User Experience Researcher

User Experience Researcher

Role purpose:
To conduct UX and market research for the company's Digital & Marketing team.

• The responsible individual will need to handle day-to-day UX research activities including recruitment, planning and coordinating usability tests, observing and running tests, documenting insights, reporting, and presenting outcomes to stakeholders.
• The person will have to support the UX team by maintaining an up-to-date view of our users' digital habits, behaviors, and needs.
• The objective is to support the UX lead in achieving research goals.

Key accountabilities and decision ownership

• Conduct UX research.
• Design studies that address both user behavior and attitudes.
• Conduct research using a variety of qualitative methods and a subset of quantitative methods (i.e., surveys), interpreting analysis through the lens of UX, HCI (Human-Computer Interaction), and social science.
• Recruit participants and assist UX designers in running user testing studies.
• Generate insights that fuel ideation and evaluate designs.
• Research the latest visual design, UI and interaction concepts, presentation layer technologies, and digital best practices, providing recommendations for improvements.
• Conduct best practice research to develop and improve UI and interaction design to solve end-user problems effectively.
• Create sound recommendations after each stage of testing and ideation based on research and user observations.
• Research market, customers, and potential customers to maintain an up-to-date view of digital habits, behaviors, and user needs.
• Generate profiles to be used in the creation of empathy maps and personas.
• Work on multiple projects simultaneously, using strong communication skills to manage time and expectations appropriately.
• Work cross-functionally with UX designers and product management.
• Support our UX design lead on studies and assist in achieving research goals.
• Work with product leaders to prioritize research questions based on current knowledge, project goals, identified risks, and project impact.
• Identify the best method or mix of methods to address research questions, considering timeline and resources with minimal guidance.
• Advise the UX design team and product managers on research opportunities and best practices at all stages of an agile product development process.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships to make decisions based on a strong understanding of business, customer, and design trade-offs.
• Participate in team activities and planning to improve team skills, awareness, and quality of work.
• Present results from usability tests and other user research to project teams.
• Monitor statistics and analytics (such as Adobe Analytics) to better understand user behavior and improve user journeys.
• Actively work on improving user experience and engagement across all our sites and products.
• Evangelize good user experience, demonstrating measurable value to other team members and stakeholders, and encouraging a culture of UX.
• Foster a healthy tension between stakeholders, encouraging discussions that consider business needs, user needs, and feasibility.

Competencies:

• Comprehensive knowledge of various industry-centric qualitative research methods, such as semi-structured interviews, contextual inquiries, usability studies, diary ethnographic studies, unmoderated remote studies, paper prototyping, surveys, A/B testing, and card sorting.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and conduct research in close collaboration with people in various roles, including design, technology, and product management.
• Knowledge of quantitative behavioral analysis and statistical concepts.
• Experience with survey research (questionnaire design, sampling, analysis).
• Experience working in a collaborative team and directly with developers for the implementation of designs.
• Excellent communication (presentation and interpersonal skills).
• Understanding of qualitative analysis and reporting methods suitable for the fast pace of the industry; ability to quickly shift methodology and scope of research projects to meet short deadlines while collecting the best possible data and delivering actionable results.
• Experience in creating user testing scripts and leading testing sessions.
• Experience creating UX test protocols, specifications, and presentations.
• Good understanding of UX and UCD design principles.
• Experience working with Agile processes.

Must have technical/professional qualifications:
5 - 8 years' experience within a Design Research role.

Preferred Qualification:
Degree in the humanities: Psychology, Sociology, Politics, Anthropology, etc. A Commerce Degree is also welcome. A postgraduate qualification is an added bonus.

Preferred Certifications:
Usability Analyst Certification.

Technical/Professional Knowledge:
UX design, Research + testing, Market awareness, Concept presentation, Communication and negotiation, Report writing.

Behavioural Competencies:
Relationship Building, Decision Making, Critical Appraisal, Analytical Thinking, Persuading & Influence, Active Listening, Perseverance, good work ethic, and initiative.