NCSC User Researcher or User Experience Specialist

About us

GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe. We use cutting-edge technology, ingenuity and partnerships to identify, analyse and disrupt threats. Working with our intelligence partners MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from terrorism, cyber-attacks and espionage. At GCHQ you’ll do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, is the UK Government’s lead authority on cyber security. The organisation is at the heart of the Government’s cyber security strategy and has the aim of making the UK the safest place to live and work online.

This is an exciting opportunity to join NCSC’s multidisciplinary User Centred Research and Design (UCRD) team. Strengthening the UK’s ability to protect itself against cyber security threats depends on NCSC guidance, tools and services being accessible, usable and trusted by millions of diverse users. Our multidisciplinary User Research and User Experience specialists are critical to the success of these capabilities and work hard to ensure user needs are central to the strategy, design and implementation of capabilities that help to protect people and organisations across all levels of society.

Through mixed-method research, iterative testing and evidence-based design approaches, we help shape end-to-end services based on user insight rather than assumption. By identifying risks and validating ideas early, we inform strategy, support teams to make informed delivery decisions, reduce avoidable cost and technical debt, and improve the UK’s cyber resilience.

We are recruiting for multiple positions within the team, with responsibilities and seniority aligned to the successful candidate's skills, experience and interview outcome.

What will the successful candidate be doing?

As a User Research or User Experience specialist, you will play a key role in helping the NCSC deliver services, guidance and interventions that protect UK cyber security and improve outcomes for people, organisations and society. Working across a diverse portfolio of projects and services, you will ensure that decisions are informed by a robust understanding of user needs, behaviours and contexts.

You will work alongside multidisciplinary delivery teams, applying user-centred approaches to support the development of effective, accessible and inclusive services. You will plan and conduct user research or user experience activities, generate actionable insights, advocate for diverse users and help teams make informed decisions based on evidence rather than assumptions.

Senior User Research or User Experience specialists: will lead the delivery of research and design activities across projects, advising teams on appropriate methods and helping colleagues embed user-centred approaches throughout delivery. They will share insights with stakeholders, provide constructive challenge, support decision-making, and contribute to peer review and continuous improvement within the wider User Research and User Experience community.

Lead User Research or User Experience specialists: will provide expert strategic advice to multidisciplinary teams and senior stakeholders, shaping requirements, influencing delivery approaches and ensuring user needs are considered from the earliest stages of work. They will apply their specialist expertise to balance user needs, organisational priorities and technical constraints, provide technical leadership and quality assurance across the UCRD capability, mentor and support senior practitioners, and escalate significant risks or blockers where required.

Alongside project delivery, you will provide specialist User Research or User Experience consultancy and support to a variety of NCSC initiatives, including large-scale public-facing campaigns that help individuals and organisations stay secure online. You will also have opportunities to collaborate with user-centred specialists across government, contributing to nationally significant services and sharing best practice across the wider profession.

As part of a growing team, you will help shape the future of UCRD within the NCSC. You will contribute to the development of our ways of working, support capability growth, and strengthen professional relationships across the government user-centred research and design community to promote collaboration, learning and continuous improvement.

To compete against our adversaries, it is vital that the NCSC remains at the forefront of technological advancement and continues to deliver world-class cyber security advice and services. You will be supported to undertake relevant training and continuous professional development and encouraged to explore, test and share innovative tools, methods and approaches that could improve how we work, including the responsible and ethical use of AI.

Open to UK nationals only.

What to expect

Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Below is a brief overview of each stage:

• Initial online application.
• Online Situational Judgement Test (SJT) rating the appropriateness of your response to a series of short scenarios.
• Full online application.
• Application sift looking at your technical expertise, experience and motivation for the role.
• Online Interview.
• If successful, you’ll receive a conditional offer of employment.

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. The recruitment process, including vetting may take around 6 to 9 months to complete. We therefore advise you to continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.

Before you apply

To work at NCSC, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.

This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can find out more about the vetting process here.

Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.

Before you apply, we recommend setting up a separate email address for your correspondence with us, to ensure your personal and application related communications remain separate. Try to avoid having identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practice and will help you manage your application with us more securely.

The role can be done from Manchester, London, Cheltenham or Scarbrough, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as we do not offer relocation costs.

We offer reasonable reimbursement of travel costs for candidates attending in-person appointments during the recruitment and vetting process. Full details will be provided with your interview or assessment invitation.

Reimbursement is discretionary and will only be made in line with the Candidate Expenses Policy, as amended from time to time. Candidates must book their own travel, using the most economical option, and provide original hardcopy receipts for reimbursement.

Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.

The closing date for this role is: Monday 16th November 2026 at 23:55

Right to close applications early

Please be aware that we reserve the right to close applications once a certain number have been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid missing out. If you have a disability (as defined under the Equality Act 2010) and need additional time to complete your application, please submit your initial application. Then, contact us via the email provided as soon as possible, using the subject line “Reasonable Adjustments Extension” and briefly outline the support you require.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.