UPA Job Bank: January 2013

The Job Bank is a service of the Usability Professionals' Association, listing jobs for usablity and user experience professionals.

Back to the Job Bank

Posted on: 31 January 2013

Why State Farm®?

Our commitment to customers makes us the No. 1 insurer of cars and homes in the United States and an insurance leader in Canada.

This same commitment to our work force is how we got here and how we stay here. Our 90-year track record highlights State Farm as an employer of choice committed to providing career opportunities that last a lifetime.

From diverse backgrounds and talent, to meaningful work and comprehensive benefits, "Like a good neighbor..." isn't just a slogan. It's who we are and how we do business.

What are the duties and responsibilities of this position?

• Serves as an advocate for State Farm product end users (i.e., customers, Agencies, employees)
• Conducts user-centered research (e.g., user and task analysis, conceptual design, iterative usability testing, and assessment usability testing) to guide the design, selection, and refinement of products and processes throughout the product development lifecycle
• Establishes and maintains relationships with business areas to align strategic goals, UCD strategy, and tactical plans
• Conducts novel research on Human Factors topics

What knowledge and skills are needed to be successful at this position?

• Works with clients to analyze needs for information and converts them into action items, requests or projects
• Applies specialized knowledge of Human Factors/UCD research concepts and techniques to a broad range of products and processes
• Utilizes available internal/external resources to assist with various phases of research
• Recognized by others as an authority/professional resource in his/her area of expertise
• Routinely interacts across department lines to strategically leverage skills/resources throughout the Enterprise

ITEMS OF NOTE

• May represent State Farm with external industry/vendor/consultant/governmental agencies in area of expertise
• May assist in units planning and/or budgeting processes
• Job may require travel via commercial transportation and/or driving motor vehicles to regional locations, professional association meetings, seminars, and other State Farm locations

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Requirements

The skills required for the position are typically associated with an advanced degree in Human Factors, Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, or related field. Ideal candidates should have:

• Excellent research skills including usability, ethnography, the ability to analyze large and small sample quantitative and qualitative data sets.
  
• 2-3 years performing research on user issues for software development in a laboratory setting, online, and in the field.
• Experience supporting UCD in a large corporate environment is a plus.
• Requires working with interdisciplinary project teams across multiple locations.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Meet with internal and external clients to identify usability research questions, design and conduct studies, and communicate results to interdisciplinary project teams.
  
• Conduct user analysis which will drive the design process using techniques such as ethnography, interviews, and surveys.
  
• Conduct rapid iterative usability testing to improve product designs early in the design cycle.
  
• Work with business partners to create conceptual designs based on user data.
  
• Perform post-development usability testing to determine whether finished products have met business and usability objectives and inform designs of future releases.
  
• Translate research findings into design recommendations.
  
• Brainstorm with project teams to understand business and technical constraints.
  
• Utilize statistical analysis packages (SAS, SPSS, etc.) to perform analyses when appropriate.
  
• Develop innovative strategies to answer usability research questions with limited resources.
  
• Stay current on UCD issues and literature.

BENEFITS: TOTAL REWARDS

Our Total Rewards benefits package includes:

• Competitive starting salary
• Annual merit reviews
• Annual bonus potential

You may also be eligible to participate in Medical, Dental, Life and Disability Insurance, Vision, 401(k) Plan (Savings & Thrift in Canada), Credit Union, a fully funded retirement pension plan, and more.

To search for more information on careers in the U.S., visit statefarm.com/careers. To search for more information on careers in Canada, visit statefarm.ca/careers.

State Farm Insurance is an equal opportunity employer.

Posted on: 31 January 2013

Why State Farm®?

Our commitment to customers makes us the No. 1 insurer of cars and homes in the United States and an insurance leader in Canada.

This same commitment to our work force is how we got here and how we stay here. Our 90-year track record highlights State Farm as an employer of choice committed to providing career opportunities that last a lifetime.

From diverse backgrounds and talent, to meaningful work and comprehensive benefits, "Like a good neighbor..." isn't just a slogan. It's who we are and how we do business.

What are the duties and responsibilities of this position?

• Serves as an advocate for State Farm product end users (i.e., customers, Agencies, employees)
• Conducts user-centered research (e.g., user and task analysis, conceptual design, iterative usability testing, and assessment usability testing) to guide the design, selection, and refinement of products and processes throughout the product development lifecycle
• Establishes and maintains relationships with business areas to align strategic goals, UCD strategy, and tactical plans
• Conducts novel research on Human Factors topics

What knowledge and skills are needed to be successful at this position?

• Works with clients to analyze needs for information and converts them into action items, requests or projects
• Applies specialized knowledge of Human Factors/UCD research concepts and techniques to a broad range of products and processes
• Utilizes available internal/external resources to assist with various phases of research
• Recognized by others as an authority/professional resource in his/her area of expertise
• Routinely interacts across department lines to strategically leverage skills/resources throughout the Enterprise

ITEMS OF NOTE

• May represent State Farm with external industry/vendor/consultant/governmental agencies in area of expertise
• May assist in units planning and/or budgeting processes
• Job may require travel via commercial transportation and/or driving motor vehicles to regional locations, professional association meetings, seminars, and other State Farm locations

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The User Centered Design and Research Group at State Farm Insurance is seeking a User Experience Researcher to join a team of existing UCD professionals. In this role you will  design and conduct user research for a wide range of software and non-software products; including applications used by our customers on statefarm.com® and business tools used by our sales force and employees for the purpose of selling and maintaining insurance and financial services products. In addition, you could be asked to evaluate and provide input into IVR systems, business processes, and hardware and software purchase decisions. You will collaborate with other UCD practitioners, software developers, and business leaders across the organization. State Farm continues to work hard to be our customers first and best choice and is a company that recognizes that UCD is paramount to accomplishing this goal.

