Lead User Researcher

WebMD/Medscape is looking for a Lead User Researcher to join the Design/UX team. This role will report to the Senior Director of Design/UX and will work closely with designers and product managers to support product strategy and research needs across a wide range of business units. This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative team that is dedicated to advocating for user needs. You will help lead discovery across products, identifying when and what type of user feedback is needed. You will also help implement findings, partnering with designers on the team to bring new features and updates to products in the network.

WebMD/Medscape holds user feedback in high regard and is constantly looking to optimize products so they better meet user needs. Join the team and help effect positive change for both doctors and patients seeking medical information and tools!

In this role, you will work closely with colleagues across the organization to research and provide analysis of user experiences across multiple channels and platforms, including responsive web and mobile apps. The ideal candidate will have experience planning and conducting user research across omni-channel experiences, analyzing results, and translating the findings into design decisions. Candidates should also have some experience doing research ops activities (research repository and participant panel maintenance, tool management, etc). Candidates must be able to align initiatives to core business objectives and have exceptional organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Our design team embraces curiosity, fresh ideas, and a love for problem-solving, and the User Research Manager will be an integral contributor to this culture as we inspire one another to do our best work.

• Provide user research expertise in the product strategy and design process across the Medscape/WebMD network – from identifying opportunities and problems to solve, to defining the design target and user experience, and validating concepts and assumptions
• Lead research activities across the WebMD and Medscape network product, marketing, and other teams
• Work with WebMD product teams and commercial design team for research needs and to provide best practice guidance on design solutions across WebMD products (core and commercial)
• Work with Medscape product teams, business stakeholders and leadership to lead user research activities and to train/support team members doing discovery work
• Advise and assist other UX/UI designers with research activities
• Lead efforts to assess accessibility initiatives across WebMD and Medscape network
• Manage all user research tools and platforms to increase efficiencies across recruitment, reporting, and sharing findings
• Organize internal training to share best practices for PMs and UI designers
• Partner with Sr Director of Design/UX to align on strategic initiatives based on research and ensure that design deliverables are fulfilling that vision
• Partner with Sr Design Manager to ensure there is continuity between UX and visual design phase
• Support efforts to broaden and mature the research practice at the organization
• Coordinate with other research teams in the organization (Data scientists, PMR, Market Research)
• Consolidate findings so everything is easily shared across divisions and teams

Qualifications:

• 5+ years working in UX/user research positions
• A portfolio showcasing strong understanding of foundational UX / IA principles and research case studies
• Experience leading user research across a variety of methodologies (continuous discovery, unmoderated and moderated usability testing, surveys, card sorting, etc)
• Knowledge of UI patterns and trends
• BFA or BA degree in UX or design-related studies, or equivalent work experience
• Proficient in Figma or other design/prototyping tools
• Proficient in user testing platform tools and research repository tools
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Meticulous, organized, and dedicated to the highest quality standards
• Experience working in Agile development environments
• Prior experience with editorial content or health-related sites a plus