Senior User Experience Researcher (Short-term) - New

Department: Promotion & Design Services Group

SUMMARY

The Senior User Experience Researcher is a short-term role that supports the global user research and testing activity of The First Church of Christ Scientist TFCCS and of the Christian Science Publishing Society CSPS.

This position is part of a collaborative user research and testing service within the Promotion & Design Services Group P&DSG. P&DSG is a service-based organization that shapes and guides from a metaphysical foundation the promotion and extension of products services and events that constitute the healing and saving resources of The Mother Church. The Group shapes supports and shepherds promotional activities ensuring an inspired and healing voice and message for each product and need. The user research and testing service operates as a center of excellence CoE to maintain appropriate quality and consistency across the organization. P&DSG collaborates with client departments to develop and implement the overall user research and testing vision of the publications products communications marketing and promotional materials of TFCCS and CSPS.

Under the direction of the User Experience Manager the incumbent carries out all functions of this position in alignment with the organizations vision and mission and the departments principles.

User Experience supports client departments and Product Owners in their goal to provide a frictionless content and product experience to customers that will result in sustained engagement. Research prototyping and testing inform the content strategy and the design of digital products and/or services that meet customer needs and fulfill their unique missions. Understanding the customer experience is the first step in removing barriers to discoverability access and engagement. To support this strategy we provide User Experience design research and testing at the Customer Research Experience Ideation Product Design and User Testing level.

This position represents the Senior User Experience Researcher who may participate in agile product development as a cross-functional team CFT member or subject matter expert SME as assigned. CFTs are structured and empowered to organize and manage their own work in such a way as to complete the priorities established by the Product Owner with quality ensured by the Design CoE. CFT work may include but is not limited to conducting user research user testing analysis of research and test results and recommendations that drive development and improvement of customer/user experience for digital products websites print publications and materials promotional materials events etc. There is also an opportunity to participate in developing user experience design solutions.

This position also implements user research and testing projects independently and in collaboration with P&DSG management P&DSG staff client department management and client department staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

For all client department work:

• Work collaboratively with client departments under the direction of the User Experience Manager to understand coordinate and support user research and testing needs
• Participate in a continuous agile product development framework
• Attend CFT events and client department meeting as needed
• Collaborate with other team members
• Self-organize and manage work
• Use independent judgment to make design and service decisions
• Develop user research and testing plans
• Participate in customer interviews and user tests
• Share progress with stakeholders on a regular basis
• Provide user experience design opportunities in response to research and testing findings such as developing user flows information architecture wire frames and page layouts.

Planning conducting and analyzing and presenting user research and testing:

• Under the direction of the User Experience Manager act as a member or Subject Matter Expert for CFTs and for client departments
• Work with CFTs and client departments to design quantitative and qualitative research approaches and test plans
• Collaborate with team members involved in analytics A/B testing and other quantitative research.
• Determine the appropriate level method and timing of research and testing
• Participate in and conduct user testing for CFTs and client departments where needed
• Document findings from user research
• Provide analytical insight and support for user testing activity
• Translate research and test findings into actionable recommendations
• Assess the effectiveness of research and testing
• Strong comprehension of the strengths and limitations of the different research methods inclusive of when and how to apply each
• Explain research and testing methodology concepts and findings to clients and to other collaborating personnel in a clear simple and relatable manner.

User research and testing operations:

• Work with CFTs and client departments to identify and recruit the appropriate target audience for a study;
• Coordinate with CFTs and client departments when needed to schedule user research testing; act as a backup to user testing schedulers on CFTs and for client departments.
• Develop testing templates and guides for CFTs to utilize which includes maintaining documents within a library of resources.
• Develop framework for evaluating whether and what level of research and testing is necessary.
• Develop pool of testers for CFTs and for client departments.
• Mentor team members so they are able to contribute effectively on user research and testing.
• Suggest improvements to operations.

Advancing user research and testing practice and excellence under the direction of the User Experience Manager:

• Evaluate and implement tools to optimize the user testing experience
• Coordinate with the CFTs client departments CCC and PMO to ensure proper standards are adopted on an organization-wide level
• Develop and disseminate user testing best practices across the matrix of CFTs and client departments
• Collaborate with the User Experience Manager to develop and maintain the User Research Center of Excellence
• Suggest improvements to the User Research Center of Excellence.

STAFF MANAGEMENT AND JOB CONTACTS

Reporting Relationships

Supervision: Reports to User Experience Manager
Supervises: None

Regular contacts

This position regularly interacts with:

• P&DSG staff
• Christian Science Publishing Society product owners and staff
• other managers and staff of various Church departments
• outside vendors and developers

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education/Experience

Bachelors degree in related field or equivalent experience. Supplemental learning via recognized UX programs and/or conferences. Minimum of 4 plus years experience. Familiarity with the principles of Agile product development is strongly preferred.

Knowledge/Skills

The incumbent must possess the fundamental concepts practices and procedures of user experience as related to user research and user testing. Proficiency in planning conducting and analyzing user research and test results and knowledge of customer interview and testing techniques are required such as:

• Strong knowledge of user research and testing methods such as listening sessions usability testing surveys diary studies card sorting etc.
• Strong oral communication skills: interviewing questioning presenting.
• Strong written communication skills writing plans and testing results and trends
• Experience creating usability test plans and running large and small tests
• Accurate measurement and precise reporting of usability data
• Excellent collaboration skills and experience teaming with designers to help prepare designs for testing

The incumbent must use independent judgment to make decisions both inside and outside normal work scope. The incumbent must have a demonstrated desire to work as a collaborative member of a team. The incumbent must be a self-starter with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines. The ability to astutely implement client and manager direction in a humble manner is essential. Solid communication skills are essential.

Technology Skills

• Working knowledge and proficiency with user research and testing tools and platforms such as Zoom Airtable and similar platforms
• Working knowledge of Google Drive Dropbox Slack and Trello are strongly preferred
• Collaboration: G Suite Zoom Slack Trello Jira Kanban Tool Dropbox FigJam

Client & Team Skills

• Strong oral and written communication skills. Client and team interfacing ability with confidence
• Strong interpersonal skills and effective relation building capacity with clients team and manager
• Strong project management skills and organizational skills.
• Strong creative and innovative skills
• Ability to use strong analytical and design skills to solve complex issues and support team success and continuous improvement
• Must be detail oriented and well organized

Metaphysical

• Regularly pray to witness the demonstration of a unified expression of Church and work in obedience to the Golden Rule.

Work Environment

• Preference for onsite work in Boston but may possibly work remotely with periodic visits to the Boston office as needed.

Engagement with Christian Science

• Membership in The Mother Church and Primary Class instruction strongly preferred
  
  

In compliance with federal law all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

Required Experience:

Senior IC