Role details
Campaign ID: 32
Position type: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, 37 hours per week; job share; flexible working; condensed hours
Grade: SEO
Required clearance: SC
Post type: Reserved or non-reserved
Salary: £45,740–£56,440
London: £49,040–£56,440
National: £46,240–£53,640
Closing date: 1 November 2026, 23:55
Salary is based on capability. The base salary for this grade is £48,540 in London and £45,740 in other locations. Any offer above the base salary will include a specialist pay allowance.
Who we are
The Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of government. We set, lead and deliver the vision for a modern digital government.
Our priorities are to:
Join up public sector services.
Harness the power of AI for the public good.
Strengthen and extend digital and data public infrastructure.
Elevate leadership and invest in talent.
Fund for outcomes and procure for growth and innovation.
Commit to transparency and drive accountability.
We are home to the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence, the world-leading GOV.UK, and the team at the forefront of coordinating the UK’s geospatial strategy and activity. We lead the Government Digital and Data function and champion the work of digital teams across government.
We are part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and employ more than 1,000 people across the UK, with hubs in Manchester, London and Bristol.
At GDS, talent translates into impact. From your first day, you will work with highly skilled digital professionals, combining your knowledge with theirs to make change on a national scale.
Former DSIT recruitment campaigns are continuing as usual. However, following the Government’s announcement on machinery-of-government changes, roles will be subject to these changes and will ultimately sit in one of the new departments. We will provide more information if you are selected for a role.
Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You will solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access the services they need.
What you will do
We are hiring several User Researchers to work on GOV.UK.
GOV.UK is the trusted online home for government information and services. Millions of people use it each week to complete essential, often life-changing tasks. It also supports government colleagues to publish accurate and accessible information for the public.
As a User Researcher, you will:
Make an impact by tackling public-infrastructure challenges and improving lives through high-quality, evidence-based insight.
Deliver work that matters by driving change, better value and improved outcomes for users and government.
Grow within a supportive research community that values experimentation, learning, failing fast and reflection, supported by dedicated development resources, training and cross-government networks.
Main responsibilities
Independently plan and conduct a wide range of user research activities aligned to team goals and priorities, including lean and iterative approaches that provide timely insight and support evidence-based decision-making.
Deliver high-quality, end-to-end research, from planning, research design and participant recruitment to analysis and actionable reporting.
Design and execute research that drives the development and continuous improvement of government products and services.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders, including Product Managers, Designers and Developers, to transform user insight into impactful product and service features.
Advocate for users by maintaining a clear focus on their needs and behaviours while understanding wider business goals.
Communicate research insights clearly and effectively, building a shared and deep understanding of findings.
Be a reflective practitioner by refining existing methods and practices or experimenting with new approaches to deliver better outcomes.
Manage time effectively to deliver high-quality research on schedule, while sharing ideas and learnings that support team growth and contribute to research libraries and reusable knowledge.
Who you are
You do not need government experience to apply. We are looking for User Researchers for GOV.UK with experience applying a range of research methods and approaches.
You will be a strong communicator with a proven record of advocating for users and delivering impactful insights that support informed decisions.
You can also demonstrate:
Experience and understanding of established user research methods, including planning, participant recruitment, analysis and sharing findings to generate insight for inclusive, human-centred design.
The ability to communicate clear, useful insights through compelling storytelling.
Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and actively involving colleagues in research activities.
The ability to include a diverse range of users in appropriate research activities, helping teams understand the people who use government services.
An understanding of social and technological contexts and their influence on user behaviour, alongside knowledge of user-centred design, accessibility and inclusion.
Initiative and a proactive mindset, using creative and collaborative solutions when working independently or with support on complex projects.
A commitment to reflecting on your practice, driving improvement and delivering meaningful change.
Benefits of working at GDS
Benefits include:
Flexible hybrid working, flexi-time, part-time work and condensed hours.
Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.5%.
25 days of annual leave, increasing by one day each year to a maximum of 30 days.
An additional day off for the King’s birthday.
An in-year bonus scheme that recognises high performance.
Career progression, coaching and a training budget for personal development.
Paid volunteering leave.
Wellbeing support, including an employee assistance programme.
The satisfaction of making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK.
Pay advances, including for travel season tickets.
Death-in-service benefits.
Cycle-to-work scheme and facilities.
Access to an employee discounts scheme.
Ten learning days each year.
Five special-leave days for volunteering each year.
