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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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International Trade
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About the job
Job summary
If you would like to find out more about the role, the User Research team and what its like to work at DBT, we are holding a Hiring Manager Q&A session for this role where you can virtually ‘meet the team’ on Wednesday 15th November at 12.30pm. Please click here to book your spot.
This role is available in seven UK locations and can only be worked from within the UK, not overseas. Most DBT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in the office on average. Changes to these working arrangements are available in certain circumstances but must be agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role and can only be discussed with successful candidates. Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DBT, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
Find out about life at DBT, our benefits and meet the team by watching our recruitment video, visiting our website or reading our blog!
About DBT DDaT
We are the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). We champion free trade, help British businesses unleash their potential, and create new investment opportunities. The Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) team develops and operates tools, services, and platforms such as great.gov.uk that enable the UK government to provide world leading support to businesses in the UK and overseas. Have a look at our video!
Work with us to constantly push boundaries in an environment free of heavy legacy, driven by curiosity, social purpose, diversity of thought, entrepreneurship, and the aspiration to offer an incredible experience to all our users.
Job Description
As a Lead User Researcher, reporting to the Head of User Research, you will be helping to reinvigorate the User Research function in DBT, as part of our broader mission to champion the needs of our users. User researchers are key figures in our digital teams. They help our teams develop a deep understanding of the people – citizens, businesses, or government – who use our services. Their findings enable our teams to design and deliver better services quickly, with less risk, and at lower cost.
Were looking to increase our influence and impact by developing agile, pragmatic ways of working, that help teams meet the CDDO service standards while reflecting the delivery pace of the department. Were looking at how we set and assure research standards, how we innovate our approaches, and how we support teams to understand and respond to user needs. Find out more on our User Research blogs.
Job description
In your day-to-day role, you will:
- Help plan research programmes, working with management teams and Delivery Managers to ensure a shared understanding of priorities, playing an active role in matching researchers to requirements.
- Oversee the work of user researchers to ensure work is meeting GDS/CDDO service standards and is being delivered pragmatically and to a high quality, intervening if research falls below expected standards.
- Take the lead on key research about complex services and strategic issues and synthesise findings to generate strategic insights and identify gaps in understanding.
- Be an advocate for agile, user-focused research and work with stakeholders to highlight the benefits of operating this way.
- Lead on staff recruitment, both permanent civil servants and contractors.
- Manage the professional development of current staff, and the capability assessments in the UR profession.
Person specification
Essential Skills and Experience
You should be able to demonstrate essential skills and experience of:
- Working with management teams and stakeholders to understand business needs and aligning research prioritisation and delivery to these needs.
- Planning, designing and delivering user research projects and programmes in complex, challenging contexts.
- Managing, mentoring or leading a team, ensuring they are performing against delivery goals and working to develop their capability.
- Providing oversight and quality assurance of multiple user research projects at the same time.
- Effectively advocating for the user and for good user research, advising stakeholders and building their buy-in of the value of user-centred practice.
- Responding to delivery pressures of an agile environment, demonstrating good professional judgement, flexibility and pragmatism.
Benefits
£13,225 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Assessment and Interview
Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.
Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.
DBT sift will take place week commencing: Monday 27th November 2023
Interviews will take place week commencing: Monday 4th December 2023
Please notes these dates are indicative and may be subject to change.
As part of the application process you will be asked to upload a CV which outlines your experience, skills and fit for the role. Inspire People will assess your application against the essential criteria listed above to compile a longlist of applications, which will then be sifted by DBT. If you are progressed through at this stage, you will be asked to complete a short, pre-recorded video screening interview with Inspire People or alternately provide written answers to questions. These applications will then be sifted by DBT hiring managers. If you are successful at this sift, you will be invited to interview.
How youll be interviewed
At the interview stage for this role, you will be asked to demonstrate relevant Strengths, Technical Skills and Behaviours from the Success Profiles framework. A role-specific list of Technical Skills and Behaviours can be found below. The Strengths we are looking for are not shared ahead of the interview.
You will be asked to deliver a presentation at interview and will be informed of the topic closer to the time.
There will be a technical element within the interview where you will be asked questions about your specific professional skills and knowledge relating directly to the job role.
We will assess you against the following technical skills:
- Research Skills (including research planning and design)
- Analysis and Synthesis
- Inclusive research
- Strategic Insight (including working with stakeholders to understand business needs)
- User Centred and Agile working
You will also be assessed against the Behaviours of:
Offer Stage
Appointments may be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences.
The salary we will offer is determined using interview performance. Scores at interview translate to proficiency levels and an associated salary. Once a successful candidate has a proficiency level and is part of the capability framework, they will be given opportunities to self-assess to progress through the pay scale within their grade during their time at DBT. For further explanation of proficiency levels and more information about DDaT click here.
Candidates who pass the bar at interview but are not the highest scoring will be held on a 12-month reserve list for future appointments. Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised.
Further Information
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
The Department for Business and Trade embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation.
Harmonised terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Please note the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.
Any move to the Department for Business and Trade 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. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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 the DDaT Recruitment team before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Our recruitment process is underpinned by appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email: ddat.recruitment@trade.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. Click here to download a PDF about the Civil Service Commission/Complaints.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
For further information and to apply please click the link to direct you to the advertisers website.
Add to all vacancies depending on the level of security clearance required for the roles
Vetting Requirements
SC
All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK.
The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.
If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.
Checks will be made against:
- Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
- UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
- Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
- Security Services records
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : DDaT Recruitment
- Email : ddat.recriuitment@businessandtrade.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : ddat.recriuitment@businessandtrade.gov.uk
Further information
