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User Researcher

Salary : 30-35k + Benefits 

Status: Permanent /Full-time preferable (requests for part-time/flexible working arrangements are welcome)

The Energy Systems Catapult

Energy Systems Catapult is an independent research and technology organisation. Our mission is to accelerate Net Zero energy innovation.

Launched in 2015 by Innovate UK, the Catapult has built a team of more than 250 people, with a range of technical, engineering, consumer, commercial, incubation, digital and policy expertise. They draw on sector-leading test facilities, modelling tools, and data collected from our back catalogue of more than 500 research projects.

We use that ‘whole energy’ system capability to support innovative companies -- small and large – to test, trial and scale their new products and services. Our impact comes when those innovators attract new customers, new investment and new grants so they can thrive in the future energy system.

Based in Birmingham, Energy Systems Catapult is part of a network of nine, world-leading technology and innovation centres, established by Innovate UK. The Catapult Network fosters collaboration between industry, government, research organisations, academia, and many others to transform great ideas into valuable products and services.

Background to this Opportunity

At the end of every gas pipe and electricity wire, sits a consumer, paying the bill. We need to understand what they need from energy so we can create a low carbon system they will want. The Catapult’s Consumer Insight Team is here to help others design low carbon products and services people enjoy using, and policies people support. We work with businesses and government on some of the UK’s most exciting low carbon energy innovation projects.

You’ll be joining a wider team of seasoned user researchers and UX designers. We’re lucky enough to have deep consumer insight on how people use energy at home, collected over the last decade primarily for Government. We’ve been using this insight to help businesses bring new products and services to market, give Government the confidence to legislate for a net zero carbon target and investigate how to harness innovation to benefit the vulnerable. Find out more about our work at www.peoplelab.energy.

What makes us unique is our colleagues at the Catapult and the things they enable us to do. We use a Living Lab of smart homes to see beyond what people say to what they do and models to understand what their behaviour means for the rest of the energy system. Find out how we fit into the Energy Systems Catapult website here.

Building on recent successes we’re expanding the team and looking for a User Researcher to join us. Their role will be to work on a diverse range of research projects. They will need to be a highly motivated, curious and creative person who is passionate to represent the voice of the user via research with real customers and users. They will report to the team’s senior manager and work with every member of the team as well as other teams in the Catapult.

We are already working on projects making countless low carbon products useful to people. You’ll have heard of some (electric vehicles, heat pumps, solar panels), but probably not all (like energy management control systems). This person will be central to ensuring the team continues to help others design and deliver brilliant, consumer-centred low carbon products and services.

Key Deliverables and Activities

This role reports to the User Research Practice Manager. It has two main areas of responsibility.

1. Deliver great insights for our clients and partners

• Under supervision from the User Research Practice Manager or Senior User Researchers you will:
• Work with other user researchers/ux designers to scope and plan projects
• Create research materials and run unique experiments, research trials and conduct research to inform innovative products and services
• Develop relationships with stakeholders to understand their needs for each project
• Analyse qualitative and quantitative data to deliver valuable insights for the client
• Create and present creative and engaging deliverables to help client internalise their customer or user

     2. Conduct research operations and manage participants

• Conduct recruitment of target participants
• Conduct and draft informed consent
• Store, manage and organise data on a project by project basis
• Arrange participant payments and mange communications
• Contribute to Living Lab participant engagement activities including writing articles for the monthly newsletter and designing quizzes and surveys.

What credentials will you have ?

• An intuitive grasp of user research and strong understanding of research methods and techniques used in user centred product design are essential.
• Experience of designing and running research studies with participants
• Ability to meet and manage the expectations of participants in complex studies.
• A practical understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Capable of producing creative materials to test assumptions about a product or service.
• Ability to interpret design research to inform, develop and recommend new design ideas or concepts.
• Ability to communicate user research findings to key stakeholders.
• Willingness to communicate and engage key stakeholders across the business to evangelise a user centred design approach.
• Strong numerical, written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Able to multi-task and manage time effectively.
• A keen interest in new technology and products or emerging markets (e.g. start-ups).
• Team player with a can-do attitude and collaborative, engaging style.
• Possess a bachelor’s or higher degree in a relevant discipline, or have relevant work experience

Would you like to Apply?

