User Researcher

Job description

Job responsibilities

Essential criteria:

• Experience of working as a user researcher, or a degree (i.e. 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

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).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

London, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, Didcot, Porton

London, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, Didcot, Porton

E14 4PU

Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)