User Researcher

Job summary

The Test, Learn and Grow (TLG) team is at the heart of the UK government’s initiative to drive innovation and reform in public service delivery. Our team collaborates with local authorities and government departments across the United Kingdom and with the Devolved Governments to design, test, and grow innovative solutions that enhance public service outcomes. By employing a "test and learn" approach, we focus on creating evidence-based improvements while relieving pressures on public services. Our work involves testing foundations programmes and place-based initiatives to accelerate delivery, support preventative measures, and foster a collaborative environment that encourages continuous improvement and innovation in public services.

As a User Researcher you will work to support a multidisciplinary accelerator team with a wide range of user research activities. You will work independently, with support and guidance from a senior user researcher and senior service designer. Our current accelerator portfolio includes work on economic inactivity, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), early years, violence against women and girls, neighbourhood health and data and AI in public service delivery. The accelerators are place-based projects with public sector partners to prototype and test solutions and policies aligned to government priorities.

You’ll be a part of the Test, Learn and Grow design community.

Job description

This role is mapped to the User Researcher role in the Government Digital and Data framework, however we’re looking for some wider additional skills in design research and participatory design. We’re looking for someone who can bring digital and data skills to a policy environment and is excited about working on the ground alongside place-based partners.

This role will require travel within the UK to work closely with local partners.

Main responsibilities

• Planning, designing and preparing a range of user research activities to support design, development and continuous improvement through the different phases of a “test and learn” cycle.
• Carrying out a wide range of user research activities from recruiting participants, preparing discussion guides and moderating research sessions.
• Leading colleagues to analyse research data and synthesise clear and actionable findings, including working closely with analytics and evaluation colleagues to create a rich picture of insights and evidence.
• Communicating user research findings to help the team and place partners develop a deep understanding of users and their needs.
• Working closely with product and strategy leads, evaluation leads, and service designers to turn user research findings into stories and actions that lead to valuable outcomes.

Person specification

It’s essential that you have:

• Experience of advocating for user research and engaging sceptical colleagues and stakeholders.
• The ability to understand the complex problems a multidisciplinary team is trying to solve, and align user research activities to inform decision making and action.
• The ability to advocate for inclusive research principles, planning and conducting research that considers the diversity of users and their needs and the safety of participants, keeping in mind any access requirements users may have and the ethical nature of research.
• Experience recruiting and researching with diverse users.
• Experience of helping teams adopt a range of qualitative and quantitative user research methods, analysis and synthesis techniques and approaches to presenting and sharing findings.
• Proven ability to analyse and synthesise complex research data into clear, actionable findings and insights
• Proven experience of introducing new user research methods into a team, and guiding colleagues in the choice and effective application of research methods.

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Agile research practices
• Analysis and synthesis
• Inclusive research
• User research methods

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,760, Cabinet Office contributes £12,677 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a 750 word personal statement.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

The personal statement should reflect the criteria in the Person specification.

Your CV will be for information purposes only and will not be scored.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement under lead criterion "the ability to advocate for inclusive research principles, planning and conducting research that considers the diversity of users and their needs and the safety of participants, keeping in mind any access requirements users may have and the ethical nature of research".

Selection process

At interview candidates will be assessed on Technical Skills and Behaviours.

Candidates invited to the interview will be asked to do a short task, which will be sent to you ahead of the interview. Full details will be made available to all shortlisted candidates at a later date.

We will assess the listed specialist technical skills as defined in the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework. Please refer to the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – by 31st July

Expected interview date/s – from 12 August - September 7th

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Feedback

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.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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : Kara Kane
• Email : Kara.Kane@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 83kB)