Senior User Researcher (DV Cleared)

Senior User Researcher (DV Cleared)
Hybrid - London/South of England (4-5 site visits per month)
Developed Vetting (DV) - Sole UK Nationals Only

Up to £750 p/d inside IR35

We are seeking an experienced Senior User Researcher to lead research activities on a highly classified MOD programme delivering an Above Secret (AS) capability for a critical Defence service.

This is not a typical user research role. You will operate within a secure, constrained environment where access to users, tools, and collaboration platforms is restricted. Working as part of a small, DV-cleared team, you will engage with senior military and civilian stakeholders to understand user behaviours, workflows, and the impact of transitioning from Secret to Above Secret environments.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in user research within UK public sector or defence environments
• Strong understanding of MOD culture, including military and civilian structures
• Expertise in qualitative research methods (interviews, workshops, contextual enquiry)
• Ability to adapt research approaches in restricted or classified settings
• Experience working with small, specialised user groups rather than large-scale panels
• Skilled in translating research into business change and service design outputs
• Strong documentation skills for governance and assurance audiences
• Previous work on classified or Above Secret programmes
• Familiarity with GDS Service Standards and Government Design Principles
• Experience producing business change or service readiness assessments

This role requires enhanced vetting (DV clearance), which may extend onboarding timelines. Due to the nature of the programme, remote working is limited and all classified work must be conducted in approved secure environments. If you have the required clearance and experience working in secure defence environments, this is a unique opportunity to shape a critical national capability.