POSITION SUMMARY -
The Center for Applied Learning Science (CALS) at WGU develops habit-forming learning applications leading to educational attainment and life-long success. We learn how to help people learn. Leveraging advances in cognitive and behavioral sciences and emerging technology, the Center fosters innovation from idea through incubation, continuously improving student learning at WGU and beyond.
The UX Researcher knows how to connect with users and design truly lovable products. The successful candidate is passionate about delighting users while they achieve learning and organizational goals. The role works closely with stakeholders, researching and applying science-informed user testing strategies to evaluate ideas, designs, and existing products. They also push the boundaries of the field, seeking new and innovative ways to connect with users. The UX Researcher exhibits the highest level of expertise and knowledge in the design, testing, and advancement of quality user experiences.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES -
- Partners with internal and external product teams to evaluate ideas, concepts, and existing products; guides the teams in making critical design decisions affecting the user experience and product efficacy
- Conducts user research at multiple stages of the product design and development lifecycle; ensures designs are aligned with desired outcomes
- Develops a research approach and detailed plan for each project including qualitative and quantitative research methods
- Plans, moderates, and documents usability sessions to evaluate user needs, motivations, and behaviors
- Plans, authors, and distributes user surveys; analyzes survey results and product engagement / click stream data
- Clearly and timely communicates findings and recommendations to product teams, helping them balance organizational goals with user needs
- Helps product teams more deeply understand users, such as adult learners and under-served populations
- Helps product teams apply universal design and comply with ADA and other regulations
- Applies best-practice UX and UI design skills to create proof-of-concepts, mock-ups, and prototypes; wire-frames actionable designs and iterates designs based on efficacy and usability studies
- Rapidly produce multiple possible approaches for usability testing, AB testing and stakeholder presentations
- Collaborates with peers to apply and drive best-practice usability design
- Stays current with trends, tools, and research in UI/UX and user behavior
- Models leadership and professionalism
- Develops and maintains a collaborative relationship with all appropriate internal and external stakeholders
- Fulfills other duties as assigned
Required Skills
REQUIRED SKILLS
- 2+ years experience conducting remote moderated usability research
- 2+ years experience conducting quantitative user research
- Experience with usability research tools and methods including user centered design
- Comfortable interviewing and observing people in “think aloud” sessions and other tests, virtual and physical
- Ability to create presentations and reports that are visually pleasing, clearly written, and contain solid and actionable recommendations
- Ability to synthesize and distill information from several sources
- Creativity, problem solving and analytical ability, and critical thinking skills with the ability to make sound recommendations and decisions based on testing results and best practices
- Experience working directly with product design and development teams
- Strong project management skills and “hands on” tactical management of learning experience / product development, agile experience preferred
- Excellent written, oral, presentation, and interpersonal skills
- Experience with qualitative and quantitative primary research methods
- Comfortable analyzing data, systems and processes to drive future design improvements, direction and to quantify and validate design effectiveness
- Proficiency in design tools, such as Adobe XD and Photoshop, to rapidly create both low- and high-fidelity mock-ups and wire-frames
- Ability to work collaboratively and creatively in a fast-paced, agile environment
- Conceptual knowledge of web/software development
Strong attention to detail and a feeling of pride and ownership over the quality of the user experience
Required Experience
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE -
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in relevant field
- 2+ years of usability testing experience, both in-person and remote
- Heavy consideration given to candidates sharing a strong portfolio of wor