Sr UX Researcher I

Elsevier • Full-time • Hybrid in Chicago, Illinois, United States • $104,800 - $174,700 / year • 4w ago

Fast Facts

Join our team as a Senior UX Researcher I in Chicago, IL, where you'll lead user research initiatives to enhance product designs and guide strategic decisions. You'll leverage your expertise in research methodologies to mentor junior researchers and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities: You will gather and evaluate customer use cases, mentor team members, present research findings, and work closely with designers to iterate and test solutions.

Skills: Expertise in UX research methodologies, experience with research software (like Qualtrics, Lookback), strong problem-solving skills, and effective communication abilities are required.

Qualifications: 6-8 years of relevant experience and a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a design-related field such as Psychology, UX, HCI, Product Design, or Graphic Design are preferred.

Location: This position is based in Chicago, IL and does not specify remote work options.

Compensation: $104800 - $174700 / Annually

Job Summary: A Senior UX Researcher I leads a team's understanding of user behaviours, needs and motivations. She/he leads the UX Research strategy for a business or product line. She/he is an expert user of a number of research and testing methodologies. She/he informally mentors other researchers.

Responsibilities:

Customer (or User) Focus

• Gathers, evaluates and has a solid understanding of customer use cases.

• Maintains close links with UX Designers, ensuring that user feedback and testing are fed into the design process.

• Aligns/coaches the team to ensure customer needs are met.

• Shares research findings with the organisation.

• Understands competitors and regulatory environment.

• Segments markets and understands needs of those sub-segments in greater detail.

Creative Problem Solving

• Identifies if we are addressing the right problem with a thorough analysis of the brief.

• Presents research learnings to stakeholders to guide future projects.

• Collaboratively analyses the results of research to recommend solutions.

• Independently identifies different research solutions.

• Works with designers to iterate and test solution.

• Considers the problem from a number of angles.

• Practices and facilitates reflection as part of the research process.

Product Design

• Leads the User-centred research process, mentoring juniors where needed.

• Applies a number of UX Research techniques.

• Creates research documentation and analysis outputs.

• Works with UX Designer to define structure and layout of the product.

• Works with Visual Designer to define the visual identity of products.

Data Driven Analysis & Testing

• Regularly tests design work with users in partnership with UX Design team.

• Proactively uses data to establish key metrics for projects.

• Iterates research methods based on testing and data analysis.

• Summarises data from analytics packages, customer insight or other sources to understand context of research work.

• Uses data to inform testing future strategy.

• Identifies gaps where data is needed and works with business to fill them.

Technical Skills

• Uses relevant tools for research analysis.

• Understands the nuances of researching in different contexts (remote / in person / unmoderated /moderated).

• Has an excellent knowledge of the tech stack of the organisation.

• Mentors junior researchers in technical skills.

• Uses research software (Qualtics, Lookback, Usertesting.com) to expert level.

• Builds good working relationships with tech teams

Competencies:

Personal Capability

Practices Self-Development

• Takes ownership of own development and career

• Initiates regular conversations with manager, coach or mentor regarding self-development

• Understands what is required by the business to be successful and maps development plan accordingly

• Learns from success and failures

• Looks to build challenges into current assignments

• Utilises formal and informal networks effectively

Solves Problems and Analyzes Issues

• Is able to ask effective questions and collect facts from multiple sources in order to solve problems

• Is able to effectively identify and analyze problems and propose solutions

• Effectively manages day-to-day issues and problems without intervention

Innovates

• Develops new ideas to improve process or product, and is able to prepare implementation plans

• Integrates and builds on new ideas from others

• Creates new opportunities by applying different perspectives and challenging the status -quo

• Is recognised as an innovative thinker

Interpersonal Skills

Communicates Powerfully and Prolifically

• Provides clear instructions and direction to others

• Is able to both actively listen to and effectively question to understand another’s viewpoint

• Helps others understand situations by communicating business context

Collaboration and Teamwork

• Encourages co-operation between all members of the team

• Seeks team members’ input and expertise; facilitates open and interactive discussion of matters affecting the team

• Helps people to resolve conflict

• Identifies and removes barriers to team performance

• Identifies ways for further collaboration across teams

Builds Relationships

• Establishes rapport with others on the team and across teams

• Works effectively with others to get work done

• Treats all individuals with respect

• Handles difficult situations, minimising conflict

Experience (US Only) and Education

Suggested Minimum Years of Experience: 6-8 years

Critical Experiences (Required for entry into this role):N/A

Education to Qualify: Bachelors or Masters degree in a design subject (Psychology, UX, HCI, Product Design, Design, Graphic Design, etc discipline) is preferred, but not required.

Primary Location Base Pay Range: Chicago, IL $104,800 - $174,700. This job is eligible for an annual incentive bonus.

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