User Researcher
Job summary
UKHSA's readiness to respond to all threats and hazards. We focus on Agency capability, putting external stakeholder and customer needs at the centre of designs for the future. We identify opportunities to improve public health outcomes through better user experiences.
The team are responsible for: embedding UCD approaches into UKHSA ways of working UCD expertise in project delivery ensuring user needs are understood and designed for, advocating for all users, to achieve equitable outcomes ensuring our products are accessible and developed to the Government Service Standard and use appropriate style guides and patterns leading the UKHSA-wide UCD community of practice to support organisational and in-profession development standards for UCD professionals
Main duties of the job
As a user researcher, you'll work as part of a multidisciplinary squad collaborating with teams across UKHSA. Through effective user research you'll ensure design projects are rooted in a deep understanding of users and their needs. Together with other UCD professions, you'll ensure quality, innovation, and creativity in how we approach all aspects of design and how we bring concepts to life for stakeholders to effect change.
You'll embody inclusive behaviours. You'll understand the importance of inclusive research practices, taking pride in ensuring research is representative of a wide range of people and communities. You'll be an active part of the UCD community sharing insights and practices within the community and across the organisation. Your work will help UKHSA to solve problems, improve public health outcomes and address health inequalities.
About us
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 responsibilities
As a user researcher, youll: carry out user research activities, creating research plans, recruiting participants, preparing discussion guides, creating information gathering artefacts, running and moderating user research sessions analyse and synthesise user research data to present clear and engaging user insights and actionable findings, using creative approaches to storytelling contribute to the improvement of user research practice and ways of working by adhering to and embedding consistent and high-quality professional standards drive awareness of user research practices, advocating for user needs and user research to be embedded within strategy, policy and service design work collaboratively and in an inclusive manner by involving teams and colleagues from across UKHSA in user research to help everyone develop a deep understanding of UKHSAs users needs act as the voice of users in the design of our services, make actionable recommendations based on insights and communicate these to stakeholders clearly and confidently ensure research practice is high quality and meets government and NHS standards and industry best practice using peer reviews and critique processes to gather feedback and share best practice actively contribute to the UKHSAs community of practice, advocate for user research and support the creation of the right environment and processes to establish the profession within UKHSA This is not an exhaustive list.
Essential criteria Experience of using user-centred design methods and practices in complex organisations Experience of designing and delivering inclusive user research with a range of users Experience of qualitative research methodologies and knowing how to apply different methods to different research projects Experience of using basic techniques to analyse and synthesise findings To be able to create actionable, evidenced-based insights using a variety of techniques to tell compelling stories.
Experience of developing user research practices and a good understanding of the key standards in assuring the quality of user research To be able to explain the value of research practice. navigate stakeholder landscapes and gain support for research plans, findings, and ways of working To be able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, working directly with other professions to ensure effective and timely delivery Desirable criteria Government service assessments Working in an agile environment Coaching and mentoring other user researchers Selection process This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your technical skills and experience.
Stage 1: Application & Sift You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed onthe listed8 essentialcriteria,and this will be in the form of: an application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application) a 750 wordsupporting statement.
This should outline how you consider your skills, experience andknowledge 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 beadvisedyou 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. HealthjobsUK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than750words. We will not consider any words over750 words.
Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of: Meets all essential criteria Meets some essential criteria Meets no essential criteria Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on: Carry out user research activities, creating research plans, recruiting participants, preparing discussion guides, creating information gathering artefacts, running and moderating user research sessions Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment. Feedback will not be provided at this stage. Stage 2: Interview You will be invited to a remote interview via MS Teams. Technical skills and experience will be tested at interview. Youll be invited to a 60-minute remote video interview.
This will include a presentation on your understanding of user-centred design and user research, to help us understand more about you and your skills and experience. For this role well assess your experience and specialist technical skills against the government technical skills for a user researcher.
User researcher - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework Candidates should expect questions on the following technical skills during the interview: Analysis and synthesis Research management, leadership and assurance User research methods User-centred practice and advocacy Interviews dates are 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 in either Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London (Canary Wharf). 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) on-site. Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Eligibility criteria Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants). Security clearance level requirement Part 1 Successful candidates must pass a basic Disclosure and Barring Security (DBS) check before they can be appointed. Part 2 Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed.
The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard. 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. Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.
Senior Executive Officer (SEO) £41,983- £48,128 (National) £44,148- £50,121 (Outer London) £46,310- £52,113 (Inner London)
Person Specification
Application form and supporting statement
Essential
Application form and supporting statement Presentation
Essential
Presentation Technical skills
Essential
Analysis and synthesis Research management, leadership and assurance User research methods User-centred practice and advocacy
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) . From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .
