Lead User Researcher

This position is posted by Jobgether on behalf of a partner company. We are currently looking for a Lead User Researcher in United Kingdom.

This is a senior-level opportunity to lead user research on high-impact, public-facing digital services delivered within a complex, fast-moving environment. You will shape research strategy end-to-end, guiding multidisciplinary teams through critical delivery phases, including GDS Beta assessments. The role involves close collaboration with senior stakeholders, ensuring user insights directly influence service design and outcomes at scale. You will operate with significant autonomy, balancing strategic leadership with hands-on research execution when needed. The work is highly visible, requiring strong judgment, clarity of communication, and confidence in stakeholder engagement. It offers the chance to contribute to services that have real societal value and improve public experiences across essential domains.

In this role, you will lead and define the user research approach across major digital programmes, ensuring research activities are aligned with delivery goals and GDS standards. You will be responsible for planning, executing, and overseeing end-to-end user research across Beta-stage delivery, while embedding insights into product and service decisions. Key responsibilities include:

• Leading user research strategy and delivery across complex GDS Beta programmes, ensuring high-quality, evidence-led outcomes
• Acting as the primary user research authority and trusted advisor to clients and senior stakeholders
• Planning, facilitating, and synthesising qualitative and quantitative research activities across multidisciplinary teams
• Guiding programmes through GDS Beta assessments, ensuring compliance, clarity of insight, and strong justification of research decisions
• Translating research findings into actionable recommendations that shape service design and delivery
• Managing stakeholder relationships, navigating ambiguity, and aligning competing priorities across delivery teams
• Supporting continuous improvement of research practices, particularly in complex and high-stakes public sector environments

Requirements

You bring deep expertise in user research leadership, particularly within GDS-aligned environments and complex public service programmes. You are confident working across multidisciplinary teams and skilled at influencing senior stakeholders in challenging, fast-paced contexts. Your experience combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery capability, supported by strong communication and analytical skills. Key requirements include:

• Extensive experience leading user research within GDS programmes, including Beta-stage delivery and assessments
• Strong background working in multidisciplinary agile teams across complex delivery environments
• Proven ability to manage senior stakeholders, handle ambiguity, and balance competing priorities effectively
• Eligibility for UK Security Clearance and NPPV3 (mandatory)
• Experience working in public sector, justice, blue light, or other high-complexity environments (desirable)
• Strong facilitation, synthesis, and storytelling skills to translate research into clear, actionable insight
• Excellent judgment, autonomy, and confidence in making strategic research decisions under pressure

Benefits

• Competitive salary aligned with experience and location
• Private medical cover with option to include family members
• 25 days annual leave with option to buy/sell additional days
• Life assurance cover up to 4x salary with optional enhancement
• Pension scheme with employer contributions up to 8.5%
• Flexible benefits package tailored to individual needs
• Access to LinkedIn Learning with 15,000+ courses
• Personal learning budget and professional development support
• Hybrid or remote working options depending on location
• Additional leave initiatives such as volunteering and “give back” days