User Experience (UX) Researcher

USER EXP DESIGNER 3 (007350)

UCPath Position ID: TBD_542

Position Description History/Status

Approved Date:

4/19/2024 12:31:14 PM

Date Last Edited:

4/19/2024 12:31:10 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

4/19/2024

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

5000O

Organization:

ADMINISTRATIVE VICE CHANCELLOR         

Division Code:

5901D

Division:

ADMINISTRATION                         

Department:

455400 - IT SERVICES

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

TBD_542

Position Description ID

172691

UC Payroll Title:

USER EXP DESIGNER 3 (007350)

Business Title:

User Experience (UX) Researcher

Personnel Program

Professional and Support Staff (PSS)

Salary Grade:

Grade 24

Job Code FLSA:

Exempt

Union Code (Collective Bargaining Unit):

99: Non-Represented (PPSM)

Employee Relations Code:

E: All Others - Not Confidential

Employee Class (Appt Type):

2 - Staff: Career

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

1

SUPERVISION

UCPath Reports to Position Number:

41051990

Reports to Payroll Title:

USER EXP DESIGNER SUPV 2

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40068309

Department Head Payroll Title:

INFO SYS MGR 4

GENERAL SUPERVISION - Indicates that the incumbent develops procedures for performance of variety of duties; or performs complex duties within established policy guidelines.

POSITION SUMMARY

The User Experience (UX) Researcher will be responsible for conducting research studies and gathering data on user behavior, attitudes and preferences in order to inform the design process. They will explore user behaviors and motivations by conducting primary research such as interviews, surveys, field studies, participatory workshops and usability testing to gather insights that are used to improve the user experience for UCLA's products, platforms and technologies. The User Experience Researcher will create and execute research plans that define objectives, hypotheses and assumptions that will continuously help in building understanding and empathy through observation by removing ambiguity and increasing alignment. The User Experience Researcher will communicate research findings through regular updates, persuasive and compelling written reports and group presentations. The User Experience Researcher will be responsible for creating a research repository that will provide ITS's partners with research context, insights, perspectives and recommendations. This critical Human Centered Design team member will drive discovery for a broad range of websites, applications and services; and drive innovation in user experience and product usability for faculty, staff and students. The UX Researcher will collaborate with business analysts, designers, product managers and developers to identify and articulate end-user requirements, create meaningful user stories and target solutions that meet the underlying needs of our users.

The UX Researcher will positively impact UCLA's operations and culture by ensuring UCLA's products and applications are human-centered, efficient and effective in service of the university's academic missions. This team member will advance the University's mission by delivering exceptional information technology services comprehensively and consistently across faculty, staff and students. This role will execute UCLA's vision while modeling UCLA's culture and values.

The Digital Foundry sets the strategy to accelerate the adoption of industry leading practices across technology modernization domains, supporting a portfolio of enterprise-wide products and platforms that enable the activities of academic and administrative stakeholders across the university. The Digital Foundry team focused on three main pillars:

1) Human-Centered Product Strategy and Design, including product discovery, user-research, accessibility, UX, and UI services.

2) Cloud and DevOps Strategy support the evolution of our cloud and engineering capabilities across infra, data, and product delivery teams championing a cloud-first approach coupled with automation and AI capabilities to deliver features faster and more reliably.

3) Solutions Architecture fosters the implementation of cohesive end-to-end solution architectures, ensuring baseline interoperability, reliability, scalability, and security capabilities are in place when architecting new solutions or updating existing ones.

The Product Strategy and Human Centered Design team sets the strategy for a portfolio of enterprise-wide products and platforms enabling the activities of administrative and academic stakeholders across the university. The product strategy and human centered design team designs, develops, configures, enhances, optimizes and maintains core enterprise technologies ensuring functionality, quality, business value, user-experience and digital accessibility of products and platforms that meet the expectations of the campus community. Product Strategy and Human Centered Design fuels ITS cloud-first strategy by strategically reducing technical debt in partnership with other departments and teams leveraging cutting-edge techniques to accelerate releases using automation and application lifecycle management standards and tools.

UX Research

1. Designs and executes UX research initiatives that are appropriate and relevant for different user constituencies in an academic environment (e.g., faculty, staff, students, alumni).

2. Conducts independent UX research on a variety of university products and product functionalities. Collects data and analyzes user behavior through user and stakeholder interviews, surveys, benchmark studies, online experiments, and other experimental techniques.

