Salary: £55,000 - 55,000 per year Requirements: We need strong experience in practical user research and an understanding of different research methodologies. We need experience delivering user research in an agile project environment. We need a strong understanding of user-centred practices. We need a strong understanding of the GDS Service Manual. We need the ability to plan, lead and execute user research activities within an allocated project. We need the ability to lead, support and collaborate across projects and professions when required. We need the ability to mentor, coach and train junior, mid-weight and senior user researchers. We need the ability to define research objectives, methodology and sampling approaches, and make clear recommendations. We need the ability to present findings confidently to internal and external stakeholders. We need to support departmental service assessments. We need to contribute actively to the user research community across government. We need candidates to be able to complete an anonymised CV and a 750-word personal statement demonstrating suitability against the essential criteria. We will assess behaviours including communicating and influencing, working together, making effective decisions and leadership. Responsibilities: We will expect you to plan and deliver user research to support your allocated project. We will expect you to support and champion user-centred practices within teams. We will expect you to align user research activities with wider plans that inform a service proposition. We will expect you to lead user research planning, including objectives, methodology, sampling and recommendations. We will expect you to lead the application of user research methods in practice and advise colleagues on method selection. We will expect you to develop and promote research strategies to understand user needs and continually test and improve services. We will expect you to present research findings that inform wider decisions for key stakeholders. We will expect you to support departmental service assessments. We will expect you to mentor, coach and train other user researchers. We will expect you to contribute to the wider user research community across government. Technologies: Support Network Security More: We are the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), and this Lead User Researcher role sits within our user research team at the forefront of our digital transformation programme. We are looking to deliver radical changes to our services that better meet the needs of our customers and colleagues. You will join a well-established, inclusive and close-knit team of professionals who are passionate about improving user experiences. We offer a warm welcome, support for your personal and professional development, and opportunities to develop your skills and maintain professional qualifications and accreditations. This role is based in our Newport office and follows our hybrid working arrangement, with staff currently expected to spend at least 20% of their time onsite. We offer a salary of £47,766, a Civil Service defined benefit pension contribution, flexible working, 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days over five years, public and privilege leave, family-friendly policies, wellbeing initiatives, free onsite parking, and on-site gym, shop, restaurant and coffee shop facilities at our Newport office. last updated 24 week of 2026