Skip to content
This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.

General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £58,511 - £65,329, London salary range is £63,343 - £70,725 Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
23-Feb-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 7
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
14543

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Senior User Researcher (Data specialist)  

Location: National*  

Closing Date: 21st February 

Interviews: after w/c 9th March 

Grade: Grade 7  

(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)  

Salary: (for more information, please refer to the T&Cs at the bottom): 

London: £63,343 - £70,725, (which may include an allowance of up to £332 

National: £58,511 - £65,329  

Working pattern: Full time, Part time, Flexible working   

Contract Type: Permanent   

Vacancy number: 14543   

*We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office. Office locations can be found ON THIS MAP 

The Role  

We’re recruiting for a Senior User Researcher here at Justice Digital, to be part of our warm and collaborative Chief Technology Office. 

This role aligns against the Senior user researcher role  from the Government Digital and Data Framework. 
User Researchers in the CTO help our teams develop a deep understanding of our data and developer professional colleagues, who build and use our services across shared platforms and products. Their findings allow our teams to design, build and maintain better services more quickly, at lower cost and technical risk, to continuously improve services, based on data and evidence.  

As a senior user researcher at Justice Digital, you’ll be an experienced practitioner who can plan and lead user research activities within a multidisciplinary team and uncover insights of the users of our complex but fascinating databases and justice systems. From time to time, you may move to other teams as priorities evolve. 

You’ll be joining a highly supportive community of researchers who meet regularly to share their knowledge and project experience within a safe learning environment. You may work with other user researchers (junior and mid-level) to assure and improve their research practice

Background 

We design, build and support user-centred digital and technology services for the justice system: services that make a real difference to our staff, members of the public and their families who use them. Millions of people interact with our services, and Digital & Technology play an important role in improving access to justice and making that experience much easier and less distressing.  

We are using digital, data and technology to build capability, work smarter and more efficiently. We want to create a digitally enabled end-to-end justice system which can adapt and respond to changing needs. We were the first digital team in a government department, and the first to deliver an exemplar service, with experts in web development, design, delivery and product management and user research, alongside around 50 organisations, including the courts service and Government Digital Service (GDS).  

To help picture your life at MoJ Justice Digital please take a look at our blog and our Digital and Technology strategy 2025  

Key Responsibilities 

Researchers on our teams are:  

  • Experienced working closely with and conducting research to understand the needs of data and developer roles  

  • Great at using quantitative and qualitative research methods  

  • Comfortable with metrics and able to synthesise data quickly  

  • Great storytellers and communicators  

  • Very good at collaborating in a dynamic, data-driven, creative environment  

Primary Responsibilities:  

  • Scope, plan, conduct, analyse and communicate research  

  • Lead colleagues to analyse and synthesise research data  

  • Communicate research findings across the organisation.  

  • Work closely with product managers, developers and data specialists to turn user research findings into actions that lead to valuable improvements to product and services  

  • Mentoring, supporting and line managing mid level and junior User Researchers  

  • Engaging with and contributing to the wider User Research community 

If this feels like an exciting opportunity, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team please read on and apply!   

Benefits 

  • 37 hours per week and flexible working options including working from home, working part-time, job sharing, or working compressed hours. 

  • A £1k per person learning budget is in place to support all our people, with access to best in class conferences and seminars, accreditation with professional bodies, fully funded vocational programmes and e-learning platforms  

  • Staff have 10% time to dedicate to develop & grow 

  • 25 days leave (plus bank holidays) and 1 privilege day usually taken around the King’s birthday. 5 additional days of leave once you have reached 5 years of service. 

  • Compassionate maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave policies, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave. And maternity support/paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks, too! 

  • Wellbeing support including access to the Calm app.  

  • Nurturing professional and interpersonal networks including those for Carers & Childcare, Gender Equality, PROUD and SPIRIT 

  • Bike loans up to £2500 and secure bike parking (subject to availability and location) 

  • Season ticket loans, childcare vouchers and eye-care vouchers. 

  • 5 days volunteering paid leave. 

  • Some offices may have a subsidised onsite Gym. 

Person Specification  

Essential: 

  • Technical understanding (Experience). You can demonstrate knowledge of the technologies used to build and operate digital services and databases, how teams store and access data and the tools used to analyse and disseminate data sets. You have experience collaborating closely with colleagues in technical disciplines such as developers, data engineering and data science in teams that help build these products and services.   

  • Analysis and synthesis (Technical Skills). You can understand and help teams to apply a range of methods to analyse research data and synthesise findings. You can work collaboratively with colleagues in carrying out analysis and synthesis. You can advise on the choice and application of techniques and can critique colleagues’ findings to assure best practice. You can share insights with a range of colleagues and stakeholders to help elevate the user's voice.  

