B2/HEO Junior User Researcher

The Insolvency Service; Croydon; Hybrid; GBP 32,000; Full time

Job summary

The Insolvency Service seeks a Junior User Researcher to join the User Design Team. This role involves assisting with user research to improve our service offerings, designed to support users effectively. Ideal candidates will demonstrate a passion for user-centered services and possess foundational user research skills.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Competitive leave benefits

Cycle to work scheme

Employee assistance program

Qualifications

• Experience in basic user research methods and their application.
• Ability to analyze research data and synthesize findings.
• Competence in creating effective presentations.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning and conducting user research activities.
• Analyze research data to provide actionable insights.
• Communicate user research findings clearly.

Skills

User research methods

Data analysis

User-centered design

Communication

Education

Qualified experience in user research

Job description

Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Ipswich, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham. (Croydon and Stratford will only be available to existing employees of the Insolvency Service).

Job Summary

User research is a key function within teams that designs and delivers services. They help teams to develop a deep understanding of the people - citizens, businesses or government colleagues - who use a service. Their findings allow teams to design and build better services more quickly, at lower cost and risk and continuously improve services, based on data and evidence.

The Insolvency Service is a leading Government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.

Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives. We have 10 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include, Carers Network, Disability & Health, FACES Network Group, Grass Roots, LGBT+, Mind Matters, No Limits, Part Time Workers, The Shed, and Women’s Network Group.

We offer full-time, part-time, job share and flexible ways of working. We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people. We encourage our employees to become more involved in areas they feel strongly about, whether it be for the benefit of the agency, though our Engagement network or in their own local communities via volunteering opportunities.

The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career!

Job Description

The Junior User Researcher will sit within the User Design Team. From there, they will assist our user research team with planning and carrying out user research activities for the agency’s various projects and business as usual improvements. They will work on multidisciplinary project teams with additional work streams outside projects also anticipated.

They will support our user researchers in planning, designing and carrying out research activities to help the agency get a deep understanding of the people that use our services.

Responsibilities:

As a junior user researcher at the Insolvency Service you will:

• Assist user researchers in planning, designing, and preparing a range of user research activities to support the design, development and continuous improvement of our services.
• Assist with the carrying out of user research activities including arranging research sessions, drafting discussion guides and assisting with research sessions.
• Assist with the analysis of research data to determine clear and actionable findings to create a rich picture of user behaviour.
• Communicate user research findings to help the team and wider organisation develop a deep understanding of users and their needs. This will include presentations at show and tells, helping design and maintain research outputs and assisting in the creation of formal reports.
• Work closely with project managers, designers, developers and our senior user researchers to turn user research findings into stories and actions that lead to valuable product and service features.
• Provide user research support to operational teams within the Insolvency Service.
• Support the wider User Design team as needed to deliver time sensitive or high priority pieces of work.
  
  

The Junior User Researcher will sit within the User Design Team. From there, they will assist our user research team with planning and carrying out user research activities for the agency’s various projects and business as usual improvements. They will work on multidisciplinary project teams with additional work streams outside projects also anticipated.

They will support our user researchers in planning, designing and carrying out research activities to help the agency get a deep understanding of the people that use our services.

Responsibilities:

As a junior user researcher at the Insolvency Service you will:

• Assist user researchers in planning, designing, and preparing a range of user research activities to support the design, development and continuous improvement of our services.
• Assist with the carrying out of user research activities including arranging research sessions, drafting discussion guides and assisting with research sessions.
• Assist with the analysis of research data to determine clear and actionable findings to create a rich picture of user behaviour.
• Communicate user research findings to help the team and wider organisation develop a deep understanding of users and their needs. This will include presentations at show and tells, helping design and maintain research outputs and assisting in the creation of formal reports.
• Work closely with project managers, designers, developers and our senior user researchers to turn user research findings into stories and actions that lead to valuable product and service features.
• Provide user research support to operational teams within the Insolvency Service.
• Support the wider User Design team as needed to deliver time sensitive or high priority pieces of work.
  
