User Researcher at UK Health Security Agency in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London (Canary Wharf)

Job summary

UKHSA’s readiness to respond to all threats and hazards. We focus on Agency capability, putting external stakeholder and customer needs at the centre of designs for the future. We identify opportunities to improve public health outcomes through better user experiences.

The team are responsible for:

• embedding UCD approaches into UKHSA ways of working
• UCD expertise in project delivery
• ensuring user needs are understood and designed for, advocating for all users, to achieve equitable outcomes
• ensuring our products are accessible and developed to the Government Service Standard and use appropriate style guides and patterns
• leading the UKHSA-wide UCD community of practice to support organisational and in-profession development
• standards for UCD professionals

Working for your organisation

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 https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

As a user researcher, you’ll work as part of a multidisciplinary squad collaborating with teams across UKHSA. Through effective user research you’ll ensure design projects are rooted in a deep understanding of users and their needs.

Together with other UCD professions, you’ll ensure quality, innovation, and creativity in how we approach all aspects of design and how we bring concepts to life for stakeholders to effect change.

You’ll embody inclusive behaviours. You’ll understand the importance of inclusive research practices, taking pride in ensuring research is representative of a wide range of people and communities.

You’ll be an active part of the UCD community sharing insights and practices within the community and across the organisation.

Your work will help UKHSA to solve problems, improve public health outcomes and address health inequalities.

As a user researcher, you’ll:

• carry out user research activities, creating research plans, recruiting participants, preparing discussion guides, creating information gathering artefacts, running and moderating user research sessions
• analyse and synthesise user research data to present clear and engaging user insights and actionable findings, using creative approaches to storytelling
• contribute to the improvement of user research practice and ways of working by adhering to and embedding consistent and high-quality professional standards
• drive awareness of user research practices, advocating for user needs and user research to be embedded within strategy, policy and service design
• work collaboratively and in an inclusive manner by involving teams and colleagues from across UKHSA in user research to help everyone develop a deep understanding of UKHSA’s users’ needs
• act as the voice of users in the design of our services, make actionable recommendations based on insights and communicate these to stakeholders clearly and confidently
• ensure research practice is high quality and meets government and NHS standards and industry best practice – using peer reviews and critique processes to gather feedback and share best practice
• actively contribute to the UKHSA’s community of practice, advocate for user research and support the creation of the right environment and processes to establish the profession within UKHSA

This is not an exhaustive list.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Experience of using user-centred design methods and practices in complex organisations
• Experience of designing and delivering inclusive user research with a range of users
• Experience of qualitative research methodologies and knowing how to apply different methods to different research projects
• Experience of using basic techniques to analyse and synthesise findings
• To be able to create actionable, evidenced-based insights using a variety of techniques to tell compelling stories.
• Experience of developing user research practices and a good understanding of the key standards in assuring the quality of user research
• To be able to explain the value of research practice. navigate stakeholder landscapes and gain support for research plans, findings, and ways of working
• To be able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, working directly with other professions to ensure effective and timely delivery

Desirable criteria

• Government service assessments
• Working in an agile environment
• Coaching and mentoring other user researchers

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,983, UK Health Security Agency contributes

£12,162 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).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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 and will assess your technical skills and experience.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 8 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:

• an application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• a 750 word supporting statement.

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V – please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 750 words. We will not consider any words over 750 words. 

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

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Carry out user research activities, creating research plans, recruiting participants, preparing discussion guides, creating information gathering artefacts, running and moderating user research sessions

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a remote interview via MS Teams.

Technical skills and experience will be tested at interview.

You’ll be invited to a 60-minute remote video interview. This will include a presentation on your understanding of user-centred design and user research, to help us understand more about you and your skills and experience.

For this role we’ll assess your experience and specialist technical skills against the government technical skills for a user researcher.

User researcher - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

Candidates should expect questions on the following technical skills during the interview:

• Analysis and synthesis
• Research management, leadership and assurance
• User research methods
• User-centred practice and advocacy

Interviews dates are to be confirmed.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs in either Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London (Canary Wharf). 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) on-site.

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 such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Eligibility criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

If this role is fixed term and you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment; you may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. Loans are normally agreed for a period of two years. However, this may be extended where required, subject to agreement between UKHSA and your home department. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy. If this role is permanent, it may also be available as a loan (for existing civil servants only) or secondment arrangement, subject to business need and agreement from the hiring manager and, where applicable, the employee's home organisation.

Security clearance level requirement

Part 1

Successful candidates must pass a basic Disclosure and Barring Security (DBS) check before they can be appointed.

Part 2

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Salary information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

• £41,983- £48,128 (National)
• £44,148- £50,121 (Outer London)
• £46,310- £52,113 (Inner London)

For Fixed term posts

For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. You may be able to tak