Requirements

The skills required for the position are typically associated with an advanced degree in Human Factors, Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, or related field. Ideal candidates should have:

• Excellent research skills including usability, ethnography, the ability to analyze large and small sample quantitative and qualitative data sets.
  
• 2-3 years performing research on user issues for software development in a laboratory setting, online, and in the field.
• Experience supporting UCD in a large corporate environment is a plus.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Meet with internal and external clients to identify usability research questions, design and conduct studies, and communicate results to interdisciplinary project teams.
  
• Conduct user analysis which will drive the design process using techniques such as ethnography, interviews, and surveys.
  
• Conduct rapid iterative usability testing to improve product designs early in the design cycle.
  
• Work with business partners to create conceptual designs based on user data.
  
• Perform post-development usability testing to determine whether finished products have met business and usability objectives and inform designs of future releases.
  
• Translate research findings into design recommendations.
  
• Brainstorm with project teams to understand business and technical constraints.
  
• Utilize statistical analysis packages (SAS, SPSS, etc.) to perform analyses when appropriate.
  
• Develop innovative strategies to answer usability research questions with limited resources.
  
• Stay current on UCD issues and literature

BENEFITS: TOTAL REWARDS

Our Total Rewards benefits package includes:

• Competitive starting salary
• Annual merit reviews
• Annual bonus potential
• You may also be eligible to participate in Medical, Dental, Life and Disability Insurance, Vision, 401(k) Plan (Savings & Thrift in Canada), Credit Union, a fully funded retirement pension plan, and more.

To search for more information on careers in the U.S., visit statefarm.com/careers. To search for more information on careers in Canada, visit statefarm.ca/careers.

State Farm Insurance is an equal opportunity employer.

Posted on: 25 January 2013

As a member of the EMG Human Factors and User Interface team, you will play a key role in delivering a compelling user experience by contributing your human factors and usability expertise to developing the next generation UI for deployment across our test and measurement solutions.

The individual will have responsibility initially for human factors, visual appearance, and multi-touch user interface aspects for EMG instruments.  The key areas of focus will include:

• Developing standards and guidelines for instrument visual appearance.
• Developing standards and guidelines for instrument multi-touch gestures.
• Assisting software developers creating components compliant with these standards and guidelines.
• Contribute to forward thinking and scouting regarding visual appearance and multi-touch aspects as they can be applied to instruments, PC applications, and remote user interfaces.

Some of the key activities for this role are:

• Analysis of existing instrument visual appearance and the differences between products.
• Analysis of existing consumer electronics gestures already in existence and adapting them to the unique needs of test and measurement .
• Expanding and adapting the existing EMG UI Standards and Style Guides to enable a consistent, positive user experience
• Serve as an experienced customer advocate, incorporating user research in the design process
• Coordinate with existing human factors, usability, and industrial design staff across EMG.
• Participate with the Human Factors staff in the conceptualization and development of instrument hardware and user interface
• Assist in the generation of conceptual design alternatives that satisfy project requirements - Sketches, renderings, mockups
• Synthesizing, incorporating and combining features and suggestions of several design proposals into an acceptable design solution
• Performing and assisting in user testing or peer reviews as needed.
• Assist in the development and delivery of user experience design training for the various EMG divisions.

Must qualifications: 

• Bachelors degree or equivalent in Human Factors or Usability, Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Psychology, or related fields.
• Formal training and previous successful human factors/usability work.
• Awareness of new marketing approaches and strategies (i.e. mobile devices, social media, etc.)
• Proven expertise in design methods, tools, communication (both written and verbal), and presentation skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively with a wide variety of people, working across organization levels and product lines in an organization.
• Ability to interact with leading technologists and designers in EMG domains as well as with experts outside the traditional EMG ecosystem.

Desired qualifications:

• Masters or PhD in Human Factors, Usability, Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Psychology, or related fields.
• Domain knowledge of test and measurement applications and technology
• Previous successful standards efforts.

Location: The position can be located in Santa Rosa, Colorado Springs, Loveland, or Santa Clara.  Other locations may be considered.

Hiring Manager: This position reports to Tim Mikkelsen, EMG Strategic Software Programs Manager

This position may require up to 25% travel time

This position is open to external and Agilent employees

To Apply: If interested, apply at http://tinyurl.com/bypwu3d  

Agilent is an Equal Opportunity Employer   . .  .  

Posted on: 21 January 2013

What’s unique about Digitas? We are the top integrated brand agency with digital at our core and offices in 19 countries. We build active brands that inspire people to take action. We create business impact for Fortune 500 multi-national brands by pairing marketing, technology, creativity, media, and analytics. We’re leading the industry in mobile and social. What else? We have fun. We celebrate talent, we eat bagels together on Fridays, we let loose during creative recess, we compete at Digibowl tournaments, and we get dirty volunteering together in our communities. We have a one-of-a-kind culture. It’s the reason that, in the last two years alone, we’ve earned spots on over 20 awards lists like Coolest Places to Work and Best Companies to Work For. We have an environment at Digitas that fuels us to stay at the forefront of our industry.

