Technology Research Manager jobs in Lowell, MA

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Research Ops: Manage, conduct and interpret user research, collaborate with and guide cross-functional teams

• Champion our customers; build, document and maintain a deep understanding of their needs, pain points, behaviors and preferences
• Conduct UX research, using both qualitative and quantitative methods, create research plans, interpret and align findings with organizational and UX metrics, and create actionable requirements that will drive critical design recommendations and decisions across Avid
• Educate and guide teams on research methods and process; collaborate with designers, product managers, and developers on ways to improve the customer experience based on research insights
• Work with key stakeholders to source, screen, and schedule participants for research studies
• Support the growth of our new research framework, centralized repository and data share practices with regular communications and training opportunities for relevant teams, cultivating the integration of user research and advocacy of user-centered design throughout Avid
• Create, validate and integrate journey maps and user flows into Avid’s development processes, and guide in problem discovery, problem statement and user story creation
• Manage a pipeline of inbound research requests from various teams across the organization, assessing incoming requests and prioritizing new and ongoing projects
• Evangelize user experience research and insights across the organization and at all levels

Design Ops: Support the implementation and management of a companywide UX operations strategy

• Oversee the transformation of our UX design operations by implementing a strategic roadmap; envision and develop a range of exciting new programs
• Communicate and demonstrate the value of UX design operations at all levels of the organization, particular upper management
• Support development of a new companywide UX project request process, including program management and prioritization
• Guide teams on how to identify, benchmark, track, and report on UX outcomes via metrics
• Advocate and champion design thinking and methodologies throughout the development lifecycle as a UX representative in cross-functional collaborations with Engineering, Product Management, Web, Marketing and Customer Success teams; drive integration of UX best practices into the product roadmap / PLCM process (Product Lifecycle Management)
• Help ensure design consistency across all digital touchpoints
• Provide cross-functional team support and guidance on governance and development of a new design system

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

• 2-5 years' experience, with at least 2 years in a manager-level capacity, focused on organization-wide integration of user experience concepts and processes, user research and management, design operations, user-centered design, and program management, ideally in a technical product industry
• Experience planning, budgeting, and facilitating a range of research, from usability testing to exploratory discovery projects; a portfolio that illustrates the integration of research processes and insights into product design
• Deep understanding of the value of user experience and design operations to large product organizations, and the ability to communicate that compellingly to the C-Suite
• Expert knowledge of research, user research methods, tools, and practices and the proven ability to identify and execute the right methodology for the needed result
• Experience in design and research for cloud-based software or SaaS products a plus
• Experience identifying, benchmarking, interpreting and communicating analytics and data to shape decision making
• Experience working in an agile development environment, collaborating with designers, developers, product managers, and other team members
• Experience with a range of research, recruitment and survey software and services; knowledge of Airtable a plus
• Experience with relevant project management and tracking tools
• Strong written communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills; the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly across different audiences and varying levels of the organization
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment; ability to successfully manage multiple projects at once
• Staff management experience (at least two direct reports) would be a plus
• Passion for Avid products and a desire to help users achieve success is critical