User Researcher

Job summary This is an exciting opportunity to join the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as User Researcher within our User-Centred Design (UCD) Team.
The UCD Team are experts in design and delivery with a shared mission to support improvements to UKHSA services and products by better understanding users' needs and experiences.Our delivery squads take on a varied portfolio of work, with much of our input being focused on the discovery and alpha stages.
As a User Researcher, you'll work as part of a multi-disciplinary squad collaborating with teams across UKHSA.
You'll help to shape product and service design, to support UKHSA to solve problems, improve public health outcomes and address health inequalities.
Alongside this, you'll help to embed UCD practice and principles, supporting UKHSA to become a high performing organisation.
Main duties of the job Plan, design, and prepare user research for multiple projects and portfolios of work Carry out user research activities: recruiting participants, preparing discussion guides, creating information gathering artifacts, running and moderating user research sessions Engage in meaningful interactions and relationships with users via in-depth interviews, workshop facilitation and ethnography research techniques Collaborate with other disciplines to gain a deep understanding of user needs, bringing together insights to create a rich picture of user behaviour Create and improve user-centred research practices Bring insights and learnings to life for stakeholders in the most appropriate way Synthesise research findings rapidly, using appropriate tools and techniques, working closely with design teams to translate them into user stories and iterate appropriately Drive awareness of user research practices, influencing project roadmaps to embed effective and user-centred design Contribute to the maintenance of a central library of research findings and user needs, adhering to research best practice standards Influence and shape best in class digital and non-digital products and services Ensure research practice is of a high quality and meets government and NHS standards and industry best practice This is not an exhaustive list please see Job description document for full list of duties and responsibilities 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 Job description Job responsibilities Essential criteria: Experience of working as a user researcher, or a degree ( BA, BDes, BHSc) in a relevant subject and able to demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge Experience of using user-centred design methods and practices with a good understanding of the key standards in assuring quality user research Experience of bringing insights and learnings to life for colleagues and stakeholders in the most appropriate way, including through presentations and printed or online artefacts, communicating with clarity and confidence to create actionable strategic insights and service improvements Able to carry out user research activities from recruiting participants, preparing discussion guides, creating information gathering artifacts, and running and moderating user research sessions Able to bring insights and learnings to life for colleagues and stakeholders in the most appropriate way, including through presentations and printed or online artefacts, communicating with clarity and confidence to create actionable strategic insights and service improvements Able to synthesise research findings rapidly, using appropriate tools and techniques, working closely with design teams to translate them into user stories and iterate appropriately Abe to develop qualitative research discussion guides for different objectives and research questions Knowledge of agile ways of working, and experience working with content, service and interaction designers and other professions Selection Process Details: This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.
Stage 1: Application & Sift Success profiles You will be required to complete an application form.
You will be assessed on the above listed 8 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a: Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 1000 word Statement of Suitability This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview.
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 Please note that candidates in the Disability Confident Scheme will be shortlisted if you meet the minimum essential criteria.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interviewand assessment.
Please do not exceed 1000 words.
We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview (success profiles) You will be invited to a 60 minute (single) remote interview.
Behaviours, and technical skills will be tested at interview.
There will be a technical test and a presentation on your understanding of the UCD (User Centred Design), to help us understand more about you and your skills and experience.
The test will be provided to you approximately three days in advance of your interview.
You will then need to present your answers during the interview.
No presentation slides will be necessary, although candidates may choose to create one.
Candidates can also refer to notes during the interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be; Changing and Improving Communication and Influencing Seeing the bigger picture The Technical skills tested during the interview stage will be; Analysis and Synthesis Research Strategic Insight User-centred and agile practices Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available.
You may want to save a copy for your records.
Eligibility Criteria Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Location: This role is being offered as hybrid working.
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) or at one of our scientific campus sites (Colindale, Porton and Chilton).
If based at one of our scientific locations, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum.
For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time.
You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance.
In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
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 suchas the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Security Clearance Level Requirement: Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Person Specification CV Essential Application From Statement of Suitability Essential Application Form Behaviour Essential Changing and Improving Communicating and Influencing Seeing the bigger picture