We’re searching for a Lead User Experience Designer for our San Francisco office. This team member will collaborate with other capabilities to define the right solutions for both the client and the user.

Tasks and responsibilities include:

• Conduct customer research and generate actionable insights, collaborating with the creative team, marketing and account planning
• Determine key attributes of the customer’s emotional and physical environment
• Understand the cultural and environmental issues of the client organization and the challenges the organizational faces
• Specify the complete conditional presentation of the user interface across all mediums
• Maintain high quality on User Experience and presentation deliverables
• Partner with clients on business goals from a User Experience standpoint
• Collaborate with cross-functional team on implementation feasibility to ensure User Experience is realizable

To qualify, you’ll need:

• Four year degree in related field, Masters preferred
• 6+ years in a User Experience role and strong interactive/digital work experience preferred
• Creative agency and Client-side experience desired
• Balanced user-centered design skills, visual design sensibilities, understanding of technical constraints and appreciation for how disciplines work together
• Good presentation and time management skills
• Affinity for the latest gadgets and propensity for geeky behavior

• Candidate must be open to travel as needed

Got what it takes?

Digitas is an equal opportunity employer.

Senior Design Researcher
Motorola Mobility LLC
Sunnyvale, CA

Posted on: 21 January 2013

Motorola Mobility LLC, owned by Google, is looking for amazingly talented user researchers to join our team in Sunnyvale, CA. We are a group of passionate designers, researchers and storytellers who are designing technology that puts people at the center. We are currently looking for highly skilled user researchers with varying experience levels (Interns, Senior & Principal level).

Scope of Responsibility/Expectations: Join our group of leaders and listeners, scientists and storytellers - and make an impact of the lives of millions of consumers around the world.

Specific Knowledge/Skills: Posses an understanding of the challenges and research methods required to design superior consumer-centered physical products and digital services.

• Have a proven track record of applying research findings to product and service definition and design.
• Possess the ability to work with Designers of multiple disciplines, other Researchers, Product Teams, Global Marketing, and Engineering and outside vendors
• Posses a keen interest and curiosity about the mobile space, improving it and defining what comes next. Maintain a strong, informed opinion on various industry topics.
• Successful candidates will bring 5+ years of design research experience in the mobile, software, or a relevant industry.
• Must have ability to conduct primary evaluative research and usability fist hand.

If you have experience conducting different types of user-research studies, including usability studies, expert reviews, concept evaluations, field studies, ethnography and participatory design and have an interest in joining please email us at amber.kostik@motorola.com to get more information.

User Interface Designer
DealerRater
Greater Boston Area, MA

Posted on: 17 January 2013

Come work for DealerRater.   We are growing and proud to have been awarded the #137 position on the 2012 Inc. 500 list, an exclusive ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. 

DealerRater is North America’s leading online resource for anyone seeking third-party information on auto dealerships.    DealerRater attracts more than 9.5 million consumers every year who visit our site to search for car dealerships, read current reviews, write their own descriptive reviews and find car deals – all for free. 

We have an immediate need for a full-time (permanent) User Interface  (UI) Designer with a strong “Wizard of Oz” profile --- someone who can hang out behind the curtain and use the latest web development standards and tools that seamlessly link together to create a great customer experience.

Reporting to the VP of IT, you will work in a small department where there isn’t room for hierarchy and you will be expected to roll up your sleeves and pitch in where needed to complete the tasks at hand.   In return, you’ll be rewarded with an opportunity to grow and take on more responsibility.

This is not your everyday User Interface job.  This is an opportunity and our ideal candidate will be someone who can thrive in a self-directed entrepreneurial environment and has proven knowledge of front end design methodologies including HTML 5 and CSS3.  Additionally, you should have the ability to work in existing software owned by a team, to enhance the UX aspects of the design, while keeping your implementations testable, and quickly fixing any of your code that may break existing automated tests.

What you will Do:

• Design UI components and web pages.
• Create unique user interaction elements.
• Maintain existing front end pages and components.
• May implement bug fixes and feature enhancement requests.

What you Need:

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in Computer Science, or related technical discipline. 
• A minimum of five years of progressively more responsible UI development experience that includes a proven track record of implementing scalable, feature-rich web applications.
• Expertise with web-related technologies such as HTML 5, JavaScript, AJAX, JQuery.
• Solid understanding and hands-on experience delivering HTML, CSS and JavaScript. This includes the ability to deliver functional prototypes
• Knowledge of ASP, .NET preferred.
• A high level of communications skills.

Join our Winning Team:

Interested candidates should send a copy of their resume with a cover letter that includes salary history to jobs@dealerrater.com.  LOCAL CANDIDATES ONLY and YOU MUST BE ELIGIBLE TO WORK IN THE US; we do not support any sponsorship.  Our full-time employees will be provided with full-benefits, the opportunity to experience our culture, camaraderie and on-site fitness center at our Waltham location. 

