Staff User Experience Researcher

Workiva Inc. • Ames, IA

1d • $129,000 - $210,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Staff User Experience (UX) Researcher is responsible for empowering product and user experience decision-makers with the insights to make data-driven decisions. This role will manage a research program for a tier of Workiva product teams or key opportunities. The Staff UX Researcher will also plan, conduct, analyze, and communicate results from qualitative, quantitative, and experimental studies that investigate users, their needs, motivations, and behaviors. The insights gleaned from these studies will inform Product Managers, User Experience Designers, and Software Engineers, enabling them to build and optimize innovative, user-friendly products.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5-7 years of professional experience conducting user research in a product development environment
• A strong portfolio demonstrating a range of research methodologies, data analysis techniques, and the tangible impact of research on product design and development
• Undergraduate degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Sociology, Anthropology, Design, Computer Science, or a related field
• Demonstrated expertise in designing, conducting, and analyzing mixed methods research studies, effectively integrating qualitative and quantitative data
• Proficiency in a variety of qualitative research methods (e.g., usability testing, contextual inquiry, interviews, focus groups) and quantitative research methods (e.g., surveys, data analytics) and associated tools
• Experience in developing and implementing data management strategies for UX research projects, including data cleaning, organization, and storage
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex research findings and recommendations clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences
• Outstanding interpersonal and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams

Nice To Haves

• Experience in the SaaS industry or a related technology domain
• Proven experience working as a UX Researcher within Agile development teams
• Experience in planning and conducting JTBD-focused research activities, including job interviews and the analysis of user stories
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to utilize statistical analysis techniques and software to interpret quantitative data
• Experience with SQL
• Familiarity with specific UX research tools (e.g., UserTesting, UserZoom)
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., QuickSights)
• Experience mentoring junior UX researchers
• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a relevant field
• Experience conducting global research studies

Responsibilities

• Drive strategy and execution of research across groups of product teams
• Partners with product leadership to ensure best practices of research and evidence backed decision making are followed
• Provides research leadership to set of products or opportunities of vital importance to Workiva strategy
• Mentors researchers and members of the user experience team
• Reviews research plans and offers consulting on best practices of research
• Provides leadership and ownership of the collection of analytics and communicating insights across multiple teams
• Coordinates research studies by, planning, collecting evidence, analyzing, and communicating insights across multiple teams as well as executives
• Collaborates with designers, product managers and engineers to discover and prioritize opportunities with new and existing products, in a fast paced, rapidly changing environment
• Enforces consistency in the development and management of research plans and scheduled for product teams by helping set best practices
• Leverages a broad range of research techniques to develop a deeper understanding of our customers, users and the ways they work
• Delegates tasks in collaboration with team management to distribute work effectively
• Leverages evaluation techniques to identify key usability needs, and to help refine previously implemented features
• Organizes, interprets and presents evidence clearly and serves as a point of contact for key decision makers
• Leads team members and key collaborators to explore new approaches that will provide optimal feedback
• Analyzes, synthesizes and communicates test/research results advocates for user centered product improvements
• Partners with leadership to inform and influence product strategy and tie business outcomes to reliable insights

Benefits

• A discretionary bonus typically paid annually
• Restricted Stock Units granted at time of hire
• 401(k) match and comprehensive employee benefits package

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree