Senior User Researcher

We want to drive digital transformation and overcome the challenges ahead and provide valuable insights developed through the effective use and reuse of data. A key part of that will be to understand user needs across government and utilise the data we have to help inform direction and decisions for departmental strategies. These will take form as a cross-government approach and adoption, underpinned by agreed principles, policies and standards. 

You’ll be planning, designing and carrying out research activities with users that help us get a deep understanding of the people that use our services. This research informs our proposition, service, content and interaction to enable successful collaboration across government

Your job will involve working with stakeholders from across government to lead User Research and work collaboratively on a wide range of projects spanning our team. You will work flexibly and collaboratively on a range of projects where your expertise and skills are needed and will support a culture of agile working across government.

As a Senior User Researcher you'll:

• plan, design and prepare a range of user research activities to support the design, development and continuous improvement of Workforce Transformation Team (Resourcing, Pay and Reward, Capability and Strategic Workforce Planning)
• carry out a wide range of user research activities from recruiting participants, preparing discussion guides and moderating research sessions
• lead colleagues to analyse research data and synthesise clear and actionable findings
• communicate user research findings to help the team and wider organisation develop a deep understanding of users and their needs
• work closely with subject matter experts to turn user research findings into stories and actions that lead to valuable improvements
• build user centred practices, through presentations, training sessions and hands-on delivery

Person specification

Were interested in people who have:

• experience of introducing new research methods and helping teams to adopt and choose the most effective/ appropriate user research methods, analysis and synthesis techniques and approaches to presenting and sharing findings.
• experience of advocating for user research and engaging colleagues and stakeholders to help inform decisions.
• experience in understanding complex problems a team is trying to solve, and aligning user research activities to inform decision making and action.
• experience of helping teams to adopt user centred service design and delivery practices and embed them into their agile workflow

Benefits

The benefits of working at CDDO

There are many benefits including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
• a Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days 
• an extra day off for The King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• paid volunteering leave 
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

CDDO offers hybrid working for all employees. This means that everyone does some working from home and also spends some time in their local office. You’ll agree to your hybrid working arrangement with your line manager in line with your preferences and business needs.

Any move to the Central Digital and Data 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. Determine your eligibility at http://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This role is being advertised with Manchester or Bristol as a location. There is an exception to this, if a current London-based member of staff from CDDO applies, and is successful, they would retain their London base for pay and allowance purposes.

The standard selection process for roles at CDDO consists of:

• a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV detailing your career history and responsibilities and 3 application questions against the following criteria (this is your opportunity to give evidenced examples of how you fit the requirement and meet the criteria)
• experience of introducing new research methods and helping teams to adopt and choose the most effective/ appropriate user research methods, analysis and synthesis techniques and approaches to presenting and sharing findings. (Lead sift criteria)
• experience of advocating for user research and engaging colleagues and stakeholders to help inform decisions.
• experience in understanding complex problems a team is trying to solve, and aligning user research activities to inform decision making and action
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the interview stage which will be a 60 minute video interview, consisting of a blend of questions and a task. The task and guidance will be sent 24 hours prior to interview for individuals who have successfully passed shortlisting.

Whilst we value the use of AI technology to enhance our daily work, we also value the personal touch and urge applicants to write responses without the use of AI to emphasise their own unique experiences.

In the event we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct the initial sift against the lead criteria which is:

• experience of introducing new research methods and helping teams to adopt and choose the most effective/ appropriate user research methods, analysis and synthesis techniques and approaches to presenting and sharing findings.

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours:

• working together

We’ll also be assessing your experience and specialist technical skills against the following skills defined in the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework for the Senior User Researcher role:

• user research methods
• inclusive research
• agile research practices
• stakeholder relationship management

Recruitment Timeline: Please note that indicated dates may be subject to change.

Live: Monday 18th November 2024

Close: Sunday 1st December 2024

Sift: W/C 2nd December 2024 

Interviews: W/C 9th December 2024 

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

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

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

You may be aware that there are plans for the Government Digital Service (GDS) & the Central Digital & Data Office (CDDO) to move into the Department of Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT). This move is to bring together the digital transformation of public services into one core department. The move itself will offer huge opportunities whilst allowing DSIT to lead the way and drive forward the new Government's digital agenda. 

As the announcement is relatively new, we are awaiting more detailed information. Therefore, we encourage you to apply for this role, and will keep you informed with updated information throughout the application process.

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