Applications for this role close 19th July 23:59 UK Time

About the Incubator for AI (i.AI)

The Incubator for AI (i.AI) is a fast moving, autonomous technical unit within the UK government. Our mission is to pioneer transformative applications of AI to build a better Britain.

We operate under three core principles:

Talent: We bring together the UK’s best AI talent across a range of functions. You will work alongside exceptional researchers and top government leaders, staying at the cutting edge of technology.

Innovation: We set precedents for what is possible in government. We combine the pace of a start-up with the influence of being at the digital centre of government. You will test new ideas, expand what is possible, and leverage unique government data to create novel solutions.

Impact: We are dedicated to using AI as a tool for public good - this can mean improving outcomes in schools, boosting housebuilding or providing more personalised support for those in need. With the backing of the Prime Minister, you will turn technical breakthroughs into real-world applications that affect millions of citizens.

About the job

User Researchers help us develop a deep understanding of the people who use government products and services — whether they are citizens, businesses or colleagues across the public sector. Their work helps teams design and build better services, reduce cost and risk, and continuously improve based on evidence.

This is a rare opportunity to apply user research to some of the most important and fast-moving questions in government: how emerging AI technologies can be used to solve real problems for real users, in ways that are useful, trusted and grounded in evidence.

You will work in one of our multidisciplinary product teams, each focused on a different application of AI to a government problem space — for example planning, education, government operations or frontline services. Our goal is not to explore technology for its own sake. We work quickly to understand whether there is genuine value in a problem area by building working products, putting them in front of users, and measuring real impact.

i.AI is an incubator, which means our teams are small, nimble and optimised for learning fast. You will need to be flexible, comfortable with ambiguity, and motivated by turning insight into action. In return, you will have the chance to shape products at an early stage, influence strategic decisions, and ensure teams stay focused on the needs, behaviours and realities of the people they are trying to serve.

This is the kind of environment where user research is central, not peripheral. Your work will help teams understand whether a product should exist, what it should do, how it should behave, and where the greatest risks and opportunities lie. If you are excited by difficult questions, fast feedback loops, and the chance to improve public services through evidence-led design, this is an opportunity to make a genuine impact.

What you will do

As a Senior User Researcher, you will plan and deliver user research activities in a multidisciplinary product team. You will help teams build a deep understanding of users and their contexts, and you will ensure that research informs decisions throughout the design, development and continuous improvement of products and services.

You will also help strengthen user-centred practices in new teams, align research with wider service and product plans, and contribute to the development of research capability across the organisation.

You will:

• Plan, design and deliver a range of user research activities to support the design, development and continuous improvement of complex government services
• Carry out end-to-end user research, including recruiting participants, preparing discussion guides, moderating sessions and selecting appropriate methods for different stages of delivery
• Lead analysis and synthesis of research findings, working with colleagues to turn qualitative and quantitative evidence into clear, actionable insight
• Work closely with analytics colleagues to build a richer picture of user behaviour and combine different sources of evidence effectively
• Communicate research findings clearly and persuasively, helping product teams and the wider organisation develop a deep understanding of users and their needs
• Work closely with product managers, designers and developers to turn research findings into decisions, stories and actions that improve products and services
• Align user research with wider team and service plans, ensuring research activity supports strategic decision-making as well as day-to-day delivery
• Build user-centred practices in new and growing teams, helping embed research into agile ways of working and product development
• Mentor and guide more junior user researchers, supporting the quality and development of research practice
• Contribute to the wider user research community, including through knowledge sharing, presenting, writing and helping evolve practice

This role will involve moving confidently between hands-on research delivery, strategic thinking and practice leadership. At times you will be deep in fieldwork or synthesis; at others, you will be helping teams frame the right questions, choose the right methods, and act on evidence in ambiguous and fast-changing contexts.