Manager of User Experience and Information Architecture
Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
Dublin, OH or San Mateo, CA

Posted on: 17 January 2013

OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs. Tens of thousands of libraries around the world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials. We are currently seeking a Manager of User Experience and Information Architecture at either our Corporate Headquarters located in Dublin, Ohio or our San Mateo, California regional office.

Responsibilities:

• Drives Product Design and User Research as core components of the agile development process.
• Practices user-centered design methods in all phases of the product development process including user research, visioning, design, and usability testing.
• Organizes and facilitates meetings with libraries and internal stakeholders to investigate and identify member needs, preferences, and priorities.
• Allocates User Experience Design and User Research resources to meet enterprise product needs across portfolios, through managing a shared set of resources.
• Develops and manages a staff of User Experience professionals based in multiple regions.
• Advocates for the user while working with product and development teams.
• Ensures that the User Experience team is energized, unified, and moving towards a common goal.

Qualifications:

• BS or BA in Interface and Information Design, Interaction Design, Communication Design, Graphic Design, Computer Science with HCI emphasis, Industrial Design, or equivalent level of proven experience.
• Three years of experience leading a team of User Experience professionals preferably in a global enterprise.
• Five years' experience in designing and implementing large scale applications and Web sites as a lead User Experience designer with demonstrable portfolio.
• Strong business and communication skills required; collaboration, facilitation and negotiation, ability to create effective and visually appealing presentations, comfortable presenting to large groups of people, self starter, and commitment to deadlines.  
• Working experience with User Experience design tools including at least one of the following: Omnigraffle, Visio, or Axure.
• Working experience with User Research tools, including at least one of the following; loop11, Usabilla, or Silverback.

TO APPLY:  Please visit our website at www.oclc.jobs and locate Job #2195.  Create a personal profile by uploading your Word-formatted resume.

Posted on: 12 January 2013

The Comcast User Experience (UX) team is transforming how Comcast customers access and enjoy entertainment, communications and home management services across all mediums—online, mobile and TV. By assembling the country’s top designers and thinkers, the Comcast UX department is rapidly becoming the premier environment for building and launching one-of-a-kind experiences that make everyday life easier and more entertaining for millions of customers.

The User Experience (UX) Interaction Design Specialist

The Comcast UX team is seeking an Interaction Design Specialist (for online, mobile & cross-platform technologies) who can convert conceptual thinking into working prototypes, construct interactive experiences that directly meet the needs of UX product managers, and ultimately satisfy and delight Comcast customers across the country. The Interaction Design Specialist performs the following key functions:

• Accelerates the design lifecycle by creating rapid prototypes across interactive platforms
• Influences the Comcast experience by building solution-based prototypes through creative problem-solving and technological intelligence
• Works as both a Front-End Developer, UI expert and design enthusiast (and is viewed internally as both a hybrid and a specialist)
• Collaborates with product managers, creative directors and technologists to invent practical yet imaginative solutions

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of front-end development (UI) with a keen eye for design
• Extensive understanding of UX and UI principles, as well as a strong fundamental grasp of design best practices
• Experience in interaction design, typography and motion
• Expertise in Web, HTML, Flash and AfterEffects (Ability to program TV remote control functionality into most prototypes strongly desired)
• Mobile skills – App Cooker, Realizer, Keynote, HTML
• Online skills – HTML/Javascript, Adobe compilers for device apps) Fireworks/Indesign click-throughs
• XHTML/HTML5, CSS3, jQuery, basic XML/Database skills
• Graphics production using both Photoshop and Fireworks
• Browser specifications and limitation, basic video formats and encoding
• Familiarity with the latest techniques for responsive cross-platform coding (Must be proficient in hand-coding—not using WYSIWYG editors like Dreamweaver)
• B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Engineering, Design or related field

Please Note: Significant prototyping capability in one key area is preferred to light knowledge in many, but if you’re an interaction specialist who meets most of the criteria above, please get in touch.

 To apply: PLEASE EMAIL ALL RESUMES TO Steven_Schumacher@comcast.com

Creative Director (UX)
Comcast
Philadelphia, PA

Posted on: 12 January 2013

The Comcast User Experience (UX) team is transforming how Comcast customers access and enjoy entertainment, communications and home management services across all mediums-online, mobile and TV.  By assembling the country’s top designers and thinkers, the Comcast UX department is rapidly becoming the premier environment for building and launching one-of-a-kind products and experiences that make everyday life easier and more entertaining for millions of customers.

The Creative Director User Experience  (UX)

The Comcast UX team is seeking a passionate and innovative Creative Director with expertise in user-centered design principles and experience with industrial and package design. Candidate will lead ideation and create UX strategies across multiple platforms and drive activities related to interaction and industrial design of hardware products related to the many efforts the Comcast UX team supports.

