We’re Hiring – UX Researcher

Candidates are invited to apply for the position of User Experience Researcher. Working alongside researchers, learning designers, UX designers & developers you will drive a customer and user centred approach to design, delivering research and insights. The post holder will be required to help carry out research in the designated area including undertaking user research and product reviews, analysing data (qualitative and quantitative), and writing up the results (as part of a research team).

This role is best suited to candidates who are passionate, curious, and questioning about ongoing User Experience Design research.

Post Title:User Experience Researcher
Post Status:Specific purpose contract, 3 years, full-time Learnovate Centre,
Department/Faculty:Learnovate Centre, School of Computer Science and Statistics,

Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin

Location:Unit 28 Trinity Technology and Enterprise Centre,

Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland

Reports to:Learnovate Centre Director
Salary:Appointment will be made on the IUA researcher salary scale at a point in line with Government Pay Policy
Hours of Work:37 Hours per Week
Closing Date:22nd of June 2018

Standard Duties and Responsibilities of the Post

  • Reporting to his/her Principal Investigator, the Researcher will develop the UX components of research and customer-focused projects
  • Support the PI and research group in the design, development and implementation of the research programme
  • Engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which he/she is engaged to the wider research community and in particular to Industry Partners
  • Prepare and write articles, blogs, whitepapers to support the work of the Learnovate Centre
  • Participate in Learnovate Centre activities, such as industry showcases and annual reviews

Technical Skills:

  • Create wireframes, lo-fi prototypes and detailed design mock-ups
  • The development of user flows.

User Experience:

  • Understand the user behaviours of target audiences to identify and design appropriate UX and UI solutions
  • Assessing existing products for UXD strengths and weaknesses
  • Design and deliver user experience workshops to achieve focused objectives
  • Conduct user research, such as lab, remote and online testing, A/B testing, web analytics, value propositions, interviews, journey maps, personas, wireframes etc.

Team Development

  • Work with project management to determine project priorities and timelines
  • Act as UXD representative on project team, ensuring alignment with best practice user research and validation processes
  • Participate fully in the realisation of research projects from idea conception, through development to evaluation and user trials
  • Working in a dynamic team of learning experts and technologists with a willingness to take on new tasks and learn new skills.

Person Specification

Qualifications:

Candidates appointed to this post should have a relevant Ph.D. in the area of User Experience Design

or

Equivalent industry experience with a Masters Level Qualification in the field

Knowledge & Experience (essential and desirable)

  • 3+ years experience UX Research (essential)
  • Excellent knowledge of tools for UX flows, maps, wireframes and prototypes such as Adobe Creative (Adobe XD, Illustrator and Photoshop) and/or Axure, Sketch, InVision (essential)
  • Deep knowledge of UXD methods, including lab studies, heuristic evaluations, co-design, prototyping, ethnography, journey maps, and persona development (essential)
  • Experience working with developers to realise, build and test designs (desirable)
  • Experience in the development of eLearning software and/or knowledge of the pedagogical theories underpinning modern approaches to eLearning (desirable)
  • Experience working on a multi-partner, or European funded, project (desirable)
  • Experience working in a research driven working environment (desirable)
  • Good understanding of ethical and GDPR requirements (desirable)

 

Skills and Competencies:

  • Strong knowledge of interaction design processes and methodology, particularly as applied to desktop & mobile products
  • Demonstrable creative thinking, paired with strong analytical ability
  • Experience in planning and running workshops and writing reports
  • Strong collaborator in a multidisciplinary team
  • Evidence of managing multiple projects simultaneously
  • Flexible and adaptable in their approach to stakeholder needs
  • Proven ability to deliver projects on-time and within budget
  • Desire to learn about new products, technologies and keep abreast of new product and technical developments.
  • Be open to receiving feedback and able to work with other team members
  • Project management skills – ability to manage several research streams at any one time
  • Ability to act as a change agent within the organization
  • Excellent written, verbal and room management communication skills: the right candidate must be able to communicate in writing and/or present in person, strategic design concepts and creative vision – in any team or stakeholder setting – with passion and confidence

Application Information

In order to assist the selection process, candidates should submit a curriculum vitae and a 1 page cover letter. Your cover letter should address

  1. 3+ years experience UX researcher. Applicants should clearly address this experience and how they obtained their knowledge in their application.
  2. Evidence of managing multiple projects simultaneously. The applicant should give examples of involvement in stakeholder facilitation and what the applicant learned from the process.
  3. A link to your portfolio of work

APPLICATION DEADLINE AND DETAILS:

Apply with CV and Cover letter to lorna.maguire@learnovatecentre.org

Closing Date: 22nd June, noon.

Note:

Please note: Candidates who do not address the application requirements above in their cover letter will not be considered at the shortlist stage.

Candidates should note that the interview process for this appointment may include the delivery of a presentation and may include a test of practical skills.

 

The Learnovate Centre

Hosted by Trinity College Dublin’s School of Computer Science and Statistics and funded by Enterprise Ireland, Learnovate’s mission is to enhance the competitive advantage of Ireland’s learning technology industry, and more broadly, to maximise the success any company can derive from using learning technology effectively.

Learnovate currently has over 60 industry members that range across sectors and sizes from start-ups to growth phase companies to large corporates and multi-nationals. These members can be divided into supply side companies that are focused on producing learning technologies and demand side companies that are focused on deploying learning technologies.

The Centre’s multidisciplinary team works with industry partners to deliver strategic research and innovative learning technologies in areas such as mobile and collaborative learning, social and informal learning, immersive learning, and metrics and assessment.

Industry can engage with the Centre through a membership model or by contracting Learnovate directly to provide research and innovation services. These services can, in turn, be supported by (state-supported) grant funding vehicles such as innovation vouchers and innovation partnerships.

School of Computer Science and Statistics at Trinity College Dublin

The School of Computer Science and Statistics at Trinity College Dublin offers a high quality educational experience to undergraduate and postgraduate students along with exceptional research opportunities for professionals in the fields of computer science and statistics. The School is proud of its reputation as an innovative and energetic centre for study and research.

The research interests of the School are wide and varied, ranging from the theoretical to the practical. The School’s researchers are at the cutting-edge of their disciplines, working on prestigious research projects with other professionals in their fields, and with access to significant public and private funding and industry support.