Junior User Researcher
Government Digital Services -
What you'll do
As a Junior User Researcher, you will help your team develop a deep understanding of the people - citizens, businesses or government colleagues - who use a service. Your findings will allow your team to design and build better services more quickly and at lower cost and risk. And to continuously improve services, based on data and evidence.
You will work in a multi-disciplinary team on a range of user research activities. You will work closely with more senior user researchers to help you produce your best work and to develop your skills.
As a Junior User Researcher you will
- Work with more senior user researchers to plan, design and prepare user research activities to support the design, development and continuous improvement of government services.
- Carry out user research activities from recruiting participants, preparing discussion guides and moderating research sessions.
- Work with colleagues to analyse research data and synthesise clear and actionable findings.
- Communicate user research findings to help the team develop a deep understanding of users and their needs - including presentations at show and tells, designing and maintaining research outputs and other insight sharing materials.
- Contribute to the wider user research community of practice.
Who you are
We’re interested in people who:
- Have some experience and understanding of user-centred service design and delivery practices.
- Have understanding and experience of basic user research methods, when to use those methods and how to apply them correctly.
- Have understanding and experience of basic techniques for analysis of research data and synthesis of findings.
- Are able to present clear findings that colleagues can understand and use.
- Have some awareness of the diversity of users of government services and the need to make government services usable and accessible for everyone.
- Are aware of the social and technological context for government services, and the importance of understanding users‘ life and work for designing and delivering effective services.
The selection process as a standard for all of our roles consists of:
- An application screening process
- An interview
For your application to be considered you must submit both a CV showing your work history and a cover letter that answers the following questions:
- What user research methods you have used,
- How you have analysed research data and shared findings,
- How your user research work has influenced any products or services that were built
Additional Information
GDS is based in Bristol, London and Manchester, and this role is part of our focussed growth in Manchester during 2021/22. You will be part of a growing community in Manchester, working with colleagues across all three sites. GDS supports flexible working, including a balance between office and home-based working. Normally this will mean 2 days a week in the office, or more if that works better for you and the role.
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates that do not pass the interview, however have demonstrated an acceptable standard will be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.