• Lead UX team in ideation and concept explorations throughout any project lifecycle, facilitating and driving UX solutions, discussions and planning; proposing alternative plans, and determining direction in collaboration with senior executives and outside vendors
• Oversee product design life cycle from initial research through conceptualization, to concept completion, including sketching proposals of initial designs, proposing alternative plans, and determining direction in collaboration with senior executives and outside vendors
• Lead efforts to develop and evolve Industrial design language and visual design standards for products that fulfill the physical extension of our brands and demonstrate our commitment to delivering premier experiences
• Ensure consistent, unified user experience across all platforms by basing decisions on industry standard methodologies and/or UX research findings
• Support the creation of overarching UX strategies and assist in communication to senior management and UX team
• Articulate and track project milestones, deliverables and risks as well as communicating progress, issues and accomplishments
• Train, coach and direct a cross-functional team of UX skills and project oversight

Qualifications:

• Degree in design, computer science, human factors, industrial design or equivalent work experience
• Minimum 8-12 years art directing internet, mobile, package, product or equivalent interactive experiences
• Demonstrable working knowledge of multiple software applications, web services, and cross platform execution
• Expert ability to deliver solid work in a deadline-driven environment
• Superior communication skills, including the ability to speak effectively before management and other internal groups
• Outstanding facilitation, brainstorming and collaboration skills
• Relevant agency experience a plus (e.g., Razorfish, Sapient, AKQA, etc.)
• A strong portfolio showcasing UX leadership developing products for large consumer base required.

To apply: PLEASE EMAIL ALL RESUMES TO Steven_Schumacher@comcast.com

Managing Consultant- Usability Engineer & User Research
IBM
Nationwide- USA

Posted on: 12 January 2013

IBM Global Business Services - Help Make the World Work Smarter

The world is getting smarter, triggering unprecedented change. IBM's unparalleled ability to bring together deep business insight, advanced research, analytics, and technology enables IBM Global Business Services to help position its clients for the future. We leverage the proven roadmaps and frameworks that have been developed across 17 industries and the unique combination of skills and experiences of our teams in over 170 countries - unmatched capabilities. When you join IBM, you'll partner with our clients, and leverage these capabilities to deliver real business value.

As a member of the world's leading and largest consulting organization, you'll tap into resources that only a global leader like IBM can provide: access to a vast and diverse network of talented professionals; enjoy unparalleled career opportunities; be provided with ongoing training and education that you'll need to succeed; and work on some of the most interesting projects on the planet, helping everyone from organizations to local governments, work smarter.

IBM User Research & Design National Practice: Consult with us and join the largest user research group on North America.

As part of IBM Interactive and IBM Global Business Services, our group helps top-tier clients solve their most complex business and technical issues while assuring that solutions and user experience are consumable, i.e., are useful, usable, and engaging, meeting both business needs and user needs. As a Managing Consultant, you will deliver innovative application design and management that incorporates aspects of business consulting, business process design and systems integration to leading commercial and public sector organizations in 17 industries worldwide. As a consultant with access to resources that only a global leader can provide, you will learn valuable skills, gain access to a vast and diverse network of talented professionals, and enjoy unparalleled career, training, and educational opportunities.

Our group is a multi-disciplinary consulting practice developing and bringing the tools and methods of user-centered research and design into all stages of application requirements, design, and development. We support iterative design and development for consumable applications in a range of contexts from waterfall processes to Agile software development methods.

As a Managing Consultant in our group, you will coordinate with multi-disciplinary consulting teams from IBM and vendors, and be primarily responsible for:

• Analyzing business requirements and user requirements and understand the synergies and stress points between them (e.g., Task Analysis, Ethnography, Focus Groups, Surveys, Personas, Scenarios, Use Cases, etc.)
  
• Working with clients to develop an understanding of the characteristics of the intended user segments as well as the ultimate context of application use
  
• Understanding the baseline (e.g., heuristic assessments of competitive solutions or prior solutions)
  
• Experimental & Inspection Methods (e.g., Cognitive walk-throughs, Think-Aloud Protocols, Remote Usability Testing, etc.)
  
• Design (e.g., Concept Modeling, Rapid Prototyping, Iterative Design, etc.)
  
• Development (e.g., communicating designs and requirements to developers, evaluating interim software deliveries)
  
• Mentoring and leadership

Clients are typically aligned with Retail, Consumer Packaged Goods, Life Sciences/Pharmaceutical, Financial Services (Banking/Insurance), Electronics, Telecommunications, Distribution and Media & Entertainment Industries.

Typical travel requirements: spending 4 days at client site and 3 nights at client location.
This position requires 75% travel.

For more information on our world-class Application Innovation solutions and services, please visit: http://www-935.ibm.com/services/us/gbs/ais/

Required

• High School Diploma/GED
  
• Basic knowledge in user Experience design, development and delivery of interactive applications for clients
  
• Basic knowledge in a leadership consulting position, working on complex interactive projects including user interface approaches/frameworks, design principles support, high-level content organization
  
• Basic knowledge in Dreamweaver, Visio, Photoshop, iRise, Rational Team Concert, and/or other prototyping tools
  
• Basic knowledge in with teams of business analysts, business transformation consultants, information architects, solution architects, software architects, and developers
  
• Basic knowledge in experimental and quantitative skills
  
• Basic knowledge in Web Analytics
  
• Basic knowledge in UI/UX Design - Familiarity with HTML/CSS, Javascript, RIA toolkits (like Dojo and jQuery) as well as design applications like Dreamweaver and Photoshop
  
• Basic knowledge in Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and/or other analytical/reporting techniques
  
• Basic knowledge in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques
  
• Readiness to travel Up to 4 days a week (home on weekends-based on project requirements)
  
• English: Basic knowledge
  

Preferred

• Master's Degree in Psychology
  
• At least 3 years experience in user Experience design, development and delivery of interactive applications for clients
  