3. Executes user research to gain insights into user pain points, challenges, and needs. Clearly relays findings to leadership, designers, developers, and product strategists to respond to existing challenges and proactively support enhanced design/development for future products.

25%

UX Research

1. Demonstrates research relevance of design solutions to stakeholders, business owners, and teams.

2. Collaborates with designers and engineers to prioritize data-informed products. Recognizes opportunities to incorporate technical and business requirements into research.

3. Uses UX research data from a variety of sources to inform decisions and make recommendations.

20%

Problem Solving

1. Drives consistency and usability of UCLA’s digital products through effective problem solving and a deep understanding of qualitative and quantitative user research methodologies, university policies, processes, procedures, and standards.

10%

Customer Service

1. Works collaboratively with others across the organization including business analysts, designers, product managers, developers, and management to deliver engaging technology experiences. Prioritizes research opportunities to balance user needs, business goals, and technical realities.

10%

Continuous Improvement

1. Contributes to innovation and continuous improvement by leveraging the latest industry knowledge on UX research. Continually develops skills, knowledge, and abilities by maintaining currency on emerging technologies and research methodologies.

10%

Project Planning & Management

1. Uses best practices for common research questions including method selection and problem articulation. Presents research findings in an actionable way. Leverages tools and techniques to create innovative prototyping and testing environments.

10%

Communications & Training

1. Communicates and presents research plans, findings, insights, and decision-making rationales. Communicates broadly, accessibly, and in an actionable way to stakeholders and team members. Shares timely information freely and openly across the organization.

10%

Other

Actively contributes to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion across the organization and UCLA’s campus.  Actively promotes the organization’s core values and consistently integrates innovation, employee fulfillment, teamwork, respect, excellence, integrity, service, and accountability into each aspect of their work. Maintains current knowledge of University policy and procedure; effectively, consistently and fairly applies University policy and/or campus/division procedures for assigned area and team members supervised; complies with University, Campus and division policies and procedures regarding privacy of information, authorized use of University resources and the security of University systems and data. Performs other related responsibilities as requested and when necessary.

5%

•

Performs other duties as assigned.

•

Complies with all policies and standards.

•

Complies with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Principles of Community.

•

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree

Computer science, computer information systems, design, or a related field, or equivalent combination of experience/training.

Required

Bachelor's Degree

Computer science, computer information systems, design.

Preferred

Three years

Experience working in one or more of the following fields: user research, information technology, or a related field.

Required

Prior experience conducting UX research.

Required

Experience leveraging analytics tools to measure success, present opportunities, and support decision-making.

Required

Demonstrated experience presenting technical topics in a business-oriented fashion to non-technical audiences.

Required

Experience participating in activities to advance an inclusive environment that values equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. 

Required

Five or more years

Experience working in one or more of the following fields: user research, information technology.

Preferred

Experience in complex higher education environments, serving academic and administrative functions of a large public university.

Preferred

Strong understanding of the strengths and shortcomings of different research methods, including when and how to apply them during the product development process.

Required

Ability to conduct informed, user-centered research by leveraging user research, market analysis, data, and customer feedback. Experience planning and implementing user research strategies and methods.

Required

Strong written and verbal communication skills and is able to communicate technical information and ideas to a diverse community of colleagues and stakeholders.

Required

Able to establish and advance positive working relationships and a strong rapport with team members, stakeholders, and customers.

Required

Strong organizational skills and is able to balance competing priorities and support concurrent projects. Experience working in a project-based environment using leading project management practices including schedule management, status reporting, and communication of project risks and issues.

Required

Strong demonstrated problem-solving skills; scopes solutions based on knowledge of available resources and timelines. Able to ask questions, gather information, evaluate options, and make decisions with integrity.

Required

Thinks creatively and proposes innovative ideas, including the incorporation of new technologies or processes. Is able to work with agility in a fast-paced environment.

Required

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

Standing/Walking

X

Sitting

X

Bending/Stooping

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

Climbing

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 26-50 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull over 50 lbs

X

Physical requirements other

X

Chemicals, dust, gases, or fumes

X

Loud noise levels

X

Marked changes in humidity or temperature

X

Microwave/Radiation

X

Operating motor vehicles and/or equipment

X

Exposures other

X

Sustained attention and concentration

X

X

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

X

Communication skills

X

X

Numerical skills

X

X

Mental demands other

X

X

Classification 3:  Position in which exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues is not part of the position description. The normal routine task involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues and the employee can decline to perform tasks which involve a perceived risk without retribution.