UX Researcher

Job ID: CT-CTDS UX Researcher (Phase 2 v3) (910090704)Remote UX Researcher with testing, ethnographic research, Agile, user-centered design experienceLocation: Hartford CT (Connecticut Digital Service)Duration: 12 monthsKnowledge, Skills and AbilityUX Research & TestingAbility to share research results quickly and effectivelyAbility to perform all research-related tasks including research, planning, evaluating, and iterationAbility to formulate specific, answerable, and practical questionsAbility to collaborate effectively with stakeholders and act as a strategic partner in product decisionsExperience with remote testing toolsA strong desire for creative problem-solving with a positive attitudeExcellent time-management skillsKnowledge of best practices for user experience research and testingWillingness to participate ethnographic research and interviewsPerformance in Complex SituationsAbility to distill complex concepts into simple ideasExceptional verbal and written communication skillsDemonstrated ability to meet deadlines, handle and prioritize simultaneous requests, and manage laterally and upwardsComfort in blazing a path through an ambiguous work environmentPrioritization, organization, and triage in an independent environmentUnderstanding of the Agile development processTeam PlayerSupporting teammates’ skills and behaviors development and deliveryCommunication and collaboration with state-wide partnersCreative and analytical thinking with strong problem-solving skillsJudgement in dealing effectively and diplomatically with government staffAbility to maintain strict confidentialityPreferred Skills & QualificationsOther Desirable SkillsA bachelor’s degree or higher in graphic design, marketing, communications, or related field2 years professional experience in design, communications, management, or testing1 year of user-centered design1 year of user research and analyticsAbout the RoleThe UX Researcher will support the mission by work with CTDS product designers and product managers throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from identifying foundational user needs during the discovery phase to measuring impact on the user after a product or feature has launched. The UX Researcher will serve as a voice for the user, utilizing broad skills in both qualitative and quantitative research to facilitate a user-centered design process.In addition, you will help scale user research at the State of Connecticut by joining a team of user researchers within a growing tech and design space. You and your team will become trusted and work with a diverse set of state partners to understand, improve, and test varied government products and designs. The candidate should also have experience working in an Agile environment.Experiences Required for This RoleUX Research – At least 3 years of experience and use cases with the following:Conduct primary and secondary user researchConduct and evaluate quantitative and qualitative researchPerform market and ethnographic researchWork closely with cross-functional teams to identify and evaluate research topicsPlan and implement user research strategies and methodologiesAdvocate research findings to diverse audiences through written and oral presentationsMentor and coach junior UX researchers on the teamPerform usability studies with consumersAsk questions, gather data, and analyze dataUse a diverse set of UX research toolsUser Acceptance Testing – At least 3 years of experience and use cases with the following:Building and running tests (ideally automated) to confirm the service or product meets user and stakeholder needsHelping to discover problems while the service is being developed, not once it is liveChecking the operating environment to make sure test results are validHelping increase user and agency confidence in future service or product deliveryHelping reduce the risk of reputational damageRecruiting and leading testing groupsRunning research sessions with usersUnderstanding accessibility issues and engage with team to build with equalityDigital Platforms, Tools, & Discipline – At least 3 years of experience and use cases with the following:Working with enterprise scale digital platforms and productsUsing of productivity and analysis tools to manage iterative delivery, such as JIRA, Google Analytics, Git Repository, MS Teams, ConfluencePerformance in Complex Situations – At least 3 years of experience and user cases with the following:Communication and collaboration with state-wide partnersEncouraging of an interactive, cooperative, collaborative, and customer-focused work environmentComfort in blazing a path through an ambiguous work environmentJudgement fitting to the ever-changing environmentGovernment-specific task managementCTE-RTR.doc