• At least 3 years experience in a leadership consulting position, working on complex interactive projects including user interface approaches/frameworks, design principles support, high-level content organization
  
• At least 3 years experience in Dreamweaver, Visio, Photoshop, iRise, Rational Team Concert, and/or other prototyping tools
  
• At least 3 years experience in with teams of business analysts, business transformation consultants, information architects, solution architects, software architects, and developers
  
• At least 3 years experience in experimental and quantitative skills
  
• At least 3 years experience in Web Analytics
  
• At least 3 years experience in UI/UX Design - Familiarity with HTML/CSS, Javascript, RIA toolkits (like Dojo and jQuery) as well as design applications like Dreamweaver and Photoshop
  
• Certified in BCPE Certification (CPE, CHFP, CUXP)
  
• English : Fluent

IBM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

How To Apply:
https://jobs3.netmedia1.com/cp/faces/job_summary?job_id=GBS-0525083

User Interface, Information Architect
DIRECTV
Los Angeles, CA

Posted on: 12 January 2013

Job description
A new member on a team responsible for architecting new features and improving existing features in the DIRECTV user experience.  This includes user interfaces for DIRECTV set top boxes.  The team’s efforts can also include development of next generation user interfaces, features and remote controls.    

Required Knowledge & Experience

• Advanced degree in information architecture, interaction design or HCI
• Minimum 3 years experience in information architecture, including user-centered design, user requirements analysis and usability testing
• Strong in set top box UI development or web, consumer electronics or similar product UI if related to television/entertainment
• Cross platform development experience (creating experiences that will have consistency across different devices) is a plus
• Ability to write accurate, clear, concise and thorough specification documents that software developers and testers can easily understand
• Software proficiency
• Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash and Acrobat
• Omnigraffle
• Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Visio  
• Fluency in Spanish and/or Portuguese is a plus

Job Duties & Requirements

• User interface solutions: utilize guidelines provided by executives, UX managers, feature producers and project managers to develop quality user interface solutions for DIRECTV set top boxes.  Brainstorm and collaborate with other user interface and graphic designers and with engineers on multiple projects.  Includes support and collaboration with a separate team that develops DIRECTV website, mobile website and smartphone/tablet app (iOS and Android) user experiences.
• Documentation: for assigned projects, produce and maintain specification documents, text strings, flow charts, wireframes and other documentation that define the user experience.
• Project Management: work with Engineering project managers to plan milestones and identify resources, ensuring that project deadlines are met.
• Research Participation: support creation of usability and focus group test plans.  Support and/or develop user interface prototypes for research; these range from paper prototypes to interactive prototypes using Flash or other software applications, as appropriate.
• Software Development Support: work with engineers during software coding.  Solve issues, review software builds and update specifications.  
• Work hours, location and travel: hours are 9am to 5pm in El Segundo, CA offices.  There are occasional long hours, as needed.  Travel is infrequent (3 or less times a year), generally for only few days and is limited to contiguous US (although, international travel is a possibility).

Required Characteristics & Abilities

• Problem solving: digest the goal/challenge of a project, create realistic solution options, identify pros/cons and make recommendations
• Collaboration: work effectively within and across teams, with multiple personality types and cultural backgrounds, and contribute productively and respectfully to debates during development
• Communication: crystal clarity in speech and writing, includes making presentations to various audiences (engineers, managers, executives)
• Initiative: lead/drive projects, anticipate challenges and meet deadlines
• Receptivity: able to learn quickly and apply new knowledge adeptly
• Agility: work comfortably in a fast-paced, changing environment

About DIRECTV
DIRECTV has over 19 million customers in the U.S. and over 9 million in Latin America.  It is a Fortune 500 company with approximately 26,000 employees across the Americas.

To Apply: Contact Travis Jabara at tjabara@directv.com

User Experience Strategist
DIRECTV Digital Media Group
New York, NY

Posted on: 12 January 2013

The Digital Media Group is responsible for end-to-end Product Development, UX/UI Design and Content Strategy across all DIRECTV digital platforms.

The User Experience Strategist is responsible for managing, developing, and enhancing digital Entertainment, Acquisition and Self-Care products, applications and services across all DIRECTV digital platforms, mobile, and 3rd party devices. The UX Strategist will contribute to the development and design strategy on a variety of projects in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment.  The UX Strategist will constantly strive to enhance and innovate the digital portfolio of DIRECTV.
Duties Include:

• Support the full product development lifecycle from the point of initiation, through discovery, requirements definition, design, user research, development, launch and refinement.
• Drive a product roadmap and accompanying feature sets.
• Partner with UI/UX design teams to create strategic solutions that balance user and business objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement across digital products and services through the interpretation of user experience research.
• Executive level reporting and management of development status, issues, and escalations.
• Reach across the enterprise to build relationships and consensus that help the product and UX design effort succeed.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders including Product Owners, UX/UI design teams, Content Strategists, Creative Directors, Project Managers and development teams.
• Identify reporting gaps/weaknesses in current Ad Sales Systems and BI solutions to address these needs
• Manage delivery of BI solutions (portals, dashboards, standard and ad-hoc reporting) for a the ad sales organization
• Lead and participate in design review sessions; testing and post-deployment activities including data accuracy validation
• Participate in requirements gathering, data analysis; work with IT partners to design and implement BI solutions and reports

Qualified candidates for this role will exhibit the following:

