Lead User Researcher

Lead User Researcher

Financial Conduct Authority - Permanent, Full-Time

Do you want a job where you can make a real difference? There are few jobs where you can do this for 40 million consumers of financial products, 2 million people who work in the UK Financial Services industry, and the stability of our economy.

The FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) has three main aims:
- Stop & prevent the most serious harm- Set & test higher standards- Promote competition and positive change.

As part of the Data, Technology & Innovation (DTI) Division, we are leading the FCA in harnessing the power of data and advanced analytics to transform financial regulation.

In Intelligence and Digital, a subdivision of DTI, we believe in doing things differently.

We believe in collaboration, inclusivity, innovation and using data to be at our best. We place emphasis on curiosity and experimentation. We collaborate widely with other regulators, academics, innovative companies, and within the FCA.

Data is an essential ingredient to delivering effective regulation, so we treat our data as an asset and have built services to ensure we can make best use of it.

Importantly, we believe that people need space to learn and grow and we supply supporting learning programmes and opportunities for all staff. In our culturally diverse team, everyone is encouraged to be part of the team and put their ideas forward. We strongly value, encourage and support diversity, equity, and inclusion.

What does the role involve? What are the key responsibilities?

As a Lead User Researcher at the FCA you will work within a multi-disciplinary digital product team (squad) to design new products and services that help our users achieve their goals.- Build user-centred practices in new teams- Align user research activities with wider plans to inform a service proposition- Possible future line management of junior user researchers, including professional/technical leadership and supporting professional development of junior staff/graduates.- Learning and development tailored to your role, including industry recognised qualifications, coaching and mentoring- Training budget, enabling you to attend conferences, events, meetups to develop your community of practice- An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join staff networks

Which minimum, essential & desirable skills are required?

Minimum- Substantial experience, most recently at a Senior or Lead level- Substantial experience in working in project/programme environments involving business & IT change.- Research experience within any of the following types of organisations/sectors: financial services, government/regulatory body, technology, consultancy (ideally IT consultancy).

Essential- Analysis and synthesis. You can help an organisation to adopt a wide range of analysis and synthesis techniques, and to continually assure, improve and innovate their practices to generate clear and valuable findings.- Inclusive research. You can help teams understand the diversity of users of FCA services. You can effectively include all kinds of users in appropriate research activities. You can advocate inclusive practices and help teams design and deliver accessible services that work for all users.- Research. You can help an organisation adopt a wide range of user research methods. You can lead a community of practice to help an organisation continually assure, improve and innovate their user research.- Society and technology. You can help teams understand the ways that digital technology is changing user behaviour, and the challenges and opportunities for the design and delivery of FCA services.- Strategic insight. You can understand organisational goals and challenges. You can align research activities across teams to inform policy and proposition.- Technical understanding (user-centred design). You can demonstrate knowledge of the technologies used to build and operate digital services. You can collaborate closely with colleagues in different digital disciplines.- User-centred and Agile practices. You can understand and demonstrate experience in a range of user-centred practices. You can help inexperienced teams adopt user-centred practices and embed them into their Agile workflow. You can advocate user research, and engage sceptical colleagues and stakeholders.

Desirable- Experience of delivering government digital services in line with GDS standards.- Experience of designing for accessibility- Business acumen in either financial services or financial regulation.

About the FCA

At the FCA, we’re creating a fair and more resilient financial system. We’re establishing more transparent relationships between financial services and their customers, building trust in financial markets and protecting vulnerable consumers.

The FCA's Values & Diversity

Our ambition is to create a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the society we serve, helping us to be a better regulator.

The FCA su