Senior User ResearcherMinistry of Justice

23357

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

HM Courts and Tribunals Service

Job Title: Senior User Researcher

Grade: Grade 7

Directorate: Digital Technology Services (DTS)

Location: National

Contract Type: Fixed Term – 12 months

Working Pattern: Full-time/Part-time/Flexible Working/Job Share

Successful applicants will be expected to be office based 3 days per week in any HMCTS Office (subject to business availability).

Introduction

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice.  We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and want to make a difference in people’s lives in delivering justice. If you’re interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

Job Description

We are redesigning and transforming services around the needs of our users. This includes digital services, as well as the physical court environment and the telephony services that support our customers.

The User Research team plays a key role in this transformation by generating actionable insights through primary research. These insights help shape and validate the design of services, ensuring they meet user needs and deliver the best possible experience. The team champions user-centred design principles, agile ways of working, and continuous improvement across HMCTS services and products.

Our team is made up of passionate user researchers who are committed to ensuring decisions are evidence-based and informed by the needs of users. The research you conduct will have a meaningful impact across the justice system, influencing services used by citizens, legal professionals, judges, and many other court and tribunal users.

As Senior User Researcher, your role will encompass several key aspects including but not limited to:

Helping to define and design the research requirements for service teams

Working with the Head of User Research to oversee user research across HMCTS

Ensuring user research outputs our shared effectively across the organisation

Mentoring and supporting user researchers at HMCTS

Driving continuous improvement in the deployment of user research across a service delivery programme

Identifying key stakeholders and their requirements through engagement and discussion

Developing and maintaining constructive relations with all programme and project stakeholders. This will include staff and managers as customers, external suppliers, judiciary, other government departments

You will also provide strategic people leadership within your business area, setting clear expectations and holding teams to account for delivery against agreed objectives. Championing wellbeing, you will foster an inclusive management culture, making informed decisions that align with HMCTS and Civil Service priorities and driving capability development and performance.

Essential skills

Extensive background in conducting user research across multiple services

In-depth understanding of user-centred design principles and tools

Proven ability to deliver public-facing user research

Skilled in selecting and applying appropriate research methods to generate specific insights into user behaviour and needs

Demonstrable success in facilitating and communicating with senior stakeholders, including Ministers, senior management teams and the public

Experience of managing project or programme deliverables within budget

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates

Desirable skills

Demonstrated expertise in leading user experience research or related functions, with a strong track record of guiding teams, shaping research strategy, and influencing decision making at an organisational level

Experience of defining and implementing a strategic approach to user research

Worked within an Agile software development project/programme

Application process:

This role will be recruited using a combination of the Government Digital and Data (GDD) Profession Capability Framework and the Success Profiles Frameworks during the sift and interview process.

Using GDD, we will then determine if you will be paid an additional allowance, on top of your basic salary. This role is within the User-centred design roles job family and is a Senior User Researcher at Senior user researcher level and carries the title Senior user researcher in DTS.

Stage 1 - Sift:

To apply for this position, you must submit the following as part of your application:

An anonymised CV, setting out your career history, key responsibilities and achievements. Your CV will be assessed against the essential criteria outlined within the Essential Skills section of this advert.

A Statement of Suitability which should give us real life examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role. We recommend following the STAR

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply - Application Guidance

Stage 2 - Interviews:

Successful candidates who pass the sift will be invited to interview via Microsoft Teams (details to be shared along with your invite). At interview stage, you will be assessed against Civil Service Behaviours. Details can be found under the interview stage assessment section on the advert. For Behaviours you will be expected to align your answers to the Government Digital and Data (GDD) Capability Framework

Presentation - You will also be required to deliver a 5-minute presentation at interview on user research methods. Full details of the presentation brief will be provided 7 days prior to the interview.

For further guidance on the interview process please click here

Important information

Salary details

New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum.

Existing Civil Servants applying on promotion, will usually be appointed on the salary minimum of the new pay band, or receive an increase of 10 percent on the current base salary, whichever is higher (This is restricted to the pay maximum of the new band).

Travel requirements

This role requires travel to other HMCTS sites for fieldwork, team meetings and wider business needs. The level of travel required will vary in line with operational demand.

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.