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| # SFIA Role Guidance: User Researcher | |
| - [SFIA Level 3](https://sfia-online.org/en/legacy-sfia/sfia-7/responsibilities/level-3) | |
| - [Job description](https://github.com/madetech/handbook/blob/main/roles/sfia%20(legacy)/user_researcher.md) | |
| ### Summary of role | |
| Our User Researchers work within service teams. They support the planning of user research activities and carry them out . They’re confident practitioners, able to support our seniors and leads to plan and run user research as part of a team on public sector projects. They are contributors to our user-centred design (UCD) community and culture at Made Tech. | |
| ### Required competency for role (with example behaviours) | |
| ### Autonomy | |
| Works with guidance from Senior User researcher on the focus of work. Can plan own user research activities to design and deliver good public services with their team. Contributes to selecting the most appropriate methodologies for producing the most impactful research outputs. Supports the adoption of agreed approaches. | |
| #### Examples of behaviour and responsibilities | |
| Below are examples of behaviours and responsibilities a person in this role might be expected to demonstrate. The list is provided for illustrative purposes only. | |
| - Able to give and receive feedback from the people they work with. Able to honestly self reflect | |
| - Practices open and honest communication, active listening and demonstrates empathy and patience | |
| - Take responsibility for their own work and decisions and participates in / supports a no blame attitude in teams | |
| - Shares good practice from own experience and looks to continually develop skills and knowledge of conducting activities like in-depth interviews with users or low fidelity prototypes | |
| - Contributes to community show and tells | |
| ### Influence | |
| Contributes to team success in research excellence. | |
| Able to explain research results and influence team, stakeholders and partners. | |
| #### Examples of behaviour and responsibilities | |
| Below are examples of behaviours and responsibilities a person in this role might be expected to demonstrate. The list is provided for illustrative purposes only. | |
| - Able to understand, analyse and share research results to contribute to teams making decisions based on balancing research evidence against organisational needs and constraints | |
| - Can explain and involve stakeholders and teams in user centred design activities | |
| - Understands the strategic vision of our clients that needs to be informed through user research | |
| - Can manage their time effectively to prioritise and plan activities | |
| - Is an advocate for users. Able to take direction from Senior User Researcher on the key needs | |
| - Highlights decisions not informed by user research | |
| ### Complexity | |
| Conducts user research in their team within a project that may be part of a wider programme of work in multi-organisation stakeholder environments. Conducts research to inform design, strategy and processes. | |
| #### Examples of behaviour and responsibilities | |
| Below are examples of behaviours and responsibilities a person in this role might be expected to demonstrate. The list is provided for illustrative purposes only. | |
| - Conducts research activities with stakeholder groups | |
| - Demonstrates understanding and empathy for stakeholders | |
| - Produces research outputs that are suitable for the type of project, type of stakeholders and audience ensuring it has impact and leads to decision making | |
| - Conducts research activities that enables working in an agile, open or user-centred way | |
| - Shares results with all team members within their team to ensure people in other disciplines working towards the same goals | |
| - Has the ability to work in a fast-paced, evolving environment and use iterative methods and a flexible approach to enable rapid delivery | |
| - Shares research with other delivery teams within the client organisation and shows the need for close coordination between teams | |
| ### Knowledge | |
| Good understanding of user research quantitative and qualitative methodologies and is able to assess and explore how and when to apply different approaches. | |
| Has a range of quantitative and qualitative experience, and is competent with a range of methodologies. | |
| #### Examples of behaviour and responsibilities | |
| Below are examples of behaviours and responsibilities a person in this role might be expected to demonstrate. The list is provided for illustrative purposes only. | |
| - Understands how and when to apply different methodologies across the design cycle | |
| - Able to create appropriate, clear and compelling findings | |
| - Experience in how to deliver findings to reflect the needs of projects and clients to ensure strong outcomes | |
| - Experience working with other user-centred design disciplines and a growing understanding of how user research works cohesively with these disciplines | |
| - Understands how to apply basic techniques for analysis of research data and synthesis of findings. Knows how to involve their team in analysis and synthesis. Can present clear findings that colleagues can understand and use | |
| - Understanding of how to include and consider and involve traditionally marginalised and oppressed groups | |
| - Knowledge of how to conduct ethical and inclusive research with a desire to develop and grow understanding | |
| ### Business Skills | |
| - Demonstrates effective communication skills | |
| - Plans, schedules and monitors own work (and that of others where applicable) competently within limited deadlines and according to relevant legislation, standards and procedures | |
| - Contributes fully to the work of teams. Appreciates how own role relates to other roles and to the business of the employer or client. Demonstrates an analytical and systematic approach to issue resolution | |
| - Takes the initiative in identifying and negotiating appropriate personal development opportunities | |
| - Understands how own role impacts security and demonstrates routine security practice and knowledge required for own work | |
| #### Examples of behaviour and responsibilities | |
| Below are examples of behaviours and responsibilities a person in this role might be expected to demonstrate. The list is provided for illustrative purposes only. | |
| - Understands how and when to apply different methodologies across the design cycle | |
| - Demonstrates willingness and an ability to support leadership. Communicates well, both formally and informally and is proactively working to develop communication skills | |
| - Supports the development of user research at Made Tech | |
| - Represents Made Tech in the wider UCD community through writing or speaking | |
| - Trustworthy, acts with integrity, openness and impartiality when conducting and sharing user research | |