User Experience Researcher

Understood’s mission is to make a positive difference for the 1 in 5 individuals in the United States with learning and attention issues, including dyslexia, ADHD and more.   We’re building the next generation of digital platforms for these 70 Million+ people in the U.S. who learn differently. We believe they have the potential, and right, to lead a fulfilling life. Understood’s leadership and focus on impact have created a unique opportunity to work at a non-profit and experience the culture and challenges to rival any for-profit, tech enabled company in NYC. Because we are privately funded, it allows us to spend our efforts prioritizing our resources towards problem solving. It’s a great time to join our cause, grow your career and have a real impact on people’s lives!

 

About the Position

Understood currently serves parents of children with learning and attention issues through resources on our website Understood,org, social platforms, email and more. We are expanding our reach to educators, young adults and employers - with platforms best suited to reach to each audience. UX research will be key to doing this successfully.

Main responsibilities for the UX researcher include:  Identification of user needs and goals, task and workflow modeling as well as unmoderated usability testing and research, formal, in-depth testing, and can provide recommendations for improvement.

In addition:

• Work with project business representatives and team members to test business requirements as well as process websites flow using heuristic/qualitative methods
• Determine user needs by conducting task-focused analyses.
• Coordinate, conduct and moderate research
• Engage with project teams to determine needs and the best way to test for those needs, create test plans, run the testing (moderating), analyze
• Develop and prioritize recommendations on basis of evidenced-based findings.
• Present the results to clients (designers, strategists, managers)
• Work closely with user experience lead to maximize institutionalization of user-experience research throughout organization.

You’re comfortable setting up a study according to certain research objectives or help identify problems that need solving. The results of this research is then put into action by the UX designer.

In a nutshell, you ask questions. You take notes. You learn everything you can about the target audience and are able to empathize with their struggles. You iteratively test your work throughout the design process in close collaboration with the UX designers and Product team.

Requirements

• 2-4 years’ experience in a research role at a consumer-focused company. Extra points for experience in:
• B2C (parents + young adults)
• B2B (educators + employers)
• Broad experience of qualitative + quantitative research methods, as well as a range of research tools and platforms (surveys, interviews, usability tests, competitive analysis, concept testing and cognitive walkthroughs)
• Able to observe, analyze, question, synthesize, conceptualize and communicate insights
• Equal parts excellent listener, writer and storyteller
• Enjoy collaborative work with cross-functional teams in a strategy-driven and creative environment

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proven track record of contributing to and informing new products and features that helped your company grow and/or had positive impact on your users
• Ability to work with a team, accomplishing related results as needed.
• A thorough familiarity with Agile software development methodologies.
• A strong desire to work hard in a small, fast-growing organization doing whatever it takes to move organizational priorities forward.
• Proficiency in Excel
• Usability study software like UserTesting
• Statistical research software like SPSS or JMP
• Belief in the potential of the 1 in 5; alignment with Understood’s mission.
  
  

For additional information on learning and attention issues, including ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, executive functioning issues, nonverbal learning disabilities, processing issues and more, please visit www.understood.org.