User Researcher

About the Role

At the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), we deliver services that impact millions of lives. We are looking for a dedicated User Researcher to join our Local Digital team, where you will play a pivotal role in strengthening the cyber resilience of local councils across England. This is an opportunity to contribute to the Government Cyber Security Strategy, ensuring that local public services are secure, cost-effective, and user-centered by the year 2030. You will work within a multidisciplinary team to build compelling narratives about user needs, helping to design products that protect critical local infrastructure from evolving digital threats.

• Collaborate within a design team to iteratively develop and improve the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) to meet the diverse needs of local government users.
• Plan, design, and lead comprehensive user research activities, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to understand how policies and digital tools impact local authorities.
• Advocate for inclusive research practices by ensuring a diverse range of users are represented, particularly those within the planning and cyber security sectors.
• Analyze and synthesize complex research data into clear, actionable insights and strategic recommendations for senior stakeholders and policy makers.
• Work closely with Community and Engagement Managers to build effective feedback loops, ensuring that user experiences directly inform service prioritization and product design.
• Communicate findings through engaging formats such as research playbacks, system mapping, and visualization work to ensure user needs remain at the heart of decision-making.
• Support the recruitment of research participants and the development of sustainable research operations within the department.

• Proven experience working as a User Researcher within a complex policy or delivery environment, with a deep understanding of user-centered design (UCD) principles.
• Demonstrable knowledge of a wide range of qualitative research methods and the ability to select the appropriate methodology for specific project goals.
• Strong skills in designing and delivering inclusive research that accounts for users with different accessibility needs or varying levels of digital literacy.
• Ability to involve multidisciplinary team members and stakeholders in the research process, fostering a culture of evidence-based design and shared understanding.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to turn raw data into compelling stories and actionable insights that drive product improvement.
• Experience working in an agile, collaborative environment, managing multiple priorities and meeting ambitious deadlines in a high-pressure political context.
• Strong communication skills, capable of presenting complex findings to both technical teams and non-technical senior officials.

• A competitive salary of £44,004 with a substantial employer pension contribution of £12,747 via the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
• Flexible working arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance across our UK-wide office hubs.
• Generous annual leave entitlement and access to tailored career pathways and professional development opportunities.
• Access to the MyLifestyle scheme, including Childcare Vouchers and Cycle to Work initiatives.
• The opportunity to work on high-profile projects that have a direct, positive impact on the security and efficiency of local communities across the country.

Required Skills