Job summary
Cabinet Office Digital is undergoing a significant transformation. We aspire to make UK Government digital services the best in the world, meeting or exceeding the benchmark set globally by the best public or private sector standards.�
We are creating a digital culture where user needs are at the heart of everything we build. Through data democratisation, automation, governance and consolidation we will create a better Cabinet Office. As the digital arm of the department, we advise and assure our colleagues from other Business Units and Arm�s-Length Bodies in developing their own Government Digital and Data capabilities, as well as taking on delivery responsibilities ourselves.�
We are structured across multiple functions, including Enterprise Services (where we deliver physical and infrastructure IT, including laptops, phones, software and networking kit).�
This is an exciting opportunity to join CO Digital, to lead on stakeholder engagement and business improvements and otherwise support the Cabinet Office in delivering on the country�s priorities at the heart of the UK Government. This is an exciting opportunity to impact how the Cabinet Office uses its IT. You will be working closely with a multi-disciplinary Agile team to plan, design and carry out research activities with a broad range of users to help the team get a deep understanding of the people who use our services. You will enable the team to design and build better services at pace, reducing cost and risk and balancing user needs alongside business objectives.
Job description
As a User Researcher, you will work in a multi-disciplinary team on a wide range of user research activities. You will work independently, with support and guidance from more senior researchers.�
We have one post available in either Manchester or Bristol to join our Enterprise Services function and deliver physical and infrastructure IT, including laptops, phones and networking kit. This is a complex area: we are stabilising our IT platform as well as improving it.�
There may be regular travel to our London offices in Westminster as part of this post.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the post include the following:
1. Planning, designing and preparing a range of user research activities to support the design, development and continuous improvement of physical IT (including network and Wifi usage, printing changes and laptop/monitor upgrades)
2. Carrying out user research activities from recruiting participants, preparing discussion guides and moderating research sessions
3. Working closely with Business Analysts, Delivery Managers, Enterprise Architects and Subject Matter Experts to turn user research findings into stories and actions that lead to valuable product and service features
4. Managing the usability and accessibility testing process from recruiting participants, designing test tasks and preparing discussion guides to test moderation, analysis and presenting results
5. Leading the design, execution and analysis of ad-hoc quantitative surveys
6. Conducting required user research throughout alpha and beta phases of projects to launch, including post-launch research as required
7. Leading colleagues to analyse research data and synthesise clear and actionable findings, including working closely with analytics colleagues to create a rich picture of user behaviour
8. Communicating user research findings to help the team and wider organisation develop a deep understanding of users and their needs, including presentations at show-and-tells, designing and maintaining research outputs on the team wall and creating formal reports
9. Winning and maintaining buy-in from a range of stakeholders on the benefits of user research
Person specification
Essential criteria and skills:
10. The ability to understand what problem your team is trying to solve, and align user research activities to inform decision making and action
11. Experience and understanding of a range of user research methods, when to use those methods and how to apply them correctly
12. Experience and understanding of a range of techniques for analysis of research data, synthesis of findings, and presentation of clear findings that colleagues can understand and use
13. A good understanding of the diversity of users of government services, and the ability to include many kinds of users in appropriate research activities
14. Experience of working with colleagues to plan and carry out continuous user research in a multi-disciplinary team
15. A good understanding of the social and technological context for government services
16. The ability to challenge and achieve buy-in from stakeholders on the benefits of user research�
Desirable criteria:
17. An understanding of Agile approaches and experience of working in Agile teams
18. Knowledge or experience of physical/infrastructure IT and corporate IT platforms (for example, Google Workspace or Microsoft Office 365)
Additional information:
A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
19. Changing and Improving
20. Leadership
21. Communicating and Influencing
22. Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
23. User Research
Benefits
Alongside your salary of �40,850, Cabinet Office contributes �11,029 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
24. Learning and development tailored to your role.
25. An environment with flexible working options.
26. A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
27. A which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%.
28. A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.