MMO - User Researcher

Tender description

Summary of the work The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is undertaking a discovery phase project to conduct user research to determine the direction of digital marine plan services. The discovery phase will identify the user need for the services, confirm their identity and map their user journey. Specialist role User researcher Expected Contract Length 3 Months (60 Days) with a possible extension of a further 12 months. Latest start date Friday 20 October 2017 Maximum Day Rate £500 Who Speclialist Work With A multi-disciplinary agile team including Service Manager, Product Manager, Delivery Manager and Content Designer. What Specialists Work On 1.Planning, designing and preparing a range of user research activities to deliver the project discovery phase. 2.Carrying out user research activities: Recruiting participants, preparing discussion guides and moderating research sessions. 3.Leading colleagues to analyse research data and synthesise clear and actionable findings, including working closely with analytics colleagues and the service team to create a rich picture of user behaviour. 4.Communicating user research findings to help the team and wider organisation develop a deep understanding of users and their needs including presentations at show and tells, designing and maintaining research outputs on the team wall, creating formal reports. Skills & Experience • Extensive experience of conducting user research (e.g. guerrilla/pop-up testing, interviewing, and focus groups) and usability (lab) test sessions • Have a degree in the relevant field or suitable demonstrable experience. Degrees in HCI, psychology, anthropology, design research or similar are relevant. • Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills, with the ability to see the bigger picture and translate business issues and needs into relevant, actionable research plans and objectives • Strong analytical skills and the ability to quickly develop recommendations based on quantitative and qualitative evidence • Extensive experience of the research process, including drafting discussion guides, recruiting respondents, organising test venues and mobilising resources • Experience of working with users and stakeholders at all levels. • Experience in working with those new to user research. • Excellent communications skills and ability to present research findings in a creative and compelling way • Full understanding and demonstrable experience of research methodologies. Capability to select best technique. E.g. Qualitative: in-depth interview, usability testing, and contextual enquiry. Quantitative: bench-marking survey, web analytics • Experience of working on services which align to the Government Digital Service’s Design Principles and Digital Service Standard Nice to Haves Previous experience of working within government organisations. Work Location The base location for the work is Newcastle upon Tyne for 4-5 days a week. Remote working may be considered. Working Arrangments The supplier is expected to work as part of a service team made up of a range of specialist skills to deliver the discovery phase. We expect the supplier to be flexible to our needs and can effectively work within a team of varying skill levels. Off site and remote working would be considered, however if agreed travel to Newcastle would be required when the business considers it necessary. If remote working is agreed any travel and accommodation to the base site in Newcastle is to be accounted for within the agreed day rate. Security Clearance Baseline security clearance is required No. of Specialists to Evaluate 5 Cultural Fit Criteria • Work well in a collaborative agile team • Be open and inviting of the views of others and respond despite pressure to ignore, revert or concede • Be adaptive to constant changes • Comfortable with ad-hoc research request and support the delivery of them Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 65% Cultural fit 5% Price 30% Questions from Suppliers 1. Please could you advise re IR35 status of the role? MMO have determined this role to be outside the scope of IR35 Legislation 2. Regarding the Base Line Security clearance, if the candidate does not hold Base Line Security Clearance and is willing to go through the process, can this be considered, if yes will you sponsor or is it at the cost of the successful candidate? If the candidate does not hold a Base Line Security Clearance but is willing to go through the process this will be considered however the MMO will not sponsor or cover the cost of the successful candidate. It is expected that on notification and acceptance of the contract the candidate will initiate this process. 3. Do candidates have to hold current and valid SC clearance or will the client clear them whilst on site? If a candidate does not currently hold SC clearance the client will complete SC clearance while the candidate is on site. However in these circumstances the candidate will be expected to initiate this process by submitting their SC application on notification and acceptance of the contract. For the avoidance of doubt this means the candidate will have an application reference number when arriving at site on day 1. 4. Is there a budget available for recruitment and incentivising external user research participants? The service team will work with the successful candidate to identify and recruit the appropriate user participants for the discovery phase of the project. 5. Would you consider work permit holders (e.g. Tier 2 General Visa) and EU passport holders for this role? As long as the candidate holds documentation that allows them to work in the UK then they are eligible to apply for this role. 6. Can any other higher security clearance be considered? Candidates are required to have Base Line Security Clearance. If the successful candidate does not hold this clearance they are expected to initiate the process on notification and acceptance of the contract. MMO will not sponsor the security clearance as this is something the candidate will be expected to provide at their own cost as a cost of running their business. 7. What is the lead time for feedback once the application is submitted? The closing date for applications is Wednesday 4 October 2017 at 11:59pm GMT. The MMO will look to notify candidates who are successful for interview WC 9 of October. Candidates who are part of the initial sift and been unsuccessful will be notified WC 9 October and given feedback that week. These are provisional dates and may change during the application process. 8. Any chances of change in start date as the latest date mentioned is Friday 20 October 2017 The MMO would require the candidate to take up the appointment as soon as the offer and contract are agreed. 9. What are the other expenses which will be paid? Travel undertaken as part of this user research activities in the discovery phase engagement will be paid for by the MMO in alignment with its travel and subsistence policy. 10. What are the exact work locations? The base location for the work is Newcastle upon Tyne while the locations of user research activities will be across England. These locations are dependent on where our user base is and will be determined when planning the engagement activities. 11. Is occasional remote working allowed? Remote working may be considered, if agreed any travel and accommodation to and from the base site in Newcastle is to be accounted for within the agreed day rate. 12. Any specific format (pdf, doc) in which CVs to be sent later You may submit CV’s in either PDF or document format. 13. Is there any travel involved in this role and will the travel expenses be paid? Travel will be required for user research activities during the discovery phase engagement. Travel undertaken as part of this user research will be paid for by the MMO in alignment with its travel and subsistence policy. 14. Is the rate inclusive or exclusive of VAT? The rate is exclusive of VAT. 15. Please can you describe the user base? We have a diverse and wide ranging user base which includes (but not limited to) decision making organisations, applicants and developers, devolved administrations and the general public. 16. Can you please give any indication of how often you would envisage a consultant who works remotely needing to come to the office in Newcastle? If remote working is agreed with the successful candidate then a work schedule will be confirmed upon notification and acceptance of the contract.