User Researcher

Job summary

Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people’s lives. Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we’re all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you’re thinking of joining us, there’s never been a more exciting time. We have over 3,500 staff who are based in 19 offices across the UK.As a User Researcher at MHCLG you’ll work in multidisciplinary teams to design accessible, user-centred digital services that meet the needs of the public and Government Design Principles. You’ll contribute to the delivery of high-quality services by creating intuitive and inclusive user journeys, achieved through collaborating with designers, developers, and product managers.

The Digital Planning programme role is fast paced and focussed on delivery. Our User Researchers plan, design and carry out research activities with real users. Our research helps teams get a deep understanding of the people that use government services and of colleagues who use different systems and tools to deliver services. Your research will inform our policy, services, content, and interaction design so that services work well for users and do what they are supposed to. You’ll be supported by senior researchers and will have opportunities to develop your skills and grow within a strong user research community of practice across government. This is a chance to work on services that matter, at a huge scale, with people who value user-centred design.

Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog.

Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.

Job description

As a User Researcher you’ll;

• Work independently to plan and prepare a range of user research activities to support the design, development and continuous improvement of our services
• Conduct user research using a range of research methods, selecting the appropriate method, both qualitative and quantitative, depending on the requirements of the work you're doing
• Analyse research data and identify actionable findings and outcomes, which you’ll communicate with the digital and policy people you work with
• Share research through a combination of presentations at show and tells, stand-ups and wider team meetings, maintaining research outputs and creating formal reports
• Establish collaborative working practices with disciplines including Content Designers, Interaction Designers, Product Managers, and Developers, turning your user research findings into stories and actions that lead to valuable service improvements and solutions

Person specification

Your cover letter will need to respond to each of the essential criteria listed below. Where possible, please also respond to the desirable criteria. Your cover letter should be no more than 1 page.

As a User Researcher you'll have (essential):

• Experience of embedding user researcher in an agile workflow *Experience planning and conducting user research projects
• Demonstrable skills in a range of user research methods, techniques for analysis of research data, synthesis of findings and presentation of clear findings that are usable
• A demonstrable track record of placing the user at the centre of design and delivery
• The ability to build and reach consensus with stakeholders and team members of other disciplines
• An understanding of how user research can support accessibility and inclusivity
• (desirable): Experience working on services that process high volumes of data
• Experience working on services with AI features
• Experience working in local or national planning, infrastructure or local authorities

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,890, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £12,135 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.

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

Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.

Application and Selection
The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Behaviours , Experience , Technical

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.

Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading.

Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter)

Experience: Your covering letter should be no more than 1 page referencing how you meet the essential and (where possible) desirable criteria set out in the person specification. Your CV should be no more than 1 page.

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead sift question listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.

Lead sift question (Experience): Please provide an example of a time where you planned user research for a service with challenging user needs and complex user journeys. Explain why the service was complex, and how this influenced your research plans.

Stage 2: Interview

• Behaviours: Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing
• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place from 24th February with interview dates to follow. Interviews will be held remotely via video call.

How We Recruit

Find out everything you need to know before applying here..

• Applying

• Sifting

• Interview

• Interview Results & Feedback

• Reserve List

• Near Miss

• Civil Service Grades

• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer

• Reasonable Adjustments

How to Apply

What you need to know before applying.

Here’s a link to the MHCLG Digital blog

You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.

• Security Clearance Requirements

• Civil Service Nationality Requirements

• Right to Work

• Artificial Intelligence

• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles

• CV Declaration

• Sponsorships

• Salary and Grade

• Existing Civil Servants

• Conflict of Interest

• Location and Flexible Working

• Fixed Term Contracts

• Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register

• Appeals and Complaints

• Conflict of Interest

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office:

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

Security

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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

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 : Digital Data Jobs
• Email : digitaldatajobs@communities.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : digitaldatajobs@communities.gov.uk