Digital User Researcher

* Job Title: Digital User Researcher
* Location: Plymouth
* Contract Length: 6 months

Travel will be very occasional and be with the team.

Main Description:
Apply knowledge in human factors, ethnography, and the user-centred design process to product and service design in an iterative development environment.
Use findings of user data to work closely with designers and analysts to iterate the developing service.
Manage business relations with usability and market research agencies to support necessary research processes.
You will support the product manager by generating new and useful user insights and translating it into features and actions that will allow them to iteratively improve their service for users and to meet the Digital by Default Government standards.
Working within an agile environment you will be responsible for generating the feedback and insight the service team need to build a clear picture of their users and deliver solutions that they need.
You should be experienced in using a variety of user testing methodologies to reveal actionable customer insights.
You should have excellent analytical and problem solving skills, and the ability to quickly develop recommendations based on quantitative and qualitative evidence.
You will need to be confident in explaining user needs to senior civil servants, and for acting as a persuasive advocate for those needs both within the team and the department at large.
You will also be comfortable working with data, from gathering and analysis through to design and presentation.

The main responsibilities of the post are:
* Working with Product Manager to devise appropriate research strategies to generate focused insights and convert concepts
* Working with Product Manager, Designers and Developers to turn user data into actionable product requirements that feed into prototype development and influence product direction
* Use findings of user data to work closely with designers and analysts to iterate the developing service.
* Planning, designing and conducting in house usability testing sessions to support the design and development of service
* Applying knowledge in the user-centered design process to the product and service design in an interactive development environment
* Present finding and related design recommendations and customer insights to the agile team and other stakeholders and senior decision makers
* Coaching and developing junior research colleagues

Experience required:
* Taking a lead User Researcher role within a team, setting research direction and mentoring junior research colleagues
* Managing team dynamics and holding sufficient authority to effectively challenge points of design without alienating individuals
* Working within an agile project environment and maintaining effective performance in difficult and challenging circumstances
* Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
* Gathering user requirements for web based services
* Managing, executing and analysing usability test and research sessions
* Working in an agile development environment with User Experience teams, designers and developers to create new digital products and services
* Audience modelling and developing design persona
* Degree in HCI/Usability/Cognitive Psychology/Market Research or related field.
* Experience across web content, tools and transactional services, especially those with complex user journeys.
* Experience within a research and digital environment.

*Due to the volume of responses, we cannot always respond to all applicants.