Description
Contract is outside of IR35.
Description
Apply knowledge in human factors, ethnography, and the user-centred design process to product and service design in an iterative development environment. Use findings of user data to work closely with designers and analysts to iterate the developing service. Manage business relations with usability and market research agencies to support necessary research processes. Experience in: taking a lead User Researcher role within a team, setting research direction and mentoring junior research colleagues; managing team dynamics and holding sufficient authority to effectively challenge points of design without alienating individuals; working within an agile project environment, and maintaining effective performance in difficult and challenging circumstances; quantitative research methodologies. Proven experience of gathering user requirements for web based services; managing, executing and analysing usability test and research sessions; working in an agile development environment with User Experience teams, designers and developers to create new digital products and services; audience modelling and developing design personas. Degree in HCI/Usability/Cognitive Psychology/Market Research or related field. Experience across web content, tools and transactional services, especially those with complex user journeys. Experience within a research and digital environment.
Key tasks & deliverables
- Define and implement a user research strategy, roadmap and plan for the Discovery phase, which would include defining the research approach, advising on sample size and ensuring users/user types are appropriately represented.
- Working with the Delivery Manager, ensure there's a plan to recruit, arrange and carry out research sessions.
- Lead and carry out the research, working actively with colleagues both in the Lab team and wider department.
- Derive insights, themes and patterns and produce user research findings that identify user needs.
- Communicate findings to the Lab team, stakeholders and wider department.
- Establish a strong user research based culture within the department enabling functions where users are at the heart of service design and evidence is sought to inform good quality decision-making.
- Participate in the department's and cross-government user research communities.
- All specialist contractors are required to help upskill civil service colleagues as needed.
- Work with Product and Delivery Managers to define the research roadmap and ensure this is translated into a backlog of tickets.
- Represent the users' needs and engage with the department's stakeholders to identify internal user needs.
- Support the department's role in the emerging One Team Government community, encouraging digital knowledge-sharing and collaboration between government departments through identifying best communications channels and ensuring maximum reach of ideas.
- Responsible for representing our users throughout the Discovery and use insights to inform thinking and future phases, throughout the process.
- Participate in the User Researcher community, sharing best practice and re-applying skills and knowledge to raise the quality and skills of the wider team.
Experience required
- You'll be able to see the bigger picture as well as the fine detail.
- You'll want to help the government transform they way it delivers services, so that they're more efficient, simpler, faster and easier to use.
- You'll be adept at working at pace in an agile environment.
- You'll have great communication skills and be confident to participate and engage with the Lab team and wider department, and it goes without saying that you'll be highly skilled at talking with users.
- You'll be comfortable 'thinking in the open' and working in an environment that's dynamic.
- You'll ideally have had previous experience of working on GOV.UK/GDS projects, but not necessarily essential.