Person specification

Essential skills and experience

We are interested in people who have:

• Experience advocating for user research and engaging constructively with sceptical colleagues and stakeholders
• Experience helping teams adopt user-centred service design and delivery practices, and embedding them into agile ways of working
• The ability to understand the complex problems a team is trying to solve, and align user research activities to support decision-making and action
• Experience using and supporting teams to use a wide range of user research methods, analysis and synthesis techniques, and approaches to sharing findings effectively
• Proven experience introducing new user research methods into a team, and guiding colleagues in choosing and applying methods appropriately
• The ability to include diverse users in appropriate research activities, helping teams understand the full range of people who use government services
• A strong understanding of the social and technological context for government services, and experience aligning user research to help teams understand changing user needs and behaviours

Desirable experience

Experience in any of the following would be beneficial, but is not essential:

• Knowledge of the technologies used to build and operate digital services, and the ability to work closely with technical colleagues and challenge constraints constructively
• Experience conducting user research for government services

If you meet some of these criteria, but not every single one, we would still encourage you to apply.

Why join us

This is the kind of role that comes along rarely: a chance to help shape how AI is used in real public services, in a setting where the work is visible, important and capable of making a real difference.

You will work with talented, supportive and mission-driven colleagues across disciplines, and you will have the opportunity to contribute to a service that could be adopted widely across government. The problems are complex, the environment is fast-moving, and the potential public impact is significant.

If you want to help build trusted AI-enabled services that are practical, scalable and focused on real user needs, we would love to hear from you.

Salary explanation

Salary is paid within the grade range shown below.
As this is a GDAD role, the maximum salary includes a non-pensionable technical allowance, and successful candidates will be appointed somewhere within that range depending on assessment.

Grade 7:

London £61,620 + potential GDAD non pensionable technical allowance of up to £9,214. Total compensation up to £70,834 inclusive.
National £56,850 + potential GDAD non pensionable technical allowance of up to £6,390. Total compensation up to £63,240

What we offer

Career-defining projects with outsized impact

• Backing from the Prime Minister and No10 to scope and build transformative AI projects.
• Unique opportunities to apply technology that could transform the public sector and impact citizens’ lives.
• Talented, supportive and mission-driven colleagues.

Resources & access

• Access to frontier models and ample compute.
• Extensive operational, engineering, strategy, design and delivery support so you can focus on shipping.
• Work with experts across national security, policy, AI research and adjacent sciences.

Growth & empowerment

• A team culture and development support that prioritises personal growth.
• Opportunities to own important products early and develop them in small empowered teams.
• 5 days off for learning and development, annual stipends for learning and development, and funding for conferences and external collaborations.

Life & family*

• Hybrid working, flexibility for occasional remote work abroad, and stipends for work-from-home equipment.
• Generous annual leave — 25 days plus one additional day for each year of service.
• Generous paid parental leave (up to 39 weeks full pay, with the option of additional unpaid time).
• On top of your salary, we contribute 28.97% of your base salary to your pension.
• Discounts and benefits for cycling to work, dental insurance, donations and retail/gyms.

*These benefits apply to direct employees. Benefits may differ for people joining through other employment arrangements such as secondments.

Interested in applying?

We are hosting a live Q+A on the 8th July at 1pm UK Time for individuals to drop in, hear more about the role and ask any questions.

Join our open Q&A on Teams, 8 July 1pm: Join link

Selection Process

Candidates will be required to submit a CV and responses to two application questions. Applications will be sifted against the essential criteria, including relevant experience and motivation for the role. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a preliminary call.

Those who progress will then attend an interview, which will include questions on their application, a technical assessment, and a behavioural interview. For the technical assessment, candidates will be asked a scenario question by the panel and should be expected to respond to follow-up questions. Further details will be provided in advance, including the opportunity for candidates to prepare for the technical interview. Candidates may use AI tools to support this preparation.

Appointment is conditional on successfully completing UK Government SC clearance. Prior clearance is not required — we will sponsor and support you.You should normally have been resident in the UK for 2 of the past 5 years. Employment is conditional on obtaining and maintaining the required clearance(s).

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. As part of the application process, we monitor statistics on D&I.