We’re looking for a User Researcher who wants to make a lasting impact on how the Home Office delivers user-centred products and services.

 

You’ll work in an agile, multi-disciplinary team in Migration Borders Technology Portfolio on some of the most exciting and impactful services that government delivers for the public, as well as internal systems for more than 35,000 staff across the department.

Some of the projects you could work on include:

  • The asylum application process
  • Live services such as visa and immigration products
  • Systems used by Border Force officers
  • Internal caseworking systems

You can learn more about design and research in the Home Office on our blog:

As a User Researcher, you will plan, design and carry out research activities to inform the design of government services and help teams get a deeper understanding of the people that use them. You will develop research plans and approaches for a given service. You will use a range of research methods, including usability testing, contextual interviews, and pop up research, and will carry out rapid analysis that involves the wider team whenever possible.

You’ll communicate insights from research in engaging and impactful ways to delivery teams and stakeholders to drive change and improve government services.

 

We’re looking for people who are collaborative, inclusive, open to their work being critiqued and who are empathetic towards their colleagues and users. A healthy balance of determinism and pragmatism will be needed on our complex services and products.

If you want to join us in keeping the UK safe and secure and ensuring that our services for migrants and asylum seekers are easier and simpler to use, apply now.

 

The first duty of the government is to keep citizens safe and the country secure. The Home Office has been at the front line of this effort since 1782. As such, we play a fundamental role in maintaining the security and economic prosperity of the UK.

The Home Office leads on immigration and passports, refugee protection, counter-terrorism, policing, fire services, and crime and drugs policy.

 

Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) enables the Home Office to keep the UK safe and secure. We design and build the services that help people apply for visas or passports; support policing and counter-terrorism operations; and protect the UK’s borders.

 

This is an exciting time to be at the Home Office. You’ll have a chance to shape the future and support our mission to deliver exceptional public services that work for everyone.

Our work is guided by these principles:

  • We put user needs first
  • We value delivery and outcomes over process
  • We work in the open

Our flexible working policy ensures a healthy work-life balance. We also nurture talent and offer a broad range of learning and development opportunities that will help you flourish in your role.

We work hard to maintain a positive working culture and are committed to helping you fulfil your potential. We value diversity and provide an open, inclusive and supportive environment to help you do your best work.

 

You can keep up-to-date with our work on the Home Office DDaT blog (https://hodigital.blog.gov.uk/)

 

Job description

Responsibilities

Your main day-to-day responsibilities will include:

  • Planning, designing and conducting user research and usability testing to understand user needs and behaviours, and support the design and development of government services
  • Turning user research findings into actionable insights that inform the design and development of digital services
  • Leading on research moderation, analysis and generation of outputs
  • Supporting digital delivery teams to build accessible digital services by including participants with access needs and low digital skills in all research
  • Working collaboratively in a multidisciplinary delivery team, including designers and product owners, to define research questions, plan research approach and prioritise findings

You will also be expected to carry out the following day to day activities:

  • Presenting research findings and related recommendations to team members and stakeholders
  • Managing logistics of research sessions, including planning and scheduling sessions and recruiting participants

Person specification

Essential skills

You’ll have a demonstrable passion for user-centred design, with the following skills or some experience in:

  • Understanding and applying a range of user research methods correctly for different life cycle phases
  • Clearly articulating to stakeholders the benefits of taking a user-centred approach, based on evidence
  • Applying ethical research standards and practices to ensure the safeguarding and wellbeing of participants and researchers
  • Researching diverse audiences to deliver accessible and inclusive digital services
  • Managing, executing and analysing usability testing to deliver valuable user insights that inform decisions
  • Communicating research findings in a clear and engaging way that drives change