User Researcher

Job summary

As a user researcher at one of the largest government departments, you will use your research skills to put user needs at the heart of the UK’s digital services.

Our research helps teams understand the needs of the people that use our services, including some of the most vulnerable people in the UK, and of colleagues who use different systems and tools to deliver services.

As a User Researcher at DWP Digital, your research will uncover the insights that help teams design and improve services that make a real difference to people's lives. By helping teams understand the experiences, challenges and needs of users, you'll ensure our services are accessible, effective and designed around the people who use them.

If you want to use your research skills to directly influence the design and delivery of services that support millions of people and if you have experience of working in a research role or doing primary research as part of your academic studies, we want you to join us as a User Researcher.

Job description

As a User Researcher you will:

• Work independently on a multi-disciplinary team to design, plan and carry out research.
• Conduct user research using a range of research methods, selecting the appropriate method, both qualitative and quantitative, depending on the requirements of the programme.
• Test high level and specific aspects of a service, presenting research findings to help gain consensus and take action based on research findings.
• Generate new and useful insights related to DWP users for the project team and ensure where relevant that the insights influence design decisions.
• Communicate the insights gained from user research outputs to both the project team and wider stakeholders, helping to enhance organisational understanding of the users and drive decisions and actionable recommendations.
• Maintain and develop relationships across the product teams, guiding the team in understanding research findings and insights.
• Work within agile project teams, providing, to the team, a focus on user centred design.
• Be an advocate for research and user centred design within your team.

Person specification

The essential criteria are outlined in the selection process details.

If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact [email removed].

Technical skills

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

• Research
• Strategic Insight
• User Centred Analysis
• Relationship Management

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Research
• Strategic Insight
• User Centred Analysis

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,447, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £12,876 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).

We also have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 25 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

Hybrid Working

This role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work.

If a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for the role and for you, you will normally be required to spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted working hours from your DWP office.

If you have a disability, caring responsibilities, or other circumstances that may affect your ability to meet the minimum office attendance requirement, please discuss this with us using the contact details in this advert.

Salary Information

Pay for this role is from £44,447 to £46,547.

Our offer to successful candidates will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated at interview.

Existing Civil Servants who secure a new role on lateral transfer will maintain their current substantive salary.

Existing Civil Servants who gain promotion will move to the bottom of the grade pay scale or receive a 10% increase applied to their current substantive salary, whichever is greater.

Any temporary allowances that you are currently in receipt of will not form part of the calculation to determine your pay. Any allowances that are in payment will cease when you move into your new role.

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 Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application

Your application will consist of three parts:

1. A Personal Details application form.

2. Your employment history detailing your responsibilities, skills, accomplishments, plus your qualifications and relevant training. Please copy this information into the box field provided. When giving details in your employment history you should highlight your experience in line with essential criteria below:

• Demonstrable experience of conducting primary qualitative research, gained through a research role (such as market, social, academic or user research) or through academic study involving a significant qualitative research component, with the ability to gather, analyse and interpret findings to inform decision making.

3. Technical statements(up to 250 words e