Lead Researcher

Job Description:

TTI is a world-class leader in design, manufacturing and marketing of power tools and accessories, outdoor product equipment and floor care for consumers, professional and industrial users in the home improvement, repair and construction industries. Our unrelenting strategic focus on powerful brands, innovative products, operational excellence and exceptional people drives our culture. This focus and drive provides TTI with a powerful platform for sustainable leadership and strong growth.

TTI is a world-class leader in design, manufacturing and marketing of power tools and accessories, outdoor product equipment and floor care for consumers, professional and industrial users in the home improvement, repair and construction industries. Our unrelenting strategic focus on powerful brands, innovative products, operational excellence and exceptional people drives our culture. This focus and drive provides TTI with a powerful platform for sustainable leadership and strong growth.

Advanced Concepts is an early innovation R&D group comprised of researchers, engineers, and designers within the Consumer Power Tools for the RYOBI and RIDGID brands. We work with teams throughout the company including engineering, industrial design, analytical, and product management to deliver both exploratory and evaluative user research findings that drive concept development and prototype evaluation.

We are looking for a proven User Researcher with expertise in field research, which may include conducting research in-home, on job-site, or remotely. This will be a newly established team requiring the Lead Researcher to help build the processes and manage the tasks for the fellow team members.

Day-to-day interactions will include collaboration and data exchange with team members, Industrial design, Project managers, and Engineering. The Lead User Researcher will plan, design, and conduct research efforts to uncover user needs that can be turned into innovative products. They will validate concepts and product solutions with users. This person will work with Product Management and Advanced Engineering leadership to scope out new projects, create effective research plans, extract value from data, and guide the business on how to move forward.

• Lead Junior Design Research Team members by framing research efforts, managing schedules, and budget
• Develop and maintain processes associated with conducting effective end-user research
• Experimentwithnewapproachesand methodologies to achieveingeniousresults.
  
  As a researchgroupwe encourage new ways of thinking, and we want you to help us build new tools and methodologiesappropriate tothe work we do.
• Champion the importance of User-Centered Design and Design Thinking throughout the company.
• Design and execute multi-faceted research plans to learn about user needs for consumer power tools. These plans typically include qualitative discovery research in homes, primary and secondary research exercises to understand the competitive product set, and evaluation of mock-ups and preliminary concept prototypes in field.
• Build, grow, and maintain a network of users to understand their evolving needs. Establishing strong relationships with end users is critical to conducting appropriate discovery research, co-creating solutions, and eliciting honest feedback.
• Analyze and synthesize research findings into key insights that inform opportunities for new features, functionalities, and business approaches.
• Plan and facilitate hands-on evaluations, team workshops, and analysis sessions. These participatory co-creation sessions result in a common ground of familiarity with products and their use, while inspiring creativity and collaboration within the team.
• Present research findings in an engaging and concise manner to key stakeholders across the business. You will need to communicate through well-crafted presentations and events that educate and inspire your team through photos, video, diagrams, storytelling, and demonstrations.

• Bachelors, Masters or equivalent qualification in Industrial Design or related user research degree (Psychology, Anthropology, Qualitative Market Research, Sociology).
• Five years + experience in the fuzzy front end of product development withan understanding ofinnovationmethodsanddesign thinking
• Five years + experience using qualitative research methods includingobservation, interviewing, and contextual inquiry
• 25-35% overnight domestic travel
• A knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite
• The ability to work in a technical environment
• Demonstrated ability to turn user research data into actionable insights and pain points and product opportunities
• Experience in; taking a lead user research role within a team, setting research direction, and mentoring junior colleagues.
• Upon an interview, must be prepared to present on a project and itsmethodology

• Self-starters who can work well autonomously and in collaboration with…