Senior User Researcher

This 12-month fixed-term role sits in the User Research team within Digital Technology Services at HM Courts and Tribunals Service. The post helps define research requirements for service teams, oversees user research across HMCTS with the Head of User Research, and mentors other researchers. It also carries people leadership across the business area, and successful applicants must be office based three days a week at any HMCTS office, with travel to other sites.

Only existing civil servants and accredited NDPB staff appointed on merit can apply.

• Help define and design user research requirements for service teams
• Oversee user research across HMCTS with the Head of User Research
• Provide strategic people leadership within the business area and hold teams to account for delivery
• Mentor and support user researchers at HMCTS
• Drive continuous improvement in how user research is deployed across a service delivery programme
• Ensure user research outputs are shared effectively across the organisation
• Identify key stakeholders and their requirements through engagement and discussion
• Build and maintain relationships with programme and project stakeholders, including suppliers, the judiciary and other government departments
• Champion wellbeing and foster an inclusive management culture
• Drive capability development and performance, making decisions aligned with HMCTS and Civil Service priorities
• Travel to other HMCTS sites for fieldwork, team meetings and wider business needs

• Extensive experience of conducting user research across multiple services
• Proven experience of delivering public-facing user research
• Demonstrable success facilitating and communicating with senior stakeholders, including Ministers, senior management teams and the public
• Experience of managing project or programme deliverables within budget

• In-depth understanding of user-centred design principles and tools
• Skill in selecting and applying research methods to generate insight into user behaviour and needs

• Existing Civil Service employee or accredited NDPB employee appointed on merit through fair and open competition
• Fixed-term appointment recruited through fair and open competition
• Eligible under Civil Service nationality rules
• DBS Basic check

• Demonstrated expertise leading user experience research or related functions, with a track record of guiding teams and influencing decisions at organisational level
• Experience of defining and implementing a strategic approach to user research
• Experience of working within an Agile software development project or programme

• 25 days annual leave rising to 30 after five years, plus public holidays and one privilege day
• Scheme to buy or sell up to three days' leave each year
• Choice of Civil Service pension schemes
• Flexible working, including part-time and job share arrangements
• Extensive training and development opportunities
• Employee-run networks
• Family friendly policies, paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave
• Flexible benefits and discounts, plus free annual sight tests for computer screen users