Senior User Researcher

Job summary

The post holder will be an experienced user researcher, able to recruit participants, plan and lead research for teams and more complex services. You will be a key member of the team delivering the public and private facing dashboards for UKHSA to prepare for, prevent, and respond to external hazards that threaten the health of the UK population. You will be tasked with influencing service proposition, aligning user research activities with wider plans and building user centred practices within the team. You will lead activities to generate new and useful user insights, working closely with designers, analysts and developers to iteratively improve our services for users.

Experienced in using a variety of user research methods to reveal actionable insights, you should also have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to quickly develop recommendations based on quantitative and qualitative evidence.

Working for your organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

As a Senior User Researcher, you will be working autonomously to lead end to end user research activities including recruitment, preparing research materials, conducting research using a range of methods and analysis; your responsibilities include:

• Focus on leading and doing user research for complex and high-profile agile projects, programmes and/or portfolios of work.
• Leading on planning, recruiting and conducting user research for new data product testing, including playing back user research to stakeholders and digital teams.
• Be a knowledge expert in the user research field and lead on user research and strategic issues, through effective planning, implementation and review.
• Working with user researchers and service managers to develop and advocate appropriate research strategies to understand user needs for a service, and to continually test and improve the service.
• Foster a culture of team involvement in user research, team analysis, design rationale and decision making based on user needs
• Managing and mentoring other user centred design staff to ensure quality of research, and drive improvements in practice.
• Planning, designing, preparing and running user research activities to support the design, development and continuous improvement of digital government services (including contextual discovery, experience mapping, diary studies, early-stage concept and prototype testing, lab based and contextual usability and accessibility testing).
• Designing and running contextual and discovery research to develop a deep understanding of the needs of all users of a service.
• Managing the usability and accessibility testing process from recruiting participants, designing test tasks, and preparing discussion guides, to test moderation, analysis and presenting results.
• Designing, executing and analysing quantitative surveys.
• Leading colleagues to analyse research data and synthesis findings so that research is shareable and traceable.
• Understanding the service problem then aligning user research activities to influence and support decision-making.
• Effectively communicating user research findings to the team and the wider organisation, so that they share a strong and empathetic understanding of their users (including presentations at show and tells, designing and maintaining research outputs on the team wall, formal reports)
• Working closely with designers and developers to turn user research findings into stories and actions that lead to valuable product and service features.
• Working closely with analytics colleagues to define user centred KPIs, to create a rich picture of user behaviour to tell the full story of how and why people use our services

As a Senior User Researcher, further responsibilities include:

• Planning, designing, preparing and running user research activities to support the design, development and continuous improvement of digital government services (including contextual discovery, experience mapping, diary studies, early-stage concept and prototype testing, lab based and contextual usability and accessibility testing).
• Designing and running contextual and discovery research to develop a deep understanding of the needs of all users of a service.
• Managing the usability and accessibility testing process from recruiting participants, designing test tasks, and preparing discussion guides, to test moderation, analysis and presenting results.
• Designing, executing and analysing quantitative surveys.
• Leading colleagues to analyse research data and synthesis findings so that research is shareable and traceable.
• Understanding the service problem then aligning user research activities to influence and support decision-making.
• Effectively communicating user research findings to the team and the wider organisation, so that they share a strong and empathetic understanding of their users (including presentations at show and tells, designing and maintaining research outputs on the team wall, formal reports)
• Working closely with designers and developers to turn user research findings into stories and actions that lead to valuable product and service features.
• Working closely with analytics colleagues to define user centred KPIs, to create a rich picture of user behaviour to tell the full story of how and why people use our services

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include:

Internal Stakeholders

• Staff across all disciplines and at all levels within the CDO Digital & Data Directorate
• Senior management across all UKHSA directorates
• Staff in the Customer Comms & Innovation and Technology groups
• Executive Directors across UKHSA
• Leadership Teams
• Matrix UKHSA Directorate leads for Programme Management, Communications, Engagements, and Strategy & Planning

External Stakeholders

• Department of Health and Social Care
• Secretary of State and Cabinet Office
• NHS England & Improvement
• NHS Digital
• ONS
• HSCIC
• Other Government Departments
• Commercial Organisations
• Third Sector Organisations
• Members of the public

The above lists are not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Demonstrable knowledge, experience in and passion for user centred design practices for web, service or software development
• Experience of understanding user needs for web content, tools and transactional services, especially those with the most complex user journeys
• Experience of designing, facilitating and analysing a wide range of qualitative and quantitative user research methods
• Experience of advocating for user research and engaging sceptical colleagues and stakeholders
• Experience of presenting user research findings in a wide variety of formats and contexts
• Experience introducing and establishing user research practices in an organisation
• Experience of working in an agile development environment with designers and developers and product managers to create new digital services
• Strong understanding of strengths and limitations of different research methods
• Ability to turn research data into clear findings that inform decisions
• Knowledge of the technologies used to build and operate digital services
• Ability to manage your own workload with limited supervision
• Ability to understand complex problems a team is trying to solve. Align user research activities to inform decision-making and action.
• Experience in line management
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
• Educated to degree level in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics or equivalent experience in user research.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,185, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,276 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours, experience and technical skills.

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 15 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form Employer history section on the application
  • 1000 word supporting statement.

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over 1000 words.

Longlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of:

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets some essential criteria
3. Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile ‘Meets all essential criteria' will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• Experience of designing, facilitating and analysing a wide range of qualitative and quantitative user research methods.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a single remote interview.

Behaviours and technical skills will be tested at interview.

Prior to the interview the panel will share a user research scenario. Candidates will be asked to prepare a 5-10 minute presentation to deliver their research findings and answer questions during the interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Delivering at Pace (Lead behaviour)
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London). Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Baseline Personnel Security Standard

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full
completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any
reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the
recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability
Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the
recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs. You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud Check

This does not need to be included on EOI adverts. If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub, and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for external candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Grade 7
• £56,185- £66,581 (National)
• £58,340- £68,574 (Outer London)
• £60,494- £70,566 (Inner London)

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Charlene Gwekwerere
• Email : charlene.gwekwerere@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the
basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's
Recruitment Principles.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment
Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should
contact the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can
contact the Civil Service Commission. Visit the Civil Service Commission website for
further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7939785