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