User ExperienceResearcher

User Experience Researcher

Remote

We are seeking a User Experience (UX) Researcher who is passionate about leading and applying a user-centered approach to product development, with a focus on research. Research insights are the foundation for solutions that ensure student learning. The UX Researcher will help guide product teams to build research-based solutions across print, web, and mobile K 12 curriculum experiences through collaboration with UX Design and Strategy, Product Design, Academic Design, Content Strategy, and Product Management teams. A Continuous Discovery framework is the basis for this approach.

This UX Researcher will be expected to:

• Embody curiosity and champion the voice of the user. Educate and communicate with teams and individuals about the power of user research.
• Align research to strategy and understand how to frame research plans that drive confident decision-making.
• Help teams through the process of developing clear hypotheses and then propose appropriate methods for research and synthesis.
• Build presentations, lead discussions, and facilitate synthesis workshops for different stakeholders throughout the organization focused on results and actionable recommendations from research studies.
• Collaborate with UX Strategists and Designers and/or Product teams to translate user needs into tangible solutions.
• Triangulate and collaborate with product analytics and market research.
• Support our Research Operations effort by helping to build and maintain processes for recruiting participants, scheduling participants, paying participant incentives, and tracking.
• Consistently deliver on commitments and proactively communicate when competing priorities or unexpected events put a deadline in jeopardy.
• Deliver user research findings to the McGraw Hill Research Repository and support connections to the work with cross-functional teams.
• Motivate and manage yourself and your team members; possess a high degree of analytical ability and intellectual curiosity.
• Embody the work ethic and personality that thrives in a fast-paced culture with tight deadlines, shifting priorities and cross-functional teams.
• Develop knowledge of competition and complimentary products, relevant to role.

What it takes:

• Experience with research methodologies including user interviews, direct observation, ethnography, contextual inquiry, usability studies, etc.- knowledge about the appropriate method for different problems.
• Excellent communication skills. Someone who can help lead complex discussions, research sessions and workshops, and present feedback.
• Ability to define and use metrics to track qualitative data with tools like Excel and Lucidchart.
• Experience with synthesis methodologies including affinity diagrams, experience maps, and opportunity solution trees.
• Understanding of common product development and project management practices.
• Strong project management skills to effectively help organize and manage multiple projects with multiple stakeholders at any given time.
• 2+ years of work experience defining and executing User Experience Research activities as a member of a product/application development team.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically up to 20%

What makes you stand out:

• A portfolio of work that demonstrates strong understanding of research processes and storytelling abilities.
• Experience in the education industry.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate across functional areas.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize research and prototypes to provide insights ahead of production/software builds.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Sociology, Human Computer Interaction, Data Science, Behavior Science, Market Research, or related discipline.