Ref: 23964 Head of User Research - Enable Digital Delivery

Tender description

Summary of the work The Head of User Research will be accountable for ensuring all people performing the role of user research across the Defra group have the appropriate skills, as well as access to the right support, learning and development to capably lead agile teams to deliver customer focused services. Specialist role User researcher Expected Contract Length 1 year Latest start date 20/03/2017 Maximum Day Rate £800 per day Who Speclialist Work With The Head of User Research will work with all User Researchers in the Defra group in addition to the existing Enabling Digital Transformation team, who currently support delivery teams across the Defra group in their use of agile techniques, moving away form legacy delivery models. What Specialists Work On The Head of User Research will: - build the capability and excellence of user researchers across the Defra IT community (in a digital, agile environment) - lead the user researcher profession and exemplify what good looks like, ensuring they adopt the common approaches and ways of working - represent and champion the user research role across the Defra group, across government and in the wider industry - Share knowledge gained through experience of having been a high performing practitioner in a user research - Lead the user research community of practice, including leading on recruitment and providing training and development Skills & Experience • be a recognised expert in the field of agile user research and have epxerience of a wide range of agile and lean tools and techniques (15%) • have experience of leading and growing user research in an agile environment (10%) • be a skilled team leader (10%) • be confidently able to communicate the value of the role to digital and nondigital stakeholders (10%) • be able to build credibility and influence across a range of stakeholders or a range of seniority (10%) • have demonstrable experience of performance and people management (5%) Work Location Flexible ideally based in London, South West, North West with around 45% travel to other offices. Teams will be required to work across Defra's offices/ program areas, including with Defra's arms-length bodies. Offices are geographically spread but work will be focused on support to London, Warrington, Bristol, Reading, Weybridge, Worcester and York. Working Arrangments Base location to be agreed with successful candidate. The individual will be expected to work on-site at various Defra offices - including its arms-length bodies - 5 days a week. No. of Specialists to Evaluate 10 Cultural Fit Criteria • Transparent and collaborative when making decisions (5%) • Supports a no-blame culture and encourages people to learn from their mistakes (5%) • Takes responsibility for work and is confident working independently as well as within a team environment (5%) • Shares knowledge and experience with other team members and actively challenges the status quo (5%) Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 60% Cultural fit 20% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. Can you advise the Defra position on IR35 relating to this role please? The Digital Marketplace are using guidance from the below link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/off-payroll-working-in-the-public-sector-reform-of-the-intermediaries-legislation-technical-note/off-payroll-working-in-the-public-sector-reform-of-the-intermediaries-legislation-technical-note You may wish to seek similar clarification guidance that would relate to your situation should you be selected.We currently see this role as sitting outside of IR35 which will ultimately be determined by the working practices in place at the time of appointment. Post 6 April 2017 there is the requirement for all public sector bodies to provide information to agencies and workers about whether engagements are within the off-payroll rules. The contractor will need to provide an IR35 compliance review at their own cost upon appointment. 2. The Security Clearance is mandatory for this role? BPSS/ Disclosure Scotland 3. I would be interested in knowing what the delivery managers on the ground are like, are these scrum masters who are delivering a truly scrum embedded approach or is it a mostly traditional Project Manager approach to delivery? Delivery managers at Defra use a mix of agile approaches and scrum is not the only one that is used. The community comprises both of the paths outlined in the question; we have delivery managers who have transitioned from both Scrum Masters and Project Management.