Senior User Experience Researcher (Location Flexible)
Company: Year Up
Location: Jersey City
Posted on: June 16, 2022
Job Description:
OVERVIEW:The Senior User Experience Researcher at Year Up is
responsible for leading, crafting, and executing research to
support the digital experience branch of the organization. This
person will be an instrumental voice as one of the leaders helping
steer Year Up's as it continues its' business transformation,
aiming to scale from supporting 4,000 young adults to 40,000. They
will work with senior leaders, User Experience Designers, and
Digital Product Managers to define and determine research
objectives and priorities that support the organization's digital
product goals and strategies. This includes identifying problems
across products and enterprise portfolios, investigating the
underlying reasons these problems and areas of opportunity exist
and influencing the organization to continue with solving for the
most impactful problems or opportunities. The Senior User Research
will guide product owners, designers, and cross-functional
stakeholders in refining their questions and assumptions into clear
research goals. They will possess expertise in diagnosing the right
research methodology, preparing the research study, conducting the
research, and analyzing and communicating its outcomes.To be
successful in this role, you must be an effective storyteller and
communicator tailored to differing audiences. You build strong
relationships and influence across the organization founded on
mutual respect and transparency. You are a self-starter yet thrive
in a collaborative environment, working across teams to achieve the
best outcome. A deep understanding of the customer and key
audiences motivates you. You use research and psychology-based
tools and techniques to solve a variety of challenges and scenarios
throughout a digital product's lifecycle. You analyze and
synthesize insights from metrics and user research to inform the
direction and growth of digital products at Year Up, working
closely with the Directors of Enterprise Experience Design and the
Directors of Enterprise Digital Portfolios.The Senior User
Experience Researcher will also have the opportunity to interact
with students as a mentor, group facilitator, and advocate,
participating in building a positive educational environment.We are
open to candidates living in any of the states in which Year Up
operates https://www.yearup.org/locationsKEY
RESPONSIBILITIES:Research
- Identify through generative research top problems and
opportunities in which to solve for, voicing these findings to
senior leaders and driving focus on those that have the greatest
impact for the organization
- Lead user research, through studies, interviews, panels, and
surveys; communicate findings, insights, and strategic
prioritization recommendations to executives, senior leaders and
cross-functional partners and leadership in an effective
manner
- Use a variety of qualitative and quantitative analysis
techniques to continually optimize digital experience; Analyze data
and feedback to inform critical product decisions
- Conduct competitive market research and competitive audits
- Research new technologies, new services, and new tools to
continually inform the digital product roadmap, build efficiencies,
and expand offerings
- Develop both short-term and long-term research plans to support
the goals and strategy of the organizationTeamwork and Leadership
- Effective interpersonal, communication and collaboration
skills
- Collaborate with teammates in product management, design, and
IT on identifying what problems and when to research and test
- Communicate with multiple levels of the organization, leading
through influence
- Educate cross-functional teams on quality research and scale
community knowledge around research methods and practices
- Coach and mentor Experience Designers and Product Managers in
the craft of user research, often pairing with them to complete
research efforts for their products and portfolios
- Leverage experience for all stages of the product development
lifecycle, working embedded in Agile product development teams
- Create and manage a clear and effective research calendar and
research backlog, balancing priorities with assistance from the
Senior Director of Enterprise Experience Design, as needed
- Other duties as assignedSite Team/Learning Community Member
- Serve as a coach/mentor for a small number of current
students
- Join and sometimes facilitate weekly group sessions with
studentsQUALIFICATIONS:
- 3-5 years in user research for digital products or other
relevant work experience
- Experience leading strategic user research and establishing a
user research function
- Expert in generative research methods
- Experience with Optimal Workshop (or similar user research
platform)
- Excellent data analysis and storytelling skills
- Strong skills in presentation, communication and senior
leadership engagements, including the ability to work effectively
in a matrix organization
- Commitment to diversity and inclusion
- A passion for working with young adults, an unshakable belief
in their potential and a strong commitment to the mission of Year
UpCOMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
- Salary: Competitive and commensurate with relevant experience
and skills.
- Benefits: Comprehensive healthcare options and dental coverage;
401(k) match for eligible participants.
- Vacation: Earn three weeks paid vacation in first year of
employment; four weeks after initial year.
- Professional Development: Funds available to support staff in
achieving career objectives ($2,500 per year)** This is an exempt
role (paid on a salaried basis). **ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:Year Up
is a national 501(c)3 workforce development organization committed
to ensuring equitable access to economic opportunity, education,
and justice for all young adults-no matter their background,
income, or zip code. Employers face a growing need for talent while
millions of talented young adults lack access to meaningful
careers. These inequities only further perpetuate the opportunity
gap that exists in our country-a gap that Year Up is determined and
positioned to close through three interconnected strategies:
providing targeted skills training and connections to livable-wage
employment for students and alumni; empowering others to serve and
support young adults, and changing systems that perpetuate the
opportunity gap. Year Up's intensive training program utilizes a
high expectations, high support model where students learn
in-demand technical and professional skills and apply them during a
corporate internship. Year Up has directly served more than 35,000
young adults since its founding in 2000. Year Up's nationwide
presence includes Arizona, Bay Area, Charlotte, Chicago,
Dallas/Fort Worth, Greater Atlanta, Greater Boston, Greater
Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, the National Capital
Region, New York City/Jersey City, Pittsburgh, Puget Sound, Rhode
Island, South Florida, Tampa Bay, and Wilmington.Voted one of the
Best Nonprofits to Work For in the country by The NonProfit Times,
Year Up is a rewarding and impactful place to work. Our staff is
passionate, supportive, mission-driven, and committed to positive
change and continuous learning. We set high standards for both
ourselves and our students and live by a set of core values that
reflect an unshakable belief in the talent and potential of our
young people. The work we do is life-changing, and we know that our
team is the greatest asset in achieving our mission.COMMITMENT TO
DIVERSITY:Year Up actively engages individuals from all
backgrounds. We are committed to embracing diversity within our
organization because we firmly believe that diverse employee teams
help us to achieve our best organizational outcomes and provide the
most effective support to our young adults as we work to close the
Opportunity Divide. We are deeply dedicated to creating and
maintaining an inclusive and supportive work environment. Learn
more about our commitment to diversity:
http://www.yearup.org/about-us/careers/commitment-to-diversity/As
an equal opportunity employer, Year Up is committed to providing
employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex,
gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation,
national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status,
pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics,
or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.TO APPLY:Please
submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume through our
website.Note that applications without a cover letter will not be
considered. We respectfully request no phone calls.COVID-19
UPDATE:To ensure the safety of our young adults, staff, and
families as we return to in-person work, Year Up requires that all
staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 2, 2022,
unless someone qualifies for an exception. The vaccination deadline
for our Seattle staff is November 1, 2021. Subject to reasonable
accommodations for individuals with medical conditions or sincerely
held religious beliefs that prevent them from being vaccinated.
Face masks and physical distancing are also required in Year Up
spaces.
Keywords: Year Up, Jersey City , Senior User Experience Researcher (Location Flexible), Other , Jersey City, New Jersey
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