Contract User Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Contract User Researcher

Company: AND Digital

Location: London, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: User Experience Research / GTM Operations

Date Posted: March 19, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (2-4 days in-office per week)

🚀 Role Summary

• This contract role focuses on user research within the public sector, requiring a strong understanding of GDS standards and agile methodologies.

• The User Researcher will be instrumental in defining research activities that align with strategic objectives and contribute to the successful delivery of digital products and services.

• A key aspect involves creatively presenting research findings to diverse audiences, ensuring insights drive product and service development decisions.

• The role demands an ability to navigate and apply knowledge of digital services technologies, including innovative and emergent solutions, within a policy context.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "User Researcher," the emphasis on GDS standards, digital service delivery, and technology within AND Digital's mission suggests a strong connection to Go-To-Market (GTM) operations, particularly in how user insights inform product strategy and client engagement for digital transformation initiatives. The hybrid requirement with specific in-office days indicates a need for on-site collaboration and stakeholder engagement, typical for roles influencing product and service roadmaps.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct inclusive and robust user research across multiple stages of the digital product and service delivery lifecycle.

• Define and execute appropriate research activities, such as user interviews, surveys, usability testing, and persona development, to meet strategic objectives.

• Translate complex research findings into clear, actionable insights and present them creatively and engagingly to a variety of stakeholders, including clients and internal teams.

• Apply knowledge of digital services technologies, including innovative and emergent solutions, to inform research design and recommendations.

• Ensure all research activities and deliverables adhere to Government Digital Service (GDS) standards and best practices.

• Collaborate effectively within agile teams, contributing research expertise to sprint planning, backlog refinement, and retrospective meetings.

• Conduct research within a policy context, understanding how policy frameworks influence user needs and service design.

• Work closely with product managers, designers, developers, and policy advisors to ensure a user-centered approach to product and service development.

• Provide documentation of research processes, methodologies, and findings, maintaining a clear record for future reference and audit.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of user research practices and methodologies within AND Digital and for client projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of traditional user research with a strong emphasis on public sector standards (GDS) and agile delivery. This suggests the need for a researcher who can not only gather insights but also translate them into actionable requirements for product development teams operating within structured, regulated environments.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design, or a related discipline. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Demonstrable experience (typically 2-5 years) working as a User Researcher, with a significant portion focused on the public sector.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience conducting inclusive and robust user research methodologies (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys, ethnographic studies).

• Ability to define appropriate research activities aligned with strategic objectives and project goals.

• Creative and engaging presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex findings to diverse audiences (technical and non-technical).

• Strong understanding of digital services technologies and an awareness of innovative and emergent technologies.

• In-depth knowledge of and experience working to the Government Digital Service (GDS) standards and processes.

• Experience working within agile development environments and collaborating effectively with agile teams.

• Experience conducting research within a policy context.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with quantitative research methods and data analysis.

• Familiarity with user research tools and platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Miro).

• Experience in a consulting environment, working with multiple clients on diverse projects.

• A portfolio showcasing successful user research projects, particularly within the public sector, demonstrating impact and adherence to GDS standards.

• Ability to mentor junior researchers or contribute to team knowledge sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on GDS standards and public sector experience is critical. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their experience with these specific frameworks and demonstrate how their research has driven tangible outcomes within such environments.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated collection of user research projects, clearly detailing the research problem, methodology used, and key findings.

• Case studies demonstrating the application of GDS standards and processes throughout the research lifecycle.

• Examples of how research insights were translated into actionable recommendations for product/service improvement or development.

• Evidence of presenting research findings to diverse stakeholders, showcasing creativity and clarity in communication.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of research plans, outlining objectives, participant recruitment strategies, and chosen methodologies.

• Records of research instruments (e.g., interview guides, survey questionnaires, usability test scripts).

• Summaries of research findings, including thematic analysis, user journey maps, and personas.

• Presentations or reports that effectively communicate research outcomes and recommendations.

• Artifacts demonstrating an understanding of the GDS Process and its application in research.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is crucial for this contract role, especially for demonstrating practical application of GDS standards and ability to drive impact within public sector digital initiatives. Candidates should highlight projects that showcase their ability to translate user needs into tangible product improvements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £400 - £600 per day (Contractor Rate)

Benefits:

• Opportunity to work on impactful public sector digital transformation projects.

• 6-month contract with potential for extension, offering stability and project variety.

• Hybrid working model with flexibility for remote work, balanced with essential in-office collaboration.

• Exposure to a leading tech consultancy (AND Digital) with a strong reputation for digital delivery.

• Opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients and technologies.

• Professional development through exposure to different project challenges and methodologies.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected to meet project deadlines. Core working hours will likely align with UK business hours (e.g., 9 AM - 5 PM GMT), with 2-4 days per week requiring presence in London, Birmingham, or Coventry offices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is an estimate based on typical contractor rates for User Researchers with public sector and GDS experience in the UK market. This typically reflects the demand for specialized skills and the contract nature of the role. The benefits focus on the project impact and professional exposure rather than traditional employee benefits.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consulting, Digital Transformation, Software Development, Skills Gap Closure

Company Size: 1,300+ employees

Founded: 2014

Team Structure:

• AND Digital operates with a "Clubs" model, fostering regional presence and strong client relationships.

• User Researchers are likely integrated into client-facing project teams, collaborating closely with product managers, designers, developers, and client stakeholders.

Methodology:

• AND Digital is committed to accelerating digital delivery and closing the digital skills gap, suggesting a focus on practical, efficient, and impactful solutions.

• The company likely employs agile methodologies extensively, with a strong emphasis on client partnership and iterative development.

• A data-driven approach is expected, where user insights and performance metrics inform strategic decisions.

Company Website: https://www.and.digital/

📝 Enhancement Note: AND Digital's mission to close the "digital skills gap" and their "Clubs" model indicate a culture that values practical application, continuous learning, and strong client partnerships. The consultancy nature means researchers will likely work on diverse projects, requiring adaptability and a proactive approach to understanding client needs and business contexts.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-level Contractual Role. This position offers specialized experience within user research, particularly in the public sector and GDS frameworks, which is highly valuable. While a contract, it provides exposure to critical project phases and client interactions.

Reporting Structure: The User Researcher will likely report to a Project Lead, Delivery Manager, or a senior member of the AND Digital team assigned to the specific client project. They will also work closely with client-side product owners and project managers.

Operations Impact: The User Researcher's insights directly influence the design and functionality of digital products and services, ensuring they meet user needs and align with strategic business objectives. This role is critical in the GTM process by validating product-market fit and informing messaging and adoption strategies based on user understanding.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in public sector research, GDS standards, and policy-informed design.

• Project Diversity: Gain experience across various government departments and digital service types.

• Consulting Acumen: Develop client management and stakeholder communication skills within a consultancy setting.

• Network Building: Establish professional connections within AND Digital and the public sector digital community.

• Potential for Future Contracts: Successful delivery can lead to further contract opportunities with AND Digital or their clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, "growth" is often measured by the breadth of experience gained and the professional network built. This role offers a strong opportunity to solidify expertise in a niche but highly demanded area of user research.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid with in-office requirements in London, Birmingham, or Coventry. The specific "Club" location will depend on the project assignment and client needs.

Office Location(s): AND Digital has multiple offices ("Clubs") across the UK, including London. The specific office to be used will depend on the project and client location.

Workspace Context:

• The work environment will be a blend of remote work and collaborative office settings.

• Office days will likely involve working alongside client teams and other AND Digital consultants, fostering a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere.

• Access to necessary technology and collaboration tools will be provided, supporting both remote and in-office work.

• The environment is expected to be fast-paced, delivery-focused, and client-centric.

Work Schedule: Standard UK business hours (approximately 9 AM - 5 PM GMT) are expected, with flexibility required to meet project demands. The hybrid nature necessitates planning for in-office days, which may vary based on project phase and client engagement requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid requirement means candidates must be comfortable commuting to one of the specified office locations for a portion of their work week, balancing this with remote research activities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess initial fit, experience, and availability.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager (likely a lead consultant or project manager) focusing on your user research experience, GDS knowledge, and public sector background.

• Technical/Portfolio Review: A session dedicated to reviewing your portfolio. Be prepared to walk through 1-2 key projects, explaining your process, challenges, and the impact of your research. This is where GDS compliance and agile integration will be heavily scrutinized.

• Potential Final Interview: A discussion with a senior leader or client representative may be required for final approval.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Prioritize projects that clearly demonstrate your experience with GDS standards and the GDS process.

• For each project, articulate the research objectives, your specific role, methodologies used, participant demographics, key findings, and actionable recommendations.

• Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "improved task success rate by X%", "reduced user confusion by Y%").

• Showcase how you adapted your research approach to fit agile sprints and evolving project requirements.

• Be prepared to discuss how you ensured research inclusivity and ethical considerations.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for scenario-based questions: "How would you approach research for X problem?" or "How would you handle conflicting user feedback?"

• Prepare to discuss your understanding of the GDS design principles and how they inform your research.

• Anticipate questions about working in agile teams and collaborating with developers and designers.

• Practice articulating your thought process for defining research activities based on strategic goals.

