Digital User Researcher (Agile User Researcher)

JOB TITLE: DIGITAL USER RESEARCHER SENIOR

LOCATION: SOUTHEND ON SEA

CONTRACT: 6 MONTHS (WITH POSSIBLE EXTENSION)

RATE: £450 - £490 PER DAY

RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Working with Service Managers and multi-functional teams to devise and support appropriate research strategies to generate focused insights and to convert concepts into high quality stimulus material. Planning, designing and conducting in-house usability testing sessions to support the design and development of government services.
- Conducting in-house research to test new product and concept developments (including user requirements gathering and early stage concept and prototype testing, guerrilla research, and other approaches to ensuring the user need is fully understood in the service design)
- Working closely with designers and developers to turn user data into actionable product/service requirements that feed into prototype development, and influence product direction.
- Designing, Scripting and analysing ad-hoc quantitative surveys using in-house software licences.
- Managing ad-hoc qualitative/quantitative research projects such as proposition development, visual identity, and customer experience mapping.
- Applying knowledge in human factors, ethnography, and the user-centred design process to product and service design in an iterative development environment.
- Presenting findings and related design/business recommendations and customer insights to senior decision makers.
- Managing day-to-day operations with a range of usability and market research agencies with accountability for schedules, value for money and deliverable.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Applicants must have

- Demonstrate knowledge, experience in and passion for user centred design practices.
- Proven experience of gathering user requirements.
- Proven experience of managing, executing and analysing usability test sessions.
- Proven experience of working in an agile development environment with User Experience teams, designers and developers to create new products and services.
- Experience of audience modelling and developing design personas.
- Experience of working on large and complex programmes with mixed ability teams.
- Experience and knowledge in managing data from various sources and stakeholders, recognising when to bring in experts/researchers to add to available information.
- Experience in identifying the main issues in complex problems; clarify understanding or stakeholder expectations, to seek best option.
- Experience in spotting warning signs of things going wrong and provide a decisive response to significant delivery challenges.
- Proven ability to confidently engage with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels.
- Be open and inviting of the views of others.
- Proven ability to actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on objectives.
- Proven ability to maintain effective performance in difficult and challenging circumstances.
- Proven ability to establish how the business area compares to customer service expectations and industry best practice and identify necessary improvements in plans.