About the job

Job summary

At the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), we encourage applications from everyone, particularly groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. We pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has and promote inclusivity and equality of opportunity for all. Our recruitment process is anonymised, which means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel.  

Do you love to go the extra mile to ensure you give the best service?

Have you got excellent interpersonal skills and are confident to communicate at all levels?

Are you someone who loves to analyse information?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

Job description

This is an exciting and fantastic opportunity as you will play an important part of our organisation, working to develop an understanding of customer views of our service delivery. You will help senior leaders and service designers at DVLA understand what our customers expect from our services, how satisfied they are with them and what can be done to improve them from a customer viewpoint.

If successful, you will work closely with your team to generate the insight and feedback that is provided to our service teams. Supporting them to build a clear picture of their users, delivering User Centre Design (UCD) of DVLA’s services.

You will deliver a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods, revealing actionable customer insights and establishing user needs. Acting as a persuasive advocate for user needs and conducting research, ensuring that our services are simple and accessible to all of our user groups.

This is a fast paced and varied but rewarding role. DVLA is recognised as a ‘Centre of Digital Excellence’ and you will be joining a community that actively shares knowledge and ideas and will be provided with ongoing support and mentoring to develop you as a User Researcher.

Please note: If successful, you will be placed into either the Quantitative or Qualitative Research team which will be determined by the evidence you provide throughout this selection experience.

Responsibilities 

Your responsibilities will include but are not limited to: 

• Conducting user research to gain a clear understanding of who our users are and their needs.
• Planning, designing, and delivering qualitative research in the UX Lab at DVLA, around the UK and remotely via online qualitative research solutions.
• Critically analysing and interpreting raw research data to generate actionable user insights to improve customer experience.
• Communicating research findings and user insights to wider team and research clients via discussion, written research reports and formal presentations.

For more information about the role please see the attached role profile.

Additional Information

This role will be based in Swansea, and we will be operating a hybrid working model that allows you to work between home and on-site giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work, subject to business needs and this also allows for ongoing support, development, and collaboration with colleagues.  

Therefore, the expectation is that you will spend a minimum of 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace (DVLA). We would encourage you to discuss the working arrangements for this role with us during the recruitment process. 

You may be required to frequently travel within the UK, which may require overnight stays, however you will be notified in advance.

Applications will be accepted from full time/part time/job sharers. Full time roles at DVLA consist of 37 hours per week. Part time and/or flexible working may also be available subject to the needs of the business. If you have a flexible or part time working requirement, you should contact the vacancy holder in advance of making an application to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your desired working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role. To contact the vacancy holder, please use the job contact details listed under ‘Contact point for applicants’. 

Person specification

• You will need to be a natural communicator, being able to use your excellent interpersonal skills to engage with stakeholders on a regular basis and build strong working relationships.
• You will have experience of providing guidance and robust conclusions or recommendations to clients, where your outstanding communication skills will enable you to influence and challenge at all levels.
• Using your excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, you are comfortable working with data, being able to analyse, extract and interpret information.
• You will confidently be able to present findings in a clear and effective manner to a range of stakeholders.
• You will have a natural curiosity to help you understand and convey customer/user opinion and needs.
• Being able to work autonomously, you are exceptionally well organised and take a flexible approach to your work, effectively managing and prioritising a busy workload to meet tight deadlines.
• With a keen willingness to learn, you are a driven, motivated and detail-focused individual who strives for quality outcomes in everything you do.
• You are someone who is passionate about delivering great customer service and understanding user needs.

You must also be willing to work towards the following if successful: 

• Certification in a UX/User Research or related field.
• Member of MRS/UXPA/AQR or similar organisation Market Research Society (MRS) certification – level 2.
• Market Research Society accredited qualification in Market and Social Research (or to achieve within 12 months).

We strive to ensure that DVLA is a great place to work where everybody can be their true self, be treated with dignity and respect, and according to their individual needs. We have a number of staff network groups run by staff to support their colleagues. 

Due to the evolving nature of the business, vacancies can become available at any time. Therefore, this campaign may create a reserve list to fulfil demand if it arises which will be held for a period of 12 months. 

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. 

• Best in class learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
• Generous average employer contribution of 27%, depending on rate of salary and chosen pension scheme.
• 25 days holiday, increasing by one day each year up to 30 days pro rata.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.

There are many more opportunities and great benefits of working at DVLA, visit our Careers website for further information.   

 

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply 

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement of up to 1000 words. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

From your CV and personal statement, we need to understand how your skills and experience meet all the essential criteria for this role. You can use any part of your life to demonstrate your skills and experience, but it must be relevant to the role. You can refer to your work experience, education, hobbies, or interests. 

You can decide the best way to structure your personal statement. You may choose to address each of the essential criteria on their own. Or you can give one example that covers all the essential criteria we are looking for. Click here for further guidance on submitting your CV and personal statement. 

It is essential when submitting your personal statement that you provide as much detail as possible, within the word count, against the essential criteria outlined below as this will be used in conjunction with your CV to assess candidate suitability to move to the next round in the recruitment process. 

For your CV and personal statement, please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following essential criteria: 

• Experience in analysing and interpreting data.
• Confidently presenting strong recommendations to stakeholders and any challenges you may have faced.
• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to meet a common objective, whilst continuously building strong working relationships and managing expectations.

The sift is due to take place from Monday 4th March 2024.

Interviews will be held from Monday 25th March 2024.

This interview will be conducted on site at DVLA, Swansea. Further details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview. 

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. 

If invited to interview, this may consist of a range of question types. These could include questions around behaviours and how you would respond in any situation as well as specific examples of things you have done. 

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include: 

•              An interview and research analysis exercise.

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.  

In the event that you are unsuccessful (for this campaign), your application may be considered for a lower graded position, if your demonstrated skills and experience meet the requirements of the alternative position. This approach, if used, will be again done so based on the availability of roles and candidates will again be considered in order of merit. 

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website. 

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.