Location

Available in London or Hastings

About the job Summary

Do you have excellent interpersonal skills as well as the ability to be understanding and empathise with others? 

Would you thrive in a team where you are supported and encouraged to help coach other user researchers with your ideas? 

Are you interested in a people-centred role within the public sector? 

If so, we want to hear from you. 

We’re looking for a Senior User Researcher (UR) who will advocate user-needs based design to join our Digital Services (DS) team at the Department for Transport (DfT). You will be responsible for leading on the planning and conducting of UR as well as gathering user experience (UX) insights from throughout the Department and beyond.

Job description

We are looking for someone who is experienced with crafting end-to-end UR plans and strategies and who understands how these relate to design thinking and service design. You will have experience of providing information and insight gained from research activities that can be used to identify high value outcomes for service users. These findings will actively shape our digital services as they are being delivered. 

This is a people-centred role and will typically suit an individual with superb interpersonal skills. 

As a Senior UR you will help the UR Manager and other senior colleagues lead a growing UR team, create positive working relationships across the Department, create and contribute to a DfT family UR community of practice, and ensure that we share, learn and standardise our working practices across our portfolio of work. 

Role responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Leading on UR and insight in DfT including capturing digital adoption (DA) and UX insights from across the Department from a broad range of stakeholders to help shape and improve DA and capabilities. 
• Aligning UR with Departmental plans and embedding practices across the Department. 
• Evaluating how digital, data and technology are being used across DfT, including effectiveness, efficiency, user happiness and accessibility across a variety of users and stakeholder communities. 
• Interpreting, analysing and communicating UR results/ data and translating them into actionable mentorship. 
• Explaining the costs and benefits of UR activities and advising on the risks resulting from poor UX. 
• Line managing and helping to build the capability of the more junior/ less experienced URs in the team. This will include guiding, influencing and mentoring them and ensuring a consistent approach. 
• Influencing and supporting the DfT Innovation Lab by providing UR input. 
• Becoming a recognised UR subject matter expert (SME) within DfT. 
• Being a leader in agile, multi-disciplinary projects for the delivery of mainly in-house developed solutions and working closely and collaboratively with other team members. Helping to embed a digital and agile mindset throughout DfT by focusing on user-centred and focused practices organisation-wide. 

Please refer to the attached Role Profile at the bottom of the advert for full role responsibilities.

Responsibilities

About You 

We are looking for a confident communicator who holds good understanding and experience of using UR methods. You will be a diligent individual with an eye for detail and analytics who has experience of choosing appropriate research methods for different scenarios and executing them confidently and effectively. You will need to have experience in analysing and communicating UR results together with deriving robust recommendations from your analysis. Your engagement and relationship building skills will enable you to influence and challenge at all levels. 

You will love working as part of multidisciplinary teams using the agile methodology and will enjoy investing time to generate a common focus and genuine team spirit. You are a strong advocate for change and continuous improvement and someone who both handles change well and can adapt easily to changing environments. 

We are looking for someone who has experience of attracting and who is passionate about coaching/ mentoring more junior/ less experienced URs to drive a positive work culture and their professional development. You will need to be a highly organised and experienced UR who can define and assure best practice, help influence organisational strategy and priorities and manage a range of stakeholders. 

About Us 

We are part of the Department for Transport (DfT). DfT is a great place to work, and our ‘one team’ approach really makes a difference. We value our staff and that’s why we’re committed to nurturing an inclusive environment across the Department. 

You’ll be part of an innovative organisation that invests in all our people, ensuring we have the diverse skills to deliver transport that moves Britain ahead now and into the future. 

Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport. 

DfT has been recognised for its leadership on workplace gender equality by being included in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women 2017. 

DfT’s inclusion is recognition of our commitment to make the Department a great place to work through our culture of equality and inclusivity and the great strides we’ve made to raise the number of women in senior positions.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Research Skills DDAT Skills Click here for the Framework
• Analysis & Synthesis DDAT Skills Click here for the Framework
• User-Centred & Agile Practices DDAT Skills Click here for the Framework
• Strategic Insight DDAT Skills Click here for the Framework

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. 

This includes: 
- a generous annual leave entitlement, 
- attractive pension options, 
- flexible working, 
- good career development opportunities, 
- a variety of career paths, 
- inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

The sift is due to take place Week Commencing 26th August. 

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held Week Commencing 16th September. 

Interviews will likely be held in London. 

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. 

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a security check may be carried out. 

How to Apply 

When considering applying please look at how your experience relates to the role, please tailor your CV and Personal Statement to reflect the role and the essential skills/ criteria described in Role Profile. 

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. For further information on Success Profiles please click here. 
You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within. 

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment could include: 

• An interview with one or more exercises 

The interview may consist of a range of question types which could include questions about your strengths or how you would respond in any given situation, as well as specific examples of things you have done. You may also be asked to sit a written assessment or present on a particular topic. 

Your interview may consist of a range of question types. These may include questions about: 

• What energises and motivates you 
• How you would manage situations relevant to the role 
• Your previous experience 
• Your professional skills and knowledge 

Further Information 

We have adopted anonymised recruitment. This means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel. 

We may hold a merit list for up to twelve months. During this time, if a similar role is identified and you have been placed on the merit list you may be considered for the post. Within the merit list period, your application form and selection information may be shared across the department and its agencies. 

Reasonable adjustment 

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 
• Complete the “Assistance required” 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 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact: 

Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected] 

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: 
Click here to visit Civil Service Commission. 

Childcare Vouchers: 

Any move to the Department for Transport (DfT) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information Contact point for applicants

Name : Digital Resourcing Team
Email : [email protected]

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/) to visit Civil Service Commission