User Researcher

Company Description Overview Specialist role User researcher Summary of the work We require user researchers to work in fast-paced agile delivery teams. They will research user needs to inform delivery of clear, user-led content and features for the apprenticeship service. Latest start date 23/09/2016 Expected contract length 2 years but may be shorter depending on progress towards delivering the strands of work Region West Midlands Organisation the work is for Skills Funding Agency Job Description About the work Early market engagement We have completed a number of discovery and alpha stages for some components of the service and some are now in beta. The services being procured are expected to deliver the work required for full go-live by April 2017. Who the specialist will work with The user researchers we be working alongside other researchers, including civil servants and suppliers, and across various strands of work for delivery of the service. Will be members of Agile Delivery Team What the specialist will work on We require User Researchers to work in fast-paced agile delivery teams. They will research user needs to inform delivery of clear, user-led content and features for the apprenticeship service. Work setup Address where the work will take place Skills Funding Agency, Cheylesmore House, 5 Quinton Road, Coventry CV1 2WT Working arrangements Onsite full-time 5 days a week co-located with the rest of the team at the SFA offices in Coventry. Travel to other government offices and to meet users may be required, subject to the SFA's travel and subsistence policy. This programme is being delivered using agile methodologies. Successful application of agile principles and techniques requires that the teams are co-located and able to work directly with colleagues representing digital delivery, operational and policy requirements. Security clearance Disclosure Scotland Additional information Additional terms and conditions Standard DOS framework and call-off terms and conditions. Expenses as per the SFA travel and subsistence policy. Qualifications Skills and experience Essential skills and experience * A mix of substantial hands on experience and / or degree in the relevant field combined with experience. Degrees in HCI, psychology, design research or similar are relevant. * Full understanding and demonstrable experience in User Centred Design (UCD) product development. * Full understanding and demonstrable experience of research methodologies. Qualitative: RITE, usability testing, and contextual enquiry. Quantitative: usability metrics. * Full understanding and demonstrable experience in indirect data collection techniques such as web traffic analytics. * Full understanding and demonstrable experience in planning and running a private and public beta of a product to the real user (i.e. use of the product in a live environment). * Experience in delivering insights in a scrum team of cross-disciplinary team members using Lean UX techniques. * Ability of individuals proposed to work with users and stakeholders at all levels. * A full understanding and demonstrable experience of research methodologies: ethnography, open and closed card sorting, multivariate testing. * A full understanding and demonstrable experience in indirect data collection techniques: surveys, digital diary studies. * Experienced in remote testing Additional Information All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Qualifications: Skills and experience Essential skills and experience A mix of substantial hands on experience and / or degree in the relevant field combined with experience. Degrees in HCI, psychology, design research or similar are relevant. Full understanding and demonstrable experience in User Centred Design (UCD) product development. Full understanding and demonstrable experience of research methodologies. Qualitative: RITE, usability testing, and contextual enquiry. Quantitative: usability metrics. Full understanding and demonstrable experience in indirect data collection techniques such as web traffic analytics. Full understanding and demonstrable experience in planning and running a private and public beta of a product to the real user (i.e. use of the product in a live environment). Experience in delivering insights in a scrum team of cross-disciplinary team members using Lean UX techniques. Ability of individuals proposed to work with users and stakeholders at all levels. A full understanding and demonstrable experience of research methodologies: ethnography, open and closed card sorting, multivariate testing. A full understanding and demonstrable experience in indirect data collection techniques: surveys, digital diary studies. Experienced in remote testing Responsibilities: About the work Early market engagement We have completed a number of discovery and alpha stages for some components of the service and some are now in beta. The services being procured are expected to deliver the