UX Research

The 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 Role

UX Research – At least 3 years of experience and use cases with the following:

• Conduct primary and secondary user research
• Conduct and evaluate quantitative and qualitative research
• Perform market and ethnographic research
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to identify and evaluate research topics
• Plan and implement user research strategies and methodologies
• Advocate research findings to diverse audiences through written and oral presentations
• Mentor and coach junior UX researchers on the team
• Perform usability studies with consumers
• Ask questions, gather data, and analyze data
• Use a diverse set of UX research tools

User 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 needs
• Helping to discover problems while the service is being developed, not once it is live
• Checking the operating environment to make sure test results are valid
• Helping increase user and agency confidence in future service or product delivery
• Helping reduce the risk of reputational damage
• Recruiting and leading testing groups
• Running research sessions with users
• Understanding accessibility issues and engage with team to build with equality

Digital Platforms, Tools, & Discipline – At least 3 years of experience and use cases with the following:

• Working with enterprise scale digital platforms and products
• Using of productivity and analysis tools to manage iterative delivery, such as JIRA, Google Analytics, Git Repository, MS Teams, Confluence

Performance in Complex Situations – At least 3 years of experience and user cases with the following:

• Communication and collaboration with state-wide partners
• Encouraging of an interactive, cooperative, collaborative, and customer-focused work environment
• Comfort in blazing a path through an ambiguous work environment
• Judgement fitting to the ever-changing environment
• Government-specific task management

Knowledge, Skills and Ability

UX Research & Testing

• Ability to share research results quickly and effectively
• Ability to perform all research-related tasks including research, planning, evaluating, and iteration
• Ability to formulate specific, answerable, and practical questions
• Ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders and act as a strategic partner in product decisions
• Experience with remote testing tools
• A strong desire for creative problem-solving with a positive attitude
• Excellent time-management skills
• Knowledge of best practices for user experience research and testing
• Willingness to participate ethnographic research and interviews

Performance in Complex Situations

• Ability to distill complex concepts into simple ideas
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, handle and prioritize simultaneous requests, and manage laterally and upwards
• Comfort in blazing a path through an ambiguous work environment
• Prioritization, organization, and triage in an independent environment
• Understanding of the Agile development process

Team Player

• Supporting teammates’ skills and behaviors development and delivery
• Communication and collaboration with state-wide partners
• Creative and analytical thinking with strong problem-solving skills
• Judgement in dealing effectively and diplomatically with government staff
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

Other Desirable Skills

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in graphic design, marketing, communications, or related field
• 2 years professional experience in design, communications, management, or testing
• 1 year of user-centered design
• 1 year of user research and analytics

Administrative Considerations

The UX Researcher will work as part of an iterative team using agile sprints. Work will be assigned based on items in the product backlog associated with Website Improvements. These tasks may be adjusted, reduced, or expanded as the project progresses through various phases. The contract employee shall be expected to maintain and provide written documentation on any work performed in conjunction with this engagement.

The engagement will be for a term of up to 12 months. All work will be performed in eight (8) hour shifts, Monday to Friday, excluding State holidays. If workflow dictates an on-site presence is not needed, consultant may work remotely. All extended remote work will need approval by Chief Digital Officer or the designated manager. Payment will be on a time and material basis and paid only for hours worked. Travel to various state offices will be required. State Agencies are in downtown Hartford and the Greater Hartford area. Local Travel Reimbursement is not provided.

Use of State Resources: The contractor will share a dedicated office space and will be provided with all computer hardware and software needed to execute and perform the duties for this program.

Security/Privacy Considerations: Information accessible by the contractor may be sensitive, confidential, or subject to the Privacy Act and/or HIPAA considerations. Contractor personnel must be familiar with and comply with the provisions of appropriate regulations and/or instructions. Signing of a confidentiality agreement will be required. Daily sign-in to the facility may be required. The contractor employee must always display an access badge while present in state facilities. A background check will be required.

Qualifications