UX Researcher

Title: UX Researcher

Location: Pensacola, FL, Vienna, VA (HYBRID)

Duration: Initial 6-month duration with possible extensions

Compensation: $40/hour - $50/hour

Work Requirements: US Citizen, GC Holders or Authorized to Work in the U.S.

Assist in planning, leading and formulating user‑centered design strategies and solutions for experiences and initiatives using insights and inputs gathered from moderately complex profile research projects, psychology and UX best practices. Serve as a change agent, looking for new ways to solve moderately complex problems. Work cross‑functionally to conduct research and perform analysis to uncover opportunities and formulate innovative solutions that deliver value and create exceptional experiences.

Works under limited supervision from higher level peers and/or leadership on moderately complex projects and analysis. Exercises judgement within defined procedures and practices.

• Act in a consultative and advisory role to various levels and functions within the design and product teams to identify research topics and plan research initiatives for both generative and evaluative purposes
• Identify and analyze the user experience by evaluating or leading projects end to end; developing guides and screeners, moderating, analyzing, synthesizing, making recommendations regarding prioritization, and delivering results
• Lead the development and maintenance of experience and journey maps throughout the life cycle of projects
• Gather, analyze, develop and create user stories that capture the user's needs
• Conduct research using a wide variety of qualitative methods and a subset of quantitative methods, such as surveys
• Communicate and present findings in compelling and creative ways; tailor research findings to suit the audience; influence upwards and laterally to drive organizational change and alignment
• Package insights into tools and assets for designers, product managers and product marketing managers to leverage (personas, design principles, scenarios, live workshops or brainstorms, etc.)
• Support project team members in transforming research findings and insights into innovative solutions, in order to inform both user and business problems and deliver measurable outcomes
• Create artifacts, educational tools, experiences and processes that help build and evangelize UX Research within the larger organization
• Collaborate with business partners, stakeholders, and cross‑functional teams to champion a centric approach to products and services based on findings and feedback
• Serve as liaison regarding moderately complex research and how the findings relate to other channel services
• Utilize established strategies and tools to achieve and enhance value for users more efficiently and effectively
• Perform moderately complex analysis to quantify the benefit and value of potential features or enhancements to enable justification and prioritization
• Lead user experience initiatives with assignments across work streams
• Perform other duties as assigned

• Experience in user experience/market/consumer research, project management, and analysis in support of strategic planning initiatives
• Well‑versed in multiple research methodologies, such as 1:1 usability studies—both in‑person and remote, ethnography, contextual interviews, innovation and co‑design workshops, journey mapping, eye‑tracking, unmoderated usability, focus groups, card sorting, persona development, surveys, site‑intercept, benchmarking, and other user testing techniques
• Ability to multi‑task and prioritize multiple projects with minimal direction
• Experience using third‑party UX research platforms to recruit participants and conduct studies
• Experience with quantitative market research methods to enable effective partnership with market researchers
• Experience in quantitative, behavioral analysis and statistical concepts
• Experience creating research deliverables (frameworks, videos, toplines, etc.)
• Working knowledge of financial industry best practices/trends, products and services
• Significant experience working and communicating with all levels of employees, management, stakeholders, and vendors; building…