The closing date for applications is Sunday 19th May 2024.  

Please note that at this time we are unable to provide UK visa sponsorship.

We welcome applications from all, including those who may be returning to work, those wishing to work flexibly for any reason, and those who may need additional support.

Energy Systems Catapult undertakes innovative and exciting work that will help shape the future of energy, with this in mind we encourage candidates to submit their applications as early as possible, as we do reserve the right to remove this advert or close it to further applications at any point during the recruitment process.

(Strictly No Agencies).

"We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, sex, disability, religion and belief, sexual orientation, or status regarding gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity."

Privacy Statement

Purpose of the Privacy Statement

The purpose of this Privacy Statement is to make you aware of how and why your personal data will be used during any recruitment process and how long it will usually be retained for.  This statement provides you with certain information that must be provided under the General Data Protection Regulation ((EU) 2016/679) (GDPR).

In the recruitment process we, Energy Systems Catapult Limited, are a “Data Controller”. This means that we are responsible for deciding how we hold and use personal data about you.

The Energy Systems Catapult Limited is located at Cannon House 7th Floor, 18 Priory Queensway, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, B4 6BS and can be contacted by email at: dataprotectionoffice@es.catapult.org.uk. 

Data Protection Principles

We will comply with data protection law and principles, which means that your data will be:

Used lawfully, fairly and in a transparent way;
Collected only for valid purposes that we have clearly explained to you and not used in any way that is incompatible with those purposes;
Relevant to the purposes we have told you about and limited only to those purposes;
Accurate and kept up to date;
Kept only as long as necessary for the purposes we have told you about;
Kept securely. 

The Kind of Personal Data we hold about you

In connection with your application for work with us, we will collect, store and use the following categories of personal information about you:

The information you have provided in our application form;
The information you have provided to us in your curriculum vitae and covering letter;
Any information you provide to us during an interview;
Any other information provided by you as part of the recruitment process. 
We may ask you for information to allow us to monitor our equal opportunities and diversity performance in recruitment. Also, if you inform us that you have a disability we will keep this information on record to allow us to make reasonable adjustments as needed. 

How we will use your Personal Data

We will use the personal data we collect about you to:

Assess your skills, qualifications and suitability for the role;
Carry out background and reference checks, where applicable;
Communicate with you about the recruitment process;
Keep records relating to our hiring processes;
Manage recruitment related activities, which includes setting up and conducting interviews and tests for applicants, evaluating and assessing the results thereto, and as is otherwise needed in the recruitment and hiring processes;
Comply with legal or regulatory requirements.
We will also use information about any disability you may have to consider whether we need to provide appropriate adjustments during the recruitment process.

Such processing is lawful as it is necessary for our legitimate purpose in seeking to attract, evaluate, and select applicants for employment. 

Data Sharing: Greenhouse Software Inc

Your personal data will be shared with Greenhouse Software, Inc., a cloud services provider located in the United States of America and engaged by us to help manage our recruitment and hiring process. Accordingly, if you are located outside of the United States, your personal data will be transferred to the United States once you submit it through this site. This transfer will be subject to appropriate additional safeguards under the Privacy Shield so as to comply with EU law. 

Data Retention

We will retain your personal data for a period of 12 months after we have communicated to you our decision about whether to appoint you to the role. We retain your personal data for that period so that we can show, in the event of a legal claim, that we have not discriminated against candidates on prohibited grounds and that we have conducted the recruitment exercise in a fair and transparent way. After this period, we will securely destroy your personal data in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. 

Your Rights in Connection with Personal Data

Under the GDPR you have the right to request access to your personal data, to request that your personal data be rectified or erased, and to request that processing of your personal data be restricted or transferred.

When you apply for this role, and tick the confirmation box below, you have provided consent for us to process your personal data for the purpose of the recruitment exercise. You have the right to withdraw your consent for processing for that purpose at any time. Withdrawal of consent to process your data may mean that we cannot continue with your application to us.

If you wish to exercise the rights granted to you under GDPR please contact: dataprotectionoffice@es.catapult.org.uk.