User Researcher

**User Researcher - Inside **IR35**

**Contract Term: 6 Months**

**Contracting Authority: DWP**

**Location: Manchester, Blackpool or Newcastle**

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions, and child maintenance policy. As the UK’s biggest public service department, it administers the State Pension and a range of working age, disability and ill health benefits to around 20 million claimants and customers. As such, we operate on a scale that is almost unmatched anywhere in Europe and most people in Britain come into contact with us at some point in their lives.

Working with DWP, you will be helping us to drive our priorities to:

- Run an effective welfare system that enables people to achieve financial independence by providing assistance and guidance into employment
- Increase saving for, and security in later life
- Create a fair and affordable welfare system which improves the life chances of children
- Deliver outstanding services to our customers and claimants
- Deliver efficiently: transform the way we deliver our services to reduce costs and increase productivity

**Description**:
**Core Purpose**

As a User Researcher you will work independently to plan and carry out research projects from preparation through to sharing of research outcomes. You will make use of the most appropriate research methods and tools to turn research insights into recommendations that align with the department's goals and/or delivery outcomes. You will also be responsible for communicating with the users and championing core research principles to team members. Finally, you will test high level and specific aspects of a service, presenting the research findings to help gain consensus and act based on research finding.

**Summary of the Role and key responsibilities**
- Plan and design user research programmes, testing both high level concepts and specific aspects of the services as it is designed and developed.
- Work within agile project teams, providing, to the team, a focus on user centred design.
- Generate new and useful insights related to DWP users for the project team to leverage, ensuring where relevant that the insights influence design decision.
- Communicate the insights gained from user research outputs to both the project team and wider stakeholder, helping to enhance organisational understanding of the users that drives decisions and actionable recommendations.
- Maintain and develop relationships across the product teams, guiding the team in understanding research appropriates and insights.
- Prioritize and execute the end-to-end user research activities, this will include the scope, plan, recruitment, facilitating and the driving of improvement in the service offered.
- Plan and conduct research that considers the diversity of users, keeping in mind access needs and the ethical nature of research.
- Conduct user research using a range of research methods, selecting the appropriate method, both qualitative and quantitative, depending on the requirements of the programme.
- Work with other teams to understand and leverage existing research material that may add value to the team's research requirements and, where necessary, conduct a gap analysis to fulfil the needs of the team.

**Technical Skills required**

**Research**

**User Centred Agile & Design Practices**

Understands and has experience of a range of user-centred practices. Can work with colleagues to plan and do continuous user research in a multidisciplinary team. Able to demonstrate a working understanding of design, technology, and data principles. Understands the variety and complexity of users’ digital needs and how the product will meet those needs. Understands the importance of assisted digital. Able to design services and make decisions to meet user’s needs.

**User Centred Analysis**

Able to use quantitative and qualitative data about users to turn user focus into outcomes. Delivers analysis and information that addresses stakeholder needs and provides recommendations. Collaborates with user researchers and other user-focussed professions. Guides others on approaches to understand user stories. Identifies and engages with users / stakeholders to collate user needs evidence and understands and defines research which fits user needs.

**Communicating & Influencing**

Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact. Encourage the use of different communication methods, including digital resources and highlight the benefits, including ensuring cost effectiveness. Ensure communication has a clear purpose and takes into account people’s individual needs. Share information as appropriate and check understanding. Show positivity and enthusiasm towards work, encouraging others to do the same. Ensure that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, taking into consideration the diversi