Principal User Researcher

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 304821**Salary**:

- £56,000 - £82,820- National £56,000-£76,962 London £60,000-£82,820. Please ensure that you read the Pay and Reward information for civil service and internal colleagues before applying.- A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%**Job grade**:

- Grade 6- Level 3**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- OFGEM - Corporate Services - Digital Information Services**Type of role**:

- Analytical
- Digital**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Cardiff, Glasgow, LondonAbout the job

**Job summary**:
As Great Britain's regulator for the energy industry, Ofgem exists to ensure a safe, secure and sustainable energy supply to British households and businesses.

As a Principal User Researcher at Ofgem, you will play a crucial role in elevating our Data, Digital, and Technology (DDaT) function by establishing user research as a core component of our practices. Your mission will be to advocate for the value of user research, driving customer-centric decision making, improving product and service design, and enhancing overall user experiences. With autonomy in this role, you will have the opportunity to promote and set up a User Research capability within Digital Services within DDaT, bringing innovation and insights to the forefront of our operations.

In this brand new role, you will be leading efforts to prioritise user needs first, and then explore technologies across Ofgem. Collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including policy teams, data scientists, engineers, and more, you will help shape a culture of evidence-based decision making and user-centred design.

This is a unique opportunity to be a driving force in establishing user-centricity at Ofgem. As a Principal User Researcher, you will have the autonomy to grow and build a team, fostering a user-centred culture across the organisation. Your expertise will be instrumental in optimising and coaching the function, influencing non-technical stakeholders, and communicating effectively with developers to ensure user needs are met. Working with cutting-edge technologies and varied stakeholders, you will make a meaningful impact on millions of users' experiences. We are looking for an accomplished leader, proficient in coaching both technical and non-technical stakeholders, with a strong background in user research, driven by an unwavering passion for prioritising user needs.

At Ofgem, we foster a supportive and collaborative work environment. As part of the DDaT Profession, you will have access to comprehensive personal and professional development opportunities, including formal and informal training with external speakers. We value work-life balance and offer flexible working patterns.

Ofgem has a culture of inclusion that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices and experiences of our colleagues. It fuels our innovation and helps ensure we can best represent the consumers and the communities we serve. Everyone is welcome - as an inclusive workplace, our employees are comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.

**Job description**:
The Principal User Researcher plays a crucial role in building the Data, Digital and Technology (DDaT) function within Ofgem by establishing user research as a core component of the organisation's practices. They advocate for the value of user research, demonstrating how it can drive customer-centric decision making, improve product and service design, and enhance overall user experience. By championing the integration of user research within the DDaT function, the Principal User Researcher helps shape a culture of evidence-based decision making and user-centred design across Ofgem.

The Principal User Researcher serves as a bridge between the DDaT function and other stakeholders within Ofgem. They collaborate with policy teams, data scientists, engineers, and other relevant departments to align research objectives with organisational goals. By fostering effective communication and engagement, they ensure that user research insights are integrated into the decision-making process. This collaboration promotes a culture of user-centricity throughout the organisation, enhancing the overall effectiveness of Ofgem's regulatory efforts.

As Ofgem expands its DDaT function, the Principal User Researcher plays a pivotal role in developing and standardising user research methodologies. They establish best practices, create research frameworks, and define guidelines to ensure consistent and high-quality research outcomes. By providing guidance on research methodologies, data collection techniques, and analysis approaches, the Principal User Researcher empowers other user researchers within Ofgem to conduct effective and reliable research. This standardisation fosters consistency, comparabili