Senior User Researchers - Ofsted - SEO

We are recruiting for two Senior User Researchers to join our User Centred Design team. 

As a User Researcher at Ofsted, you will play a key role in rebuilding and continuously improving our digital services, websites, and systems. You’ll be part of our User Centred Design function, working alongside Content Designers and Interaction Designers, and collaborating closely with Service and Product Owners, Project Managers, and other stakeholders.

What You’ll Do

• Work on a project basis, focusing on one or two services or phases of work at a time.
• Plan and conduct user research to generate actionable insights that inform service design and delivery.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including contractors and suppliers, to ensure user needs are at the heart of our digital services.
• Support the development of product strategies and agile delivery practices across Ofsted.
• Help stakeholders and staff understand and adopt user-centred and agile approaches.
• Contribute to planning and scoping future research activities across multiple projects.

This is a fantastic opportunity to further your experience in Ofsted’s well-established team. The post holder will work with high-achieving professionals at all levels, surrounded by a friendly and supportive team. They will have access to amazing benefits, such as flexible working hours, the Civil Service Pension Scheme, and 32.5 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays. We offer a hybrid working model, so you may also choose to spend a proportion of time working from home.

Job description

Please refer to the job specification for further information.

Person specification

Please refer to the job specification for further information.

Qualifications

A degree or other qualification in Human Computer Interaction, Design, Psychology, Market Research or a related field. (Desirable)

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• User Research methods: Evidence of understanding and applying a range of user research methods correctly for different life cycle phases and research questions and advising others on these methods.
• Analysis & Synthesis: Evidence of applying a range of methods to analyse research data. Synthesise findings to communicate insights from research in a clear & impactful way that drives change in the design of services & informs policy & proposition.
• Communicate, persuade & advocate: Work with team to develop, implement communication strategies convincing stakeholders of benefits of adopting a user-centred approach. Give examples of managing relationships & making persuasive cases for change.
• Managing People and Leading: establishing an effective user centred design culture in a team and supporting them to embed user centred design practices into their agile workflow.
• Research Ethics: establishing and applying ethical research standards and practices to ensure the safeguarding and wellbeing of participants and researchers.
• Accessibility and inclusion: researching diverse audiences to help teams deliver accessible and inclusive digital services.

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• User Research methods: Evidence of understanding and applying a range of user research methods correctly for different life cycle phases and research questions and advising others on these methods.
• Analysis & Synthesis: Evidence of applying a range of methods to analyse research data. Synthesise findings to communicate insights from research in a clear & impactful way that drives change in the design of services & informs policy & proposition.
• Communicate, persuade & advocate: Work with team to develop, implement communication strategies convincing stakeholders of benefits of adopting a user-centred approach. Give examples of managing relationships & making persuasive cases for change.