  

Person specification

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Some background and experience in user research, following GDS principles
• A strong interest, and some understanding in user centred design
• An interest in building and improving services that put our customers at the centre of what we do
• A passion to make government services usable and accessible for our diverse users
• An interest in using data and insight to improve services for our users
• Have experience of basic user research methods and how to apply them correctly.
• An ability to act in a non-biased manner using research to inform decision making
• An understanding of how to apply basic techniques for the analysis of research data and synthesis of findings.
• Experience in creating PowerPoint presentations and presenting clear findings that colleagues can understand and use.
• Are aware of the need to align user research with team goals to support decision-making and action.
• Some knowledge of the technologies and roles within a digital team.
  
  

Please note: This vacancy is advertised across 11 locations; however, Stratford and Croydon are only available to current Insolvency Service Staff. The advertised salary includes London weighting, which is only applicable to internal candidates.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
  
  

Alongside your salary of £31,726, Insolvency Service contributes £9,191 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We Want You To Have a Good Work-life Balance And Want To Support You In All That You Do, So We Offer a Great Benefits Package Including:

• flexible working arrangements and flexi-time
• full time new entrants to the Civil Service and those Civil Servants on modernised terms and conditions will be entitled to 25 days leave increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service
• in addition to this you are entitled to 8 public/bank holidays plus an additional day of privilege leave
• competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
• 5 days paid leave for learning and development
• 5 days paid for volunteering
• a Cycle to work scheme
• staff have access to an employee assistance programme, Workplace Wellness, for confidential, independent support and advice during difficult times in either their professional or personal life
  
  

Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package where the employer makes a significant contribution to the cost of your pension. Your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken. This means, if you pay tax, your take-home pay will not be reduced by the full amount of your contribution; and your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. For more information, visit www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk

Selection process details

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

This is a Fixed Term Appointment for 9 months with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and 750-word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Your personal statement should be no more than 750 words and should demonstrate clearly your interest in improving services for users.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

We will test your experience as part of the application process, and if successful, you will be invited to a short interview where we will test your behaviours. Full details of the selection process will be made available to shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Sift – to be confirmed

Interview – to be confirmed

Location - MS Teams

Your interview will be conducted by video. You will be notified of this if you are selected for interview. Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Use of AI

Candidates must ensure that their applications, including personal statements and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. Please refer to the following link for further information and guidance: www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/artificial-intelligence-in-recruitment

Visa Applicants

To sponsor a candidate under the Skilled Worker visa, a sponsorship licence is required. The Insolvency Service does not currently hold this licence and therefore, cannot legally sponsor Skilled Worker visa applicants.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Insolvency Service from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland 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 [e-mail] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [e-mail]

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return..

Transforming Workplaces

The Insolvency Service is currently delivering an exciting five-year transformation project that started in April 2022 which will define our future direction supporting a gradual migration to a Regional Centre model combined with smarter ways of working. As part of this, transforming our estate will align us with the government modernisation programmes making The Insolvency Service a great place to work.

We are letting you know about our future plans because if you are joining the Insolvency Service and are recruited into an office over the next five years that is not one of the Regional Centres, you will be expected to move to one of the Regional Centres in the future. This move would not attract financial assistance.

The 11 Regional Centres are : Birmingham, Cardiff, Croydon, Edinburgh, Exeter, Ipswich, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Stratford.

Hybrid Working

Insolvency Service operates a hybrid working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.

Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending a minimum of 60% in the workplace, which includes the office, site visits, court etc.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put 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 [e-mail] 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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

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

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

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.

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).

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

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

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 : Jennifer Marsden
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

A candidate can raise a complaint to the Insolvency Service by emailing the contact point for applicants (as listed on the vacancy advert), if they think that: They have been discriminated against under the Equality Act 2010 there have been procedural irregularities at any stage of the recruitment process All complaints must be received by the contact point for applicants within 24 hours from the date the applicant is advised of their non-success at sift, assessment or interview. Complaints will be considered by an independent third-party outside of recruitment campaign. The decision will be conveyed to the applicant, in writing, within 5 working days of receipt of the complaint. The recruitment process will usually be put on hold until the complaint has been resolved. Complaints may also be made to the Civil Service Commission at any time if the individual believes their application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles (appointment on merit through fair and open competition). However, complaints must first have been raised to the Insolvency Service