User Research Lead

The Digital Front Door is a key commitment in the Digital Health and Care Strategy to deliver a platform for people to get direct access to their health and care information and wider health and care services. It will allow people to access, self-manage, and contribute to their own health and care information online. Our Technology We are in the business of providing safe, secure and innovative technology products and services that aim to improve outcomes across education, training, workforce, health and care in the public sector in Scotland. The Opportunity We are looking for a User Research Lead to head up the user research function in our small but talented and growing team. Do you want to play a lead role in providing the evidence base for major public and professional-facing digital services in Scotland? Do you enjoy setting up and overseeing efficient and impactful operations and processes as much as planning and running the research activities themselves? Do you want to work as part of the full discovery to deliver process, embedding good research practice at all product life cycle stages? Do you enjoy understanding and articulating user behaviours, needs and motivations to help teams design systems that reflect a deep understanding of their users' needs and goals? Working within the User Centred Design team you will have the opportunity to provide actionable insights that represent the voice of our users to directly inform the development and delivery of user-centred digital services for the general public and health and care professionals.., Developing a successful national service for Scotland is impossible without ensuring we consider the diverse needs, perspectives and backgrounds of everyone in Scotland in our work. We are focused on hiring the very best talent available for NES, and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and aim to ensure everyone is treated fairly, with respect and has a positive recruitment experience - regardless of the outcome. It's not essential to be in a user research role right now. You may be returning from a career break (e.g. maternity, paternity, caring for others) or returning to user research after working in another field. Your experiences elsewhere can bring a fresh perspective to our work. If you are considering applying and feel it would be helpful to discuss this initially, please contact rohan.gunatillake@nhs.scot Next Steps

• NHS candidates will be considered firstly on a secondment basis, and so are strongly encouraged to discuss this with their current NHS employer at the earliest opportunity, ideally prior to application.
Our recruitment process is currently 100% remote and if successful you would initially work remotely, only working from our offices once official guidance supports this.


• Proven experience as a senior User Researcher
• An extensive understanding of user research techniques in a digital context for new and existing products
• Ability to confidently design, direct and lead a range of research
• Experienced in collaborating with multi-disciplinary digital teams including product managers, communicating research in a clear, meaningful and actionable manner
• Ability to collaboratively plan and conduct user research with a diverse range of stakeholders and users
• Ability to work on own initiative, to organise and prioritise workload and to meet strict deadlines.
  
  NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the national health board with statutory responsibilities to effect sustainable change through workforce development, education and training across the health and social care system in Scotland, while working at UK level with partner organisations.
NES Technology Service has created a strategic programme for the transformation of digital based services to allow NES to become a leading digital organisation in Scottish Health, digital by default and fully aligned with the Scottish Government's technology strategies. Scottish Government's Digital Health & Care Directorate have initiated a "Digital Front Door" programme (DFD) and have commissioned NHS Education for Scotland to lead and deliver it.


• Life-work balance - with opportunities for flexible working and remote working
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Annual incremental progression (up to the maximum of the salary band) plus annual NHS salary scale review
• Annual Leave - 27 Days increasing in line with service plus 8 days public holiday
• NHS discounts and more