• Consider how you would present potentially negative findings constructively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is the most critical stage. Candidates should meticulously prepare detailed case studies that directly address the requirements for GDS compliance, public sector experience, and agile collaboration.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Familiarity with tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, or similar for remote usability testing and participant recruitment.

• Survey Tools: Experience with Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Typeform, or Google Forms for quantitative data collection.

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with Miro, Mural, or similar for remote whiteboarding, affinity mapping, and collaborative synthesis of research findings.

• Prototyping & Design Tools (for review): Awareness of tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD to understand user interface designs being tested.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Software: Skills in basic statistical analysis, potentially using Excel, Google Sheets, or more advanced tools if quantitative research is involved.

• Presentation Software: Expertise in PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote for creating impactful research reports and presentations.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a core CRM role, understanding how user feedback integrates into product roadmaps and potentially CRM data for user segmentation is beneficial.

• Familiarity with project management tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for tracking research tasks within agile workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tool requirements are not detailed, a strong user researcher will be proficient in a range of qualitative and quantitative data gathering and synthesis tools, with a particular emphasis on collaborative platforms and presentation software.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Remarkable Impact: A core value of AND Digital, meaning research should lead to significant, positive outcomes for clients and their users.

• Collaboration: Working closely with clients and internal teams to achieve shared goals.

• Excellence: Maintaining high standards in research quality, delivery, and client service.

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies and approaches to solve complex digital challenges.

• Continuous Learning: A commitment to staying updated on best practices, technologies, and industry trends, especially within the public sector and GDS frameworks.

Collaboration Style:

• Client-Centric: Deeply understanding client needs and integrating research seamlessly into their existing workflows.

• Cross-Functional: Working effectively with diverse teams (product, design, development, policy) to ensure user insights are understood and acted upon.

• Agile Integration: Participating actively in agile ceremonies and contributing a user-centered perspective to the development process.

• Open Communication: Fostering a transparent environment for sharing findings, feedback, and challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture likely values a proactive, collaborative, and results-oriented approach. Researchers are expected to be not just data collectors but strategic partners who help clients build better digital services.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Public Sector Bureaucracy: Understanding and working within the specific constraints and processes of government organizations.

• Balancing GDS Standards with Project Agility: Ensuring research meets rigorous GDS requirements while remaining adaptable to fast-paced agile sprints.

• Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Managing expectations and communicating research findings effectively to stakeholders with varying levels of technical understanding and priorities.

• Remote vs. In-Office Balance: Effectively contributing to team collaboration and client engagement while working a hybrid schedule.

• Short Contract Duration: Delivering significant impact within a 6-month timeframe requires efficient planning and execution.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• GDS Expertise: Becoming a subject matter expert in GDS standards and their practical application.

• Public Sector Digital Landscape: Gaining deep insights into the challenges and opportunities within UK government digital services.

• Consultancy Skills: Enhancing client management, stakeholder negotiation, and business development awareness.

• Diverse Project Exposure: Working on a variety of digital projects for different government bodies.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced consultants and potentially mentor less experienced team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: This contract offers a significant opportunity to build a specialized skill set in public sector user research, which is a highly valued niche. The challenges are directly related to mastering these specific domain requirements.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your experience working with GDS standards. Can you provide an example of how you've applied them in a research project?"

• "How would you define research objectives for a new government digital service with a broad user base?"

• "Walk us through a complex user research project you led. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?"

• "How do you ensure your research is inclusive and representative of diverse user groups?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working with AND Digital and specifically on public sector projects?"

• "How do you approach collaboration within an agile team, especially when working remotely part-time?"

• "Describe a time you had to adapt your research approach based on project constraints or client feedback."

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, clearly outline: Problem Statement, Your Role & Responsibilities, Target Audience, Methodology, Key Findings, Recommendations, and Impact/Outcome.

• GDS Focus: Explicitly call out how your work adhered to GDS principles and processes. Use GDS terminology where appropriate.

• Visuals: Use anonymized screenshots of your research artifacts (e.g., affinity maps, personas, key report slides) to illustrate your work.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present each case study within 5-10 minutes to allow for discussion.

• Q&A: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, decision-making, and the impact of your research.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare detailed examples that directly address the GDS and public sector requirements. Quantifiable results and clear articulation of the research process leading to those results will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Workable application link provided.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your CV and any accompanying cover letter to highlight your public sector user research experience, GDS knowledge, and agile collaboration skills.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists the user research methodologies you are proficient in and any specific GDS-related projects or certifications. Use keywords from the job description.

• Portfolio Preparation: Select 2-3 of your strongest public sector projects to present. Prepare concise summaries and visual aids demonstrating your process, findings, and impact, with a specific focus on GDS compliance.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with AND Digital's mission, values, and their approach to digital transformation. Understand the GDS standards and principles thoroughly.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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