Access to learning activities through Civil Service Learning.
Any move to GDS from another employer means you can no longer access childcare vouchers, including a move between government departments. You may be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Check your eligibility at Childcare Choices.
Office attendance
The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, combining time at your place of work with time at home in the UK. The current expectation is that staff attend an office or non-home location for 40% to 60% of the accounting period.
DSIT does not normally offer full home working, but it does offer a range of flexible-working options, including occasional working from home.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements must be truthful, factually accurate and drawn directly from your own experience.
If plagiarism is identified, including presenting another person’s ideas or experiences, or AI-generated content, as your own, applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Read the candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process
The standard selection process for GDS roles includes:
Application stage: Submit a CV and answer one knockout question. Failure to submit a CV and complete the application questions will result in an unsuccessful application.
Panel interview: A 60-minute video interview to understand your work and experience, and assess competencies and behaviours. You will receive a brief in advance if preparation is needed.
Technical exercise: A 120-minute video interview involving a research technical exercise. We will assess your research practices and skills through a series of practical tasks. You will receive a brief before the session.
Please upload your CV and cover letter as one document.
Depending on application volume, there may be an additional stage before the video interview, such as a phone interview or technical exercise.
If we receive a high volume of applications, the initial sift will assess the following lead criterion:
Experience and understanding of established user research methods, including planning, analysis and sharing findings to generate insight for inclusive, human-centred design grounded in an understanding of user behaviour and psychology.
We use Success Profiles to evaluate skills and ability. This supports fair selection, performance, diversity and inclusion. We will assess your relevant technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours.
You will be assessed against the following Civil Service Behaviours:
Seeing the Big Picture
Changing and Improving
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Delivering at Pace
We will also assess your experience and specialist technical skills against the following skills in the Government Digital and Data Capability Framework for User Researchers:
Agile research practices
Analysis and synthesis
Inclusive research
Research management, leadership and assurance
Stakeholder relationship management
User research methods
User-centred practice and advocacy
Find out more about Government Digital and Data here.
Recruitment timeline
Sift completion: 6 November 2026
Panel interviews: Week commencing 17 November 2026
Technical interviews: Week commencing 7 December 2026
Candidates who do not pass the interview but demonstrate an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.
A reserve list will be held for 12 months, from which further appointments may be made.
The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining and investing in talent wherever it is found. Read the Civil Service People Plan and Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy to learn more.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Check the top of this advert for the required security checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks.
Counter Terrorist Check
CTC is required when an individual works near public figures or needs unescorted access to buildings assessed as being at particular risk from terrorist attacks, including certain military, civil, industrial or commercial establishments and all Whitehall buildings.
Applicants normally need to have been UK residents for at least three years to gain CTC clearance. In addition to BPSS checks, CTC includes checks intended to prevent people with connections to terrorist organisations, or who may be vulnerable to pressure from them, from undertaking certain security duties where sensitive information could be compromised. CTC normally takes four to six weeks.
Security Check
SC clearance normally requires five years of UK residency in the past five years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be required if you have not lived in the UK for that period. This could make your clearance, and therefore appointment, take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
You must have lived in the UK for a sufficient period to allow meaningful checks to be completed and to provide the required level of assurance. A lack of UK residency is not necessarily a bar to clearance, but the expectation can range from three to five years. Failure to meet the residency requirements may result in withdrawal of a provisional job offer.
Sponsorship
DSIT cannot offer visa sponsorship for this campaign. Although DSIT holds a visa sponsorship licence, it can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
Nationality requirements
Check the top of the advert to confirm whether this is a reserved or non-reserved post.
Non-reserved posts
UK nationals.
Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK.
Nationals of the Republic of Ireland.
EU, EEA or Swiss nationals with settled or pre-settled status, or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme.
Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service.
Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service.
Certain family members of relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals.
Reserved posts
Open to UK nationals only.
Read further information on nationality requirements.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit on merit through fair and open competition, in line with the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining and investing in talent wherever it is found. Learn more in the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison-leaver recruitment.
Once this job closes, the advert will no longer be available. You may wish to save a copy for your records.
We encourage you to sign up for My Greenhouse and enable job alerts to stay informed about future opportunities.
Contact point for applicants
Recruitment team: [email protected]
Complaints procedure
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, contact [email protected] in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response, contact the Civil Service Commission by email at [email protected] or write to: Civil Service Commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ.