User Researcher
Department for Work and Pensions
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 5th May 2024
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Market Research
Social Research
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About the job
Job summary
Could your research skills improve digital services for the most vulnerable users in the UK?
Can you help us improve systems for over 100,000 colleagues in the largest UK government department?
Do you want to be part of a User Centred Design community of practice that will support your development and nurture your curiosity?
If so, we want you to join us as a User Researcher.
In DWP our User Researchers plan, design and carry out research activities with real users. Our research helps teams get a deep understanding of the people that use government services and of colleagues who use different systems and tools to deliver services.
Your research will inform our policy, proposition, service, content and interaction design so that services work well for users and do what they are supposed to.
Job description
As a User Researcher you will:
- Work independently to plan and carry out research projects from preparation through to sharing your research outcomes.
- Make use of the most appropriate research methods and tools to turn research insights into recommendations that align with the department's goals and/or delivery outcomes.
- Be responsible for communicating with users and championing core research principles to team members.
- Test high level and specific aspects of a service, presenting the research findings to help gain consensus and take the appropriate action.
- Have the support of experienced User Researchers within the practice, and be empowered to lead within the scope of your work.
Person specification
As part your application you will be asked to provide evidence on the Behaviours and Technical Skills listed within the advert.
If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact felicity.smith@dwp.gov.uk.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Research
- Strategic Insight
- Understanding Constraints
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
- Research
- Strategic Insight
Benefits
- An employer pension contribution of up to 27% For further information please click here.
- Annual leave rising up to 30 days, (based on your working pattern).
- Family friendly flexible working arrangements, such as hybrid working, job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
- Learning and development tailored to your role this could include industry recognised qualifications, coaching and mentoring.
- An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join staff networks including: Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
Salary Information
National Pay for this role is from £40,201 (Band Min) to £43,347 (Band Max)
London Pay for this role is from £45,724 (Band Min) to £47,986 (Band Max)
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 should maintain their current salary.
Existing Civil Servants who gain promotion may move to the bottom of the next grade pay scale or 10% increase in salary whichever would be the greater.
Location
Applicants should apply for suitable posts where they can travel to and from their home office location daily within a reasonable time.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed
Hybrid Working
This job 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. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
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.
3. Behaviour and Technical Skill statements (up to 250 words each). You will be assessed against the following Behaviours and Technical Skill:
• Communicating and Influencing
• Research- Understands and has experience of basic user research methods. Understands when to use those methods and how to apply them correctly. Knows how to involve their team in research activities.
• Strategic Insight- Understands what problem the team is trying to solve. Can align user research activities to inform decision making and action.
The sift panel will use the information in your employment history and behaviour and technical skill statements to assess your experience, skills and knowledge against the Behaviours and Technical Skills above.
For Hints and Tips on completing your application visit Applying for jobs at DWP Digital.
You will receive a score for each Behaviour and Technical Skill.
You will not receive a score for your Employment history, it is used to add context to your behaviours.
Important information
• You will be asked to complete your employment history any information that you would customarily share on a CV should therefore be entered onto the application form.
• Personal details that could be used to identify you including your name, contact details and address must be removed for your application to be considered.
• If your employment history, behaviours and technical statements contain any personal details your application will be withdrawn.
Stage 2: Interview
If you’re successful at sift stage you will be invited to a video interview via Microsoft Teams. There, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours and Technical Skills
• Communicating and influencing
• Changing and improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Research- Understands and has experience of basic user research methods. Understands when to use those methods and how to apply them correctly. Knows how to involve their team in research activities.
• Strategic Insight- Understands what problem the team is trying to solve. Can align user research activities to inform decision making and action.
• Understanding constraints- Can identify and understand constraints and is able to communicate these and work within them. Is able to challenge the validity of constraints. Capable of ensuring standards are being met.
You will be asked to do a 10-minute presentation assessing the Research technical skill listed above. Further details will be provided to candidates invited to interview.
Interviews will take place from Mid/Late May onwards.
Further information:
Find out more about Working for DWP
For Hints and Tips on completing your application visit Applying for jobs at DWP Digital.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.
Reasonable Adjustment
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Service via DigitalRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
For further information on reasonable adjustments, terms and conditions and how we recruit visit the How we recruit page.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Felicity Smith
- Email : felicity.smith@dwp.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : digitalrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
