Senior Project Officer

Communities & Skills

Collaborative, open, inclusive and fair - we work with and through partners to ensure Londoners can shape healthy, empowered and productive lives. Communities and Skills is led by Executive Director, Tunde Olayinka and is comprised of the following units: Civil Society & Sport, Communities & Social Policy, Group Public Health Unit, Skills and Employment and Health, Children and Young Londoners.

About the team

The Skills & Employment Unit is responsible for overseeing adult skills delivery in London following delegation of the Adult Skills Fund from the DfE to the Greater London Authority in 2019 and the introduction of Skills Bootcamps in 2022.

The Skills and Employment Unit’s Funding Policy and Systems Team is responsible for data collection and processing related to London’s adult education and skills programmes and produces a range of data products to support delivery of the Mayor’s priorities in this area.

About the role

You will lead the planning, design and delivery of user research with users of the team’s data products to understand their needs and requirements and work with the development team to design potential solutions.

The team has recently started embedding user-centred approaches in its work. You’ll have the chance to embed user research as a critical function within the team and make a meaningful impact for data users in an evolving environment. If you’re interested in how data is used and enthusiastic about delivering improvements for the public sector, this role is for you.

This is a hybrid working opportunity. The team is based at 169 Union Street, SE1 0LL.

What your day will look like

• Produce research outputs that inform design so that our data products work well for users and achieve the desired business outcomes.
• Establish user research as a function within the Funding Policy and Systems team. Set standards and behavioural expectations for researchers and embed user research as a function into the delivery of all data products.
• Directly lead research of our data products, working in the open with the user at the centre of all you do, including working across multiple workstreams concurrently.
• Apply a range of research methods to identify user needs and requirements, refine concepts, and test solutions with data users. Create research and analysis plans to help gather evidence to guide decision-making in nuanced areas where simple answers are not possible. Collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team to explore research findings in more depth, share knowledge and expertise, and support decision-making;
• Analyse research findings to draw out key insights; communicate key insights and recommendations to the multi-disciplinary team and its stakeholders. Translate the vision into prioritised, deliverable user stories backed up by evidence. Create wireframes used to visualise and test design concepts, and lead the design of data product solutions to share with the development team;
• Contribute to the refinement and prioritisation of the Data and Systems Roadmap;
• Build up an internal research and insight knowledge base. Maintain a research repository and standardise processes that enable the team to plan, deliver, and apply quality research;
• Act as an advocate for user-centred design and development by highlighting its benefits to internal stakeholders. Help them understand agile ways of working as well as the user researcher’s skill set;
• Apply an agile mindset to all aspects of your work. Create a fast-paced, evolving environment and use an iterative method and flexible approach to enable rapid delivery;
• Manage staff and resources as allocated to the job in accordance with the Authority’s policies and Code of Ethics and Standards;
• Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job, supporting the delivery of key workstreams across the team as required, and participating in multi-disciplinary, cross-department and cross-organisational groups and project teams.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• Deep experience of delivering qualitative / user research studies including planning, recruitment, execution and analysis across the full product lifecycle, ideally with a focus on improving business processes and data products;
• Research communication skills. Can explain what users need from us succinctly, to a diverse, non-expert audience. Demonstrates a strong track record of collaborating, building trust, and managing expectations across teams;
• Experience in product thinking and leading a user research function that functions effectively within the product development lifecycle. Ability to build and execute a backlog of work, translating user needs into user stories for the product team to deliver against;
• Analytically rigorous with an understanding of methodological validity of qualitative and quantitative data;
• Highly data literate with an ability to clearly articulate data challenges faced by users;
• Experience of working across modern technology platforms including workflow management (e.g. MS Planner / Asana) and collaborative working software (e.g. Lucid / Miro). Proficient in Microsoft Excel.
• Experience using software to build dashboards e.g. PowerBI would be considered an asset.
• Deep understanding of how to build accessible products.

Behavioural competencies

The competencies listed below are focused to this role and will be used for shortlisting and interview purposes. Please ensure you reflect these areas in your applications.

1. Research and analysis … is gathering intelligence (information, opinion and data) from varied sources, making sense of it, testing its validity and drawing conclusions that can lead to practical benefits. See competency framework linked below for level 3 indicators of effective performance.
2. Communicating and Influencing … is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us. See competency framework linked below for level 3 indicators of effective performance.
3. Stakeholder Focus … is consulting with, listening to and understanding the needs of those our work impacts and using this knowledge to shape what we do and manage others’ expectations. See competency framework linked below for level 3 indicators of effective performance.
4. Problem Solving … is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions. See competency framework linked below for level 3 indicators of effective performance.

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

• Up to date CV
• Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘CV and Cover Letters’ section’ of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g., “CV – applicant name - 012345)

As part of GLA’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and Personal Statements that could cause discrimination.

We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

If you have questions about the role

If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager Simon Lowe would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at [email protected] .

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact the [email protected] who support the GLA with recruitment.

Is this role eligible for sponsorship?

This role DOES NOT meet the criteria for sponsorship for external candidates. It may meet the criteria for sponsorship for some internal candidates, in limited circumstances. Please contact the hiring manager if you wish to discuss this further.

Assessment process

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

The interview/assessment dates are: 4-5 February 2026.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

Benefits

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Additional Information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.