User Experience Researcher

User Researchers support the delivery of our exciting and ambitious digital strategy. We want to hear from people who are passionate about what they do and keen to make a difference in a complex, exciting and unique environment.

The ever-increasing pace of technological advancement in society presents challenges to policing, but also significant opportunities. In Avon and Somerset Police, we recognise that to deliver outstanding policing in a modern digital age, we must be progressive and innovative in our use of technology and information.

Our User Researchers sit within the User Experience (UX) team in the Digital and Projects Department. The team helps us to deliver solutions that meet the needs of police officers, staff, and the communities that we serve. User Researchers are critical to the continuous improvement of our digital services and products. They gain a deep understanding of user needs and behaviours, to inform product improvements and digital transformation that directly impacts the digital experience of officers, staff, and members of the public.

In this role, you will provide professional expertise, and analysis, acting as a subject matter expert on user research. You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team of digital professionals (including Product Owners, Developers and Project Managers) and will engage daily with stakeholders from right across the organisation. Your work will include activities such as observing and interviewing users, developing user stories, requirements gathering, facilitating workshops and user testing.

If you are naturally curious, innovative, and collaborative, and you have the experience and skills we are looking for - we would like to hear from you.

This role is predominately working from home however you will have the opportunity to meet up with colleagues on a regular basis. We embrace flexible working.

In this role your main responsibilities will be:

• Undertaking a range of user research methods such as user interviews, stakeholder workshops, and innovative problem solving to ensure the organisation is preparing for new ways of working/processes.
• Turning research data into clear findings and recommendations that allows the business to make informed strategic decisions.
• Using appropriate methods for different project and product lifecycle phases and situations.
• Collaborating with external and internal stakeholders to define and understand user needs.
• Leading colleagues in analysis and synthesis to ensure consensus and challenge assumptions and current practices.
• Understanding diversity of users of police services and including all kinds of users in appropriate research activities to help teams deliver accessible services.
• To use user-centred design practices, embedding them into an agile workflow to deliver timely findings.
• Working in an open, iterative, and collaborative way in a multidisciplinary team.
• Understanding the social and technological context for police services, helping colleagues understand how digital technology is changing user behaviour and the challenges and opportunities for police services internally and externally.

Skills, qualifications, and experience required:

• Experience of working in a digital user research role preferably within a complex organisation.
• Experience in informing the direction of travel for software development to solve human problems.
• A highly effective and versatile communicator, in writing and verbally at all levels.
• Strong analytical and intellectual problem-solving abilities, including interpreting and drawing reasoned and robust conclusions from quantitative and qualitative data.
• Experience of applying analytical thinking and the ability to use your own initiative.
• Leadership and influencing skills beyond formal lines of authority.
• The ability and experience to establish your credibility and maintain the trust and confidence of senior leaders.

 If you think that you have these qualities and are interested in joining our team, we would like to hear from you so click the link below to apply.