Senior User Researcher

We are MHCLG

Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to peoples lives.   The Elections Directorate is responsible for how elections are run and who participates. The Directorate is implementing the governments elections strategy, including introduction of votes for 16 and 17-year-olds, improvements to voter registration and changes to voter identification.

The Senior User Researcher will be part of our Elections Digital team. Our services include: Register to vote, Apply for a proxy vote, Apply for a postal vote, and a website to support Electoral Registration Offices in Local Authorities.

In this role you would work to develop and improve our understanding of our users and their needs, assess their user experience and test design ideas and prototypes. You will also work with a strong focus on those with accessibility needs and low digital confidence. Your work will benefit millions of people who use our services each year. User Researchers are key figures in our team. They help us develop a deep understanding of the people who use our services. Their findings allow our wider team to design and build better services more quickly, and at lower cost and risk.

Youll work in a multidisciplinary team alongside service designers, interaction designers, content designers, developers, delivery and product managers to deliver high-quality services that meet user needs and deliver business outcomes.

Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog.  Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.

As a Senior User Researcher, you will:

• lead the planning, design and delivery of user research using different methods from discovery through to live services
• carry out user research activities from recruiting participants, preparing discussion guides, and moderating research sessions
• analyse and synthesise research data to develop findings and insights
• work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and with wider stakeholders to inform decision making
• present clear, actionable findings that colleagues can understand and use
• carry out an inclusive research practices with a focus on accessibility needs
• advocate for the user by sharing research insights on user needs
• line managing and/or mentoring junior researchers

We will use the essential criteria below to evaluate you during the recruitment process. Make sure you CV and Personal Statement details how you meet the criteria.

As a Senior User Researcher, you will have:

• mid to senior-level experience planning, preparing and carrying out user research activities for complex services, with demonstrable experience in qualitative (e.g. usability testing, contextual interviews) and quantitative methods (e.g. surveys, A/B testing)
• proven ability to analyse and synthesise complex research data into clear, actionable findings and insights
• ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams to action user research findings and inform decision making
• track record of sharing research findings widely across organisations to build understanding of users and their needs
• strong understanding of accessibility requirements and inclusive research methods.
• experience recruiting and researching with diverse users, understand how to make research activities accessible and ensure underrepresented voices inform service design
• familiarity with the Government Service Standard or similar frameworks
• experience of managing and mentoring junior user researchers