JOB SUMMARY

We are currently looking for a User Researcher to join our Digital & Service Design Function within the Digital & Technology group.
This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 7-8 Wellington Place, Leeds, LS1 4AP. Our Canary Wharf and South Mimms sites are only available as contractual work locations to existing employees of the MHRA. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. We are open to requests for flexible working. Please discuss this with the recruiting manager before accepting an appointment.
We are currently implementing a flexible, hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 8 days per month working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, this can flex up to 12 days a month, with the remainder of time worked either remotely or in the office. Some roles will need to be on site more regularly.

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)
• 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

WHAT’S THE ROLE?

This role will contribute to growing the user-centred design practice at the MHRA alongside other Service Designers, Interaction Designers and User Researchers. This is an important role working across the agency, to help us understand how our services are meeting the needs of both internal and external users to the agency and where we can further improve our services.
The postholder will plan, organise and carry out research activities to help the agency deliver better services. They will have the opportunity to design and influence the user research approach in collaboration with the Senior User Researcher and will support shaping the future of user research as a discipline at the MHRA.
In addition to working within the user centred practice, the postholder will work in multi-disciplinary teams of professionals: including business analysts, software engineers, change managers, product managers and delivery managers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Running and conducting user research for complex and high-profile projects, helping teams apply a wide range of user research methods.
• Planning and organising a range of user research activities for complex journeys, by clearly identifying the problem the team is trying to solve. This may include using different research approaches and selecting the most appropriate methods. (For example: mapping out user motivations and behaviours or evaluating usability testing of prototypes and live services).
• Be responsible for the recruitment of participants, preparing discussion guides, moderating research sessions, adhering to government standards, advocating for inclusive practices and overseeing the synthesis and analysis of findings.
• Own the analysis and synthesis of research data and provide clear and actionable findings and opportunties back to the service owners and in collaboration with service designers
• Communicating user research findings to help your multidisciplinary team and wider organisation develop a deep understanding of users and their needs, including knowing how to engage skeptical colleagues and clearly communicate the opportunities of actioning the research findings and influencing the product’s direction.
• Working closely with product managers, designers and developers to turn user research findings into stories and actions that lead to valuable product and service features

Certain roles within the MHRA will require post holders to have vaccinations, and in some circumstances, routine health surveillance. These roles include:

• Laboratory-based roles working directly with known pathogens
• Maintenance roles, particularly those required to work in laboratory settings
• Roles that involve visiting other establishments where vaccination is required
• Roles required to travel overseas where specific vaccination may be required