in their lives. We also design, build and maintain internal services for legal aid lawyers and caseworkers who make up the legal aid system.

As a Senior User Researcher, you’ll be an experienced practitioner who can plan and lead user research activities within a multidisciplinary context, working within a team or across teams, supporting more junior researchers and uncovering insights of users of our complex but fascinating legal aid system.

You’ll oversee and manage a small team of mid-weight user researchers and support them to deliver quality, inclusive research. Not just embedded in one product team, you’ll have the opportunity to conduct strategic research to understand our users holistically, not just through the lens of our current products. You’ll pull insights together from across teams in your product area and influence product decision making based on user insights.

You’ll be joining a highly supportive community of researchers who meet regularly to share their knowledge and experience within a safe learning environment.

To help picture your life at Justice Digital, Data and Science please take a look at our blog.

Key Responsibilities:

Researchers on our teams are:

• Experienced qualitative researchers, ideally with quantitative research skills as well

• Skilled at analysing and synthesising research data

• Great storytellers and communicators

• Very good at collaborating in a dynamic, data-driven, creative environment

• Committed to ethical and responsible research.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Scope, plan, conduct, analyse and communicate research

• Lead colleagues to analyse and synthesise research data

• Communicate research findings across the organisation

• Work closely with product managers, designers and developers to turn user research findings into actions that lead to valuable product and service designs

• Mentor, support and line manage mid-level and junior User Researchers

If this feels like an exciting challenge, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team please read on and apply!

Benefits

• 37 hours per week and flexible working options including working from home, working part-time, or working compressed hours.

• A £1k per person learning budget is in place to support all our people, with access to best in class conferences and seminars, accreditation with professional bodies, fully funded vocational programmes and e-learning platforms.

• Staff have 10% time to dedicate to develop & grow.

• Generous civil service pension based on defined benefit scheme, with employer contributions of 28.97% from April 1st 2024 (Contribution Rates).

• 25 days leave (plus bank holidays) and 1 privilege day usually taken around the King’s birthday. 5 additional days of leave once you have reached 5 years of service.

• Compassionate maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave policies, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave. And maternity support/paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks, too!

• Wellbeing support including access to the Calm app.

• Nurturing professional and interpersonal networks including those for Carers & Childcare, Gender Equality, PROUD and SPIRIT.

• Bike loans up to £2500 and secure bike parking (subject to availability and location).

• Season ticket loans, childcare vouchers and eye-care vouchers.

• 5 days volunteering paid leave.

• Some offices may have a subsidised onsite Gym.

Person Specification

Essential

• Research. You can demonstrate experience in a wide range of user research methods, and can help teams and less experienced researchers adopt them. You can plan user research for services with challenging user needs and complex user journeys. You are willing to work across multiple teams and projects when required. You can advise colleagues on the choice and application of research methods to assure best practice.

• User-centred and Agile practices. You can understand and demonstrate experience in a range of user-centred practices. You can help inexperienced teams adopt user-centred practices and embed them into their Agile workflow. You can advocate for user research and engage potentially sceptical colleagues and stakeholders.

• Analysis and synthesis. You can understand and help teams to apply a range of methods to analyse research data and synthesise findings. You can work collaboratively with colleagues in carrying out analysis and synthesis. You can advise on the choice and application of techniques, and can critique colleagues’ findings to assure best practice. You can share insights with a range of colleagues and stakeholders to help elevate the user's voice.

• Inclusive research. You can effectively include all kinds of users in appropriate research activities, finding ways to overcome barriers to participation and reaching hard-to-reach users. You can design research approaches that are accessible and inclusive for diverse and underrepresented groups. You can conduct research with vulnerable users ethically, ensuring research activities minimise stress and re-traumatisation.

• Stakeholder relationship management. You can influence stakeholders and manage relationships effectively, using evidence and insight to secure buy-in. You can confidently advocate for user research among senior stakeholders. You can build long-term strategic relationships and communicate clearly and regularly across a broad and varied stakeholder landscape. You can identify sources of tension or conflict early and intervene constructively. You can facilitates open, solution-focused discussions to resolve disputes and restore effective working relationships

• Research management, leadership and assurance. You can coach and mentor other user researchers and support their learning and development. You can evaluate the quality of user research, explain what good practice involves and give constructive feedback to other user researchers to ensure their work meets good practice standards. You can provide clear direction to those you line manage, set priorities and objectives, and monitor performance. You are adept at providing regular, constructive feedback and can manage underperformance effectively and fairly.

Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for SC clearance

We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring and do not discriminate based on culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor.

Our values are Purpose, Humanity Openness and Together. Find out more here about how we celebrate diversity and an inclusive culture in our workplace.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

Person specification

Please refer to attached Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,511, Ministry of Justice contributes £16,950 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

How to Apply

Candidates must submit a current and relevant CV and a cover letter (word count: 750). Your cover letter will not be read beyond the first 750 words. Failure to provide either of these documents will result in a rejection of your application.

Sifting and assessment overview

The cover letter should outline your experience and its relevance to the criteria outlined below:

• Research. You can demonstrate experience in a wide range of user research methods, and can help teams to adopt them. You can plan user research for services with challenging user needs and complex user journeys. You can advise colleagues on the choice and application of research methods to assure best practice. (250 words)

• Inclusive research. You can effectively include all kinds of users in appropriate research activities, finding ways to overcome barriers to participation and reaching hard-to-reach users. You can design research approaches that are accessible and inclusive for diverse and underrepresented groups. You can conduct research with vulnerable users ethically, ensuring research activities minimise stress and re-traumatisation. (250 words)

• Research management, leadership and assurance. You can coach and mentor other user researchers and support their learning and development. You can evaluate the quality of user research, explain what good practice involves and give constructive feedback to other user researchers to ensure their work meets good practice standards. You can provides clear direction to those you line manage, set priorities and objectives, and monitor performance. You are adept at providing regular, constructive feedback and can manage underperformance effectively and fairly. (250 words)

Should we receive a high volume of applications, we will carry out a pre-sift on the lead requirements:

• Research. You can demonstrate experience in a wide range of user research methods, and can help teams to adopt them. You can plan user research for services with challenging user needs and complex user journeys. You can advise colleagues on the choice and application of research methods to assure best practice.

Application Guidance

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Personal Statement

Application Guidance

In Justice Digital, Data & Science we recruit using a combination of the Government Digital and Data Profession CapabilityandSuccess Profiles Frameworks. We will assess your Experience, Technical Skills and the following Behaviors during the assessment process:

• Leadership

• See the big picture

• Changing and Improving

• Communicating and influencing

A diverse panel will review your application against the Person Specification above.

Successful candidates who meet the required standard will then be invited to a 75-minute panel interview held via video conference, which will include a presentation.

Should you be unsuccessful in the role that you have applied for but demonstrate the capability for a role at a lower level, we reserve the right to discuss this opportunity with you and offer you the position without needing a further application.

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, from which further appointments may be made.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
• Telephone : 0345 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

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