  • User-centred and Agile practices (Behaviours: Communicating and influencing). You can understand and demonstrate experience in a range of user-centred practices. You can help inexperienced teams adopt user-centred practices and embed them into their Agile workflow. You can advocate for user research and engage potentially sceptical colleagues and stakeholders.  

  • Research methods. (Technical Skills) You can demonstrate experience in a wide range of user research methods, including qualitative and quantitative methods, and can help teams to adopt them. You can plan user research for services with challenging user needs and complex user journeys. You can advise colleagues on the choice and application of research methods to assure best practice.    

  • Inclusive research (Technical Skills). You can help teams understand the diversity of users of government services. You can effectively include all kinds of users in appropriate research activities. You can advocate inclusive practices and help teams design and deliver accessible services that work for all users.   

  • Advocating for the user (Behaviours: Communicating and influencing)). You can understand what problem the team is trying to solve and ensure that the voice of the user is heard throughout each stage of delivery, whether as an internal or end user. You can align user research activities to inform decision making and action.   

Willingness to be assessed against  the requirements for BPSS clearance. 

We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring and do not discriminate based on culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor. 

Our values are Purpose, Humanity Openness and Together. Find out more here about how we celebrate diversity and an inclusive culture in our workplace.  

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy. 

How to Apply    

  1. Candidates must submit CV & personal statement (max 750 words)which describes how you meet the requirements from the essential criteria, set out below: 

 

  • Technical understanding (user-centred design). 

  • User-centred and Agile practices. 

  • Research methods. 

  • Advocating for the user. 

Please note, failure to provide both documents will result in a rejection of your application. 

  1. A diverse panel will review your application against those requirements above. 

  1. Successful candidates who meet the required standard will then be invited to a 1-hour panel interview held via video conference, which will include a task, supplied prior to the interview. More information will be shared with enough notice. 

In Justice Digital, we recruit using a combination of the Digital, Data and Technology Capability and Success Profiles Frameworks. We will assess your Experience, Technical Skills and the following Behaviour during the assessment process:  

  • Communicating and influencing 

Should you be unsuccessful in the role that you have applied for but demonstrate the capability for a role at a lower level, we reserve the right to discuss this opportunity with you and offer you the position without needing a further application. 

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, from which further appointments may be made. 

Application Guidance 

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Personal Statement  

Use of Artificial Intelligence 

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. 

Terms & Conditions 

Please review our Terms and Conditions which set out how we recruit and provide further information related to the role and salary arrangements. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact digitalanddatarecruitment@justice.gov.uk 

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours 

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits 

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension 

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training 

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks 

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 14543

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 14543

Allowance

Salary: (for more information, please refer to the T&Cs at the bottom): 

London: £63,343 - £70,725, (which may include an allowance of up to £332 

National: £58,511 - £65,329  

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability
Experience Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Candidates must submit a CV & a personal statement (max 750 words), which describes how you meet the requirements from the essential criteria, set out below:

- Technical understanding (user-centred design). You can demonstrate knowledge of the technologies used to build and operate digital services and databases, how teams store and access data and the tools used to analyse and disseminate data sets. You have experience collaborating closely with colleagues in technical disciplines such as developers, data engineering and data science in teams that help build these products and services.

- User-centred and Agile practices. You can understand and demonstrate experience in a range of user-centred practices. You can help inexperienced teams adopt user-centred practices and embed them into their Agile workflow. You can advocate for user research and engage potentially sceptical colleagues and stakeholders.

- Research methods. You can demonstrate experience in a wide range of user research methods, including qualitative and quantitative methods, and can help teams to adopt them. You can plan user research for services with challenging user needs and complex user journeys. You can advise colleagues on the choice and application of research methods to assure best practice.

- Advocating for the user. You can understand what problem the team is trying to solve and ensure that the voice of the user is heard throughout each stage of delivery, whether as an internal or end user. You can align user research activities to inform decision making and action.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Interviews: after w/c 9th March
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Experience
Your Experience for this role will be assessed at interview. To learn more about Experience and how they are assessed please click here.
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Experience Questions
Technical
Analysis and synthesis. You can understand and help teams to apply a range of methods to analyse research data and synthesise findings. You can work collaboratively with colleagues in carrying out analysis and synthesis. You can advise on the choice and application of techniques and can critique colleagues’ findings to assure best practice. You can share insights with a range of colleagues and stakeholders to help elevate the user's voice.
Research methods. You can demonstrate experience in a wide range of user research methods, including qualitative and quantitative methods, and can help teams to adopt them. You can plan user research for services with challenging user needs and complex user journeys. You can advise colleagues on the choice and application of research methods to assure best practice.
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.