LEAD USER RESEARCHER – DV CLEARED

• Up to £725 per day via Umbrella
• Initial contract until 17/07/2026
• Hybrid working with 4–5 visits per month to client sites across London and the South of England
• Active DV clearance required

ABOUT THE CLIENT

Our client is delivering a highly classified defence capability programme within a secure MOD environment. Working at Above Secret classification level, this programme will shape how critical services are delivered and supported across Defence. Due to the sensitive nature of the work, they are seeking an experienced DV Cleared Lead User Researcher to join a small, specialist project team.

THE LEAD USER RESEARCHER ROLE

As Lead User Researcher, you will be responsible for planning and conducting user research within a classified MOD environment, adapting traditional research methods to work within security constraints.

You will engage directly with senior military and civilian stakeholders and end users to understand how they currently operate, what they need, and how moving from Secret to Above Secret environments will affect them.

You will also:

• Produce user personas, journey maps and process maps
• Deliver a Business Change Assessment covering onboarding, training and logistics impacts
• Define and document IMPEX processes for users and data entering and exiting the Above Secret environment
• Support the development of the service wrap, support model and runbooks
• Work closely with programme, security and architecture teams to ensure user needs are reflected in governance and accreditation decisions
• Document research findings in approved classified environments

LEAD USER RESEARCHER ESSENTIAL SKILLS

• Demonstrable experience conducting user research within UK Public Sector or Defence environments
• Strong understanding of MOD culture, military structures and working practices
• Excellent qualitative research skills including interviews, workshops and contextual enquiry
• Experience working with restricted or small user groups in secure environments
• Ability to translate research into business change, onboarding and service design outputs
• Confident engaging with senior stakeholders including SCS and senior military personnel
• Experience working within Agile delivery teams alongside BAs, Architects and Security professionals Active
• DV clearance