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Policy Lab User Researcher

Home Office • Full-time • London, ENG, GB • £44.72k - £52.13k / year • 6d ago

Details

Reference number

379937

Salary

£44,720 - £52,130

SEO National (Manchester & Sheffield) £44,720 - £47,850
SEO London (Croydon & London) £48,720 - £52,130

Job grade

Senior Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

HO - STARS

Type of role

Information Technology

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Compressed hours

Number of jobs available

Contents

Location

About the job

Benefits

Things you need to know

Apply and further information

Location

Croydon, London, Manchester, Sheffield

About the job

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Home Office Policy and Innovation Lab (‘CoLab’) is a creative team of designers and researchers, that work closely with policy and operations teams from across the department to bring user-centred and explorative approaches to policy making.

We’re looking for a User Researcher to help us deliver impactful and meaningful policies in the Science, Technology Analysis & Research (STAR) directorate. The STAR Group sits at the heart of the Home Office and ensures the best evidence and analysis is used to address the strategic issues facing the department.

In particular, our work focuses on maintaining public safety and national security, including policing, fire services, counter-terrorism, and crime and drugs policy. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future and support our mission to deliver exceptional public services that work for everyone.

Job description

CoLab works in policy spaces that require a deeper understanding of service users. These might be projects like exploring how we can improve helpline support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse or understanding how policing might best use AI tools in England and Wales.
As a User Researcher in our team, you’ll work alongside Senior User Researchers on challenging problems that require an understanding of complex services and systems, as well as the wider context they sit within. You’ll love working with people and be adept at gathering and using evidence to inform design decisions and measure service outcomes. You’ll be willing to take on the challenge of working in a fast-paced environment as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and always look to deliver excellence.

You’ll work closely with service designers and policy professionals, with access to a range of other specialist skillsets when required. You may also occasionally work on short projects delivering digital products and services with our delivery teams. Domestic travel may occasionally be required to conduct research.

Working pattern

This role is available on a full-time basis with the option of compressed hours working. This role is also suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work 30 hours per week due to business requirements.

Our skills align with the cross gov DDaT Capability Framework - GOV.UK - UK https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/user-researcher

Person specification

Essential criteria

We would love to hear from a wide range of people who can demonstrate some, or all, of the following skills and experiences:

Understanding and applying a range of user research methods.
Analysing research to extract insights and communicating findings in a clear and engaging way that drives change.
Researching with diverse audiences to help teams deliver accessible and inclusive services.
Clearly articulating to stakeholders, the benefits of adopting a user-centred, evidence-based approach by presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly, both verbally and in writing.
Planning user research and applying ethical research standards and practices to ensure the safeguarding and wellbeing of participants and researchers.
Aligning user research activities with wider organisational objectives.

Desirable criteria

Ideally you will also have experience:

Working with policy teams or senior stakeholders.
Working in a design consultancy, innovation lab or similar environment. Ideally, you’ll have a degree in design or related field or relevant industry experience.

Technical skills

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

Accessibly and inclusive research
Analysing and synthesising findings
Collaborating with others
Communicating research creatively and effectively
Planning and conducting user research
Understanding and applying ethical research practices

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
This post is eligible for a Recruitment Retention Allowance. Successful candidate with exceptional skills and experience may apply for a Recruitment and Retention Allowance. This allowance is subject to an initial review within six months of taking up the post and thereafter an annual review in line with the departmental priorities and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time.
See more of our benefits on our careers website.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

1 . Application – by 9th December 2024.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

CV detailing qualification, skills and job history.
Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words).

Your CV should consist of your career history, qualifications and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be used to provide further context on your personal statement and scored against the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV and Personal Statement), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

2. Sift – from 12th December 2024.

The sift will be held on the CV and Personal Statement.

The CV will be scored for all candidates. Those candidates who achieve the minimum pass score for the CV will progress to a further sift where the Personal Statement will be scored. These candidates will receive sift scores for all elements. Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the CV will not have their Personal Statement scored and will only receive a sift score for the CV.

3. Interview – from 8th January 2025.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be:

Technical Skills based questions.

Candidates shortlisted will be invited to a blended interview.

At the beginning of the interview, you will be asked to conduct a 10 minute presentation based on your task and then asked questions that explore your technical skills and experience. The presentation topic will be set on the day, and you will have 40 minutes to prepare.

Pease refer to the Professional Competency Framework Digital, Data and Technology Profession Capability Framework - GOV.UK UK (https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/user-researcher).

The interview will take place via Microsoft Teams. Candidates will be required to have access to:

A Laptop (Personal or work) with a working webcam
Good Internet Connection
Microsoft Teams

Further information

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Location preference

You can select up to two locations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Reserve lists will be held for each location and profession. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location and profession.

Candidates judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised without the need to go through a further selection process, providing the role has the same Success Profiles elements and essential skills. There is no guarantee that further such vacancies will arise.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Visa sponsorship

We are unable to sponsor any individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas as we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity.

You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up. For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers

Visa sponsorship

We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Name :

HORC Campaign Team Corporate Enablers

Email :

horccampaignteamcorporateenablers@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :

HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.