User Research Consultant

UBDS Group helps organisations deliver meaningful digital transformations through modern technology and ways of working. We work across the public and private sector to design and build products, platforms and services that genuinely make a difference to users.

In the public sector, that means helping teams design services that are accessible, inclusive and evidence-led, meeting real user needs while aligning with government standards and constraints.

We’re looking for a User Researcher who is passionate about understanding people, confident working in delivery teams, and experienced in applying research to shape better public services.

As a User Researcher at UBDS, you’ll work as part of multidisciplinary delivery teams alongside designers, product managers, engineers, analysts and client stakeholders. You’ll plan and carry out user research to inform service design and delivery, ensuring decisions are grounded in evidence rather than assumptions.

You’ll operate in fast-moving, sometimes ambiguous public sector environments, balancing rigour with pragmatism and helping teams continuously learn from users throughout delivery.

This is a hands-on role focused on doing high-quality research and helping teams turn insight into action.

• Plan and conduct user research to understand user needs, behaviours and pain points across digital and non-digital public services.
• Choose and apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g. interviews, usability testing, surveys, diary studies).
• Work closely with product managers and designers to shape problem statements, hypotheses and research questions.
• Synthesize research findings into clear, actionable insights that inform design and delivery decisions.
• Communicate research outcomes through clear artefacts such as insight reports, personas, journey maps and playback sessions.
• Support teams to iterate services based on evidence, testing and learning throughout discovery, alpha, beta and live phases.
• Ensure research activities are inclusive, ethical and aligned with accessibility and safeguarding considerations.
• Work in line with Government Digital Service (GDS) standards, supporting service assessments where required.
• Contribute to building research capability in teams by sharing methods, insights and good practice.

• Experience conducting user research in public sector or complex service environments.
• Strong understanding of a range of user research methods and when to use them.
• Experience working across different phases of delivery (Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live).
• Ability to synthesise research into clear insights that directly influence product and service decisions.
• Experience working with or aligning to GDS standards, including Service Standard and accessibility requirements.
• Awareness of research ethics, data protection and consent, particularly in public-facing services.

• A user-centred mindset and genuine curiosity about people and how they interact with services.
• Confidence working in multidisciplinary, Agile teams.
• Ability to communicate clearly with a wide range of stakeholders, including non-research specialists.
• Comfortable working in ambiguous problem spaces and helping teams make sense of complexity.
• Strong organisation and attention to detail, including clear documentation of research plans and findings.
• Willingness to adapt research approaches to time, budget and operational constraints while maintaining quality.

Why people choose to grow their careers at UBDS Group

Professionals choose to grow their careers at UBDS Group for its reputation as a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation that is deeply committed to both innovation and employee development. At UBDS Group, employees are given unique opportunities to work on cutting-edge projects across a diverse range of industries, exposing them to new challenges and learning opportunities that are pivotal for professional growth.

The Group’s culture emphasises continuous improvement, offering ample training programs, mentorship, and the chance to gain certifications that enhance their skills and marketability.

UBDS Group…