• 5 years of experience in product design, user experience, and/or product management with an online technology or entertainment company.
• Ability to work in fast paced, high-tech, rapidly growing and exciting environment.
• Ability to grasp complex concepts and systems quickly, and express them in simple ways.
• Experience in developing effective and impactful deliverables including (but not limited to) requirements documents, use cases, sitemaps, content inventories, flow diagrams, taxonomy.
• Excellent verbal/written communication and presentation skills including the ability to provide guidance to highly technical professionals and executive management

To Apply: Contact Travis Jabara at tjabara@directv.com

Lead UX Strategist
DIRECTV
Los Angeles, CA

Posted on: 12 January 2013

DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV) is one of the world's leading providers of digital television entertainment services delivering a premium video experience through state-of-the-art technology, unmatched programming and industry leading customer service to more than 30 million customers in the U.S. and Latin America. In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 19.4 million customers access to more than 170 HD channels and Dolby-Digital® 5.1 theater-quality sound, access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET™, Emmy- award winning technology and higher customer satisfaction than the leading cable companies for eleven years running. DIRECTV Latin America, through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, leads the pay-TV category in technology, programming and service, delivering an unrivaled digital television experience to more than 10.6 million customers. DIRECTV sports and entertainment properties include three Regional Sports Networks (Northwest, Rocky Mountain and Pittsburgh) as well as a 60 percent interest in Game Show Network. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit www.directv.com.

The Product Ideation Group is a new team within the Digital Entertainment Product Group, responsible for early stage ideation across all verticals of DIRECTV. We are chartered with bringing the customer early into the process, and driving design thinking for product development over a long-term horizon. As a newly formed team, it's an exciting time to join. Not only are we involved in product ideation, we also play a critical role in developing user experience strategy at DIRECTV. The Experience Strategy Lead will work alongside UX team members, project managers, technical staff, and visual designers to identify requirements, set design goals, study users, and craft experiences that translate business and user needs into highly engaging experiences. This position requires a humble appreciation of our customer base, and a desire to do right by both our customer and business needs.

This role will have responsibilities in the following areas:  

UX Strategy

• Collaborate with project leads and project managers to determine approach and timelines that best leverage user
  experience techniques and achieve project objectives for optimization projects.
  
• Participate in end-to-end projects by ensuring user experience and business objectives are met from the point of
  project initiation, through discovery, definition, concept development, and refinement.
  
• Facilitate project teams consisting of user experience designers, project managers, visual designers, and prototypers.
  
• Identify strategic opportunities for improvements through the interpretation of consumer insights.
  
• Reach across departments to leverage enterprise resources for planning and execution.
  
• Develop ideas into pragmatic opportunities; formats include (but are not limited to) context scenarios, use cases,
  sitemaps, wireframes, context maps, content inventories, functional requirements, personas, customer journeys,
  storyboards, and flow diagrams.
  
• Formulate opportunities in terms of the research and data that they originated from.

UX Research

• Understand the customer across all touchpoints of DIRECTV.
  
• Participate in user experience research, including (but not limited to) contextual inquiries, usability studies, surveys,
  competitive analysis, remote research, and ethnography.
  
• Stay current with new research techniques that can be leveraged by our UX team.
  

UX Process & Methodology

• Facilitate collaborative work sessions with user experience team and cross-functional groups.
  
• Stay current on the use of new techniques for discovery, definition, and concept development.
  
• Lead and participate in activities geared toward innovation and creative ideation.
  
• Contribute to overall UX team learning and development.
  
• Bachelor's degree in Information Science, Human Factors, Human Computer Interaction, Psychology, Systems Design Engineering, or any related subject.
  
• Minimum 3 years of user experience work for highly transactional digital experiences.
  
• Minimum 2 years experience in strategic planning, inclusive of user experience.
  
• Strong business writing, storytelling, communication, and presentation skills.
  
• Critical thinker. Adept at extracting meaningful insights from multiple sources of data.
  
• Ability to grasp complex concepts and systems quickly, and express them in simple ways.
  
• Experience in developing effective and impactful deliverables: requirements documents, wireframes, and presentations.
  
• Advanced knowledge of digital technology and commerce.
  
• Desire to learn, and continually develop one's skills.
  
• Ability to operate in a systematic and logical manner, with use of good judgment.
  
• Proactive, self-starter who can work well both independently and as part of a team.
  
• Ability to maintain professional conduct, even under high-pressure situations.
  
• Organized, accurate, with high attention to detail.
  

Preferred

• Masters degree in Information Science, Human Factors, Human Computer Interaction, Psychology, Systems Design,
  or any related subject.
  
• Experience with facilitating collaborative teamwork.
  
• Ability to set up and facilitate user research.

To Apply: Contact Travis Jabara at tjabara@directv.com

Posted on: 08 January 2013

Responsibilities 
 In this role, you will:

• Manage content for the Principal Financial Group websites, including designing layouts and maintaining existing content.
  
• Provide input on the digital strategy and goals for the global websites, mobile website, e-mail marketing campaigns and social media.
  
• Participate in usability testing, which may include developing prototypes and protocols, moderating tests, creating reports and providing recommendations based on test results.
  
• Responsibilities will also include interaction with marketing, product, and compliance groups to create content that supports the overall digital strategy. 
   

Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in related field plus 4-6 years related experience required.
  
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing Communications, Journalism, plus 4-6 years related experience preferred.
  
• Excellent planning/organizational, problems solving, presentation, and analytical skills required. 
  
• Strong decision-making skills required, and knowledge of business unit and company products preferred. 
  
• Require excellent maintenance of confidentiality, with oral and written, listening, accuracy and detail orientation, and time management skills required. 
  
• Excellent computer skills and knowledge of business unit applications, along with interactive design (CSS, HTML,XML, javascript, J-query, Flash), content management and usability required. 

Visa Sponsorship 
This position is not eligible for sponsorship for work authorization by The Principal.  Therefore, if you will require sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, we cannot consider your application at this time. 

Background Check Requirements 
Employment at Principal is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Job Level
Willing to fill at a higher level, dependent upon experience.
At the Principal Financial Group, we offer a competitive total compensation package and a comprehensive benefits package to meet each of your needs. If you are looking for the opportunity to get ahead in your career, apply online at www.principal.com/careers for job #214168 to be considered. AA/EOE

To apply: https://secure05.principal.com/hr/recruiting/ext/jobDetailLink.faces?seqid=1&jid=214168

Account Manager, User Experience West Coast
Tobii Technology, Inc.
San Francisco/Silicon Valley area, CA

Posted on: 05 January 2013

Do you want a fun, intellectually challenging career with a significant opportunity for growth? Tobii Technology, founded in 2001, is the world’s most successful and innovative eye-tracking technology company. We are changing the world, and I am not kidding.  We offer a wide range of solutions based on our unique eye tracking technology. Tobii is expanding quickly, and is looking for talented individuals with a desire to drive their own growth and succeed on the Tobii team.  

Tobii North America is currently looking for a driven Account Manager who will target the west coast usability market. You will work with all the big names including Google, Microsoft, GE, Oracle, Facebook, Stanford, UCLA and others.  You will be responsible for both strategic and tactical relationships with the leading companies and universities in North America. 

In this role, you are responsible for the entire sales cycle, from first contact and customer demo to closed deal and long-term client relationship. You will also exhibit our innovative solutions at trade shows.

As the ideal candidate, you are highly organized and have a strong personal drive, are focused, and motivated to create sales results. You enjoy working as part of a small sales team in a very dynamic and fast growing company, where you not only have a great amount of influence, but also have great responsibilities and high expectations with regards to your results, achievements, and the setting of your own initiatives. You enjoy frequent travel, and cope well with a high work load at times. With very good technical understanding, professionalism, and the ability to build strong relationships, you have the skills required to find solutions to the constantly varying needs of your customers.

Working with Tobii is demanding, fun and an opportunity to grow, build markets, and develop through your work. Below are minimum requirements:

• An undergraduate degree in user experience research,  psychology research, business, communications, marketing or similar field
• At least 2 years of B2B sales experience, preferably of high tech or biometric products
• Excellent presentation skills and consultative approach
• Proven technical understanding and the ability to transfer this knowledge to customers, sales colleagues, and development teams
• Work experience in psychology or user experience, either at universities or at companies such as AnswerLab, UserCentric or similar businesses, is highly desirable
• Team oriented, with a desire to work in a small organization with a large degree of autonomy

Please submit your resume to barbara.johnson@tobii.com – subject line: Account Manager – UX West

Senior Interaction Designer
Design for Context
Washington, DC metro area

Posted on: 05 January 2013

Are you an experienced interaction designer with a penchant for solving complex and interesting problems?

Are you passionate about using technology and user-centered design to make people's lives and jobs easier? 

Job Description

Design for Context, an innovative consulting firm specializing in usability and user experience design, is seeking a Senior Interaction Designer to join our growing team. We specialize in usable design for rich information environments and enterprise-level applications (including case management and workflow systems, accounting systems, call center applications, e-learning, network security, telecommunications, and large-scale content search systems). We take pride in solving complex problems through a practical and thoughtful user-centered design approach, and employ top-tier interaction experts to help us meet and exceed client expectations.

The ideal candidate will have a talent for making complex information and interaction as simple as possible, enjoy working collaboratively, and be a strong advocate for user-centered design. The Senior Interaction Designer will work with our clients and project teams to translate user needs, stakeholder goals, and requirements into compelling user interfaces for web-based applications and software.  The individual in this position will be responsible for helping to drive product direction, synthesizing the results of user research into wireframes using a variety of tools, facilitating sessions to iterate them with clients and users, and communicating the design to multidisciplinary teams.

The Senior Interaction Designer must be a fast learner and a team player who understands the importance of collaboration and can communicate highly complex issues into easy-to-understand design requirements.  In this role, the individual will have opportunities to work on a variety of interesting small -and large-scale IT projects ranging from a few weeks to a few years in duration.

Location of job: Washington, DC metro area

------------------------------------------
Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in interaction design focusing on Web-based software user interfaces

• MA/MS in human factors, human computer interaction (HCI), interaction design, information architecture, product design, industrial design, library science, or related fields

• Strong knowledge of user-centered design

• Interaction design skills, including a command of user interface design patterns; detail-oriented, able to refine concepts through successive iterations and go the extra mile to launch the best possible design

• Experience working as the lead designer from concept to completion on high volume, web-based transactional applications, rich internet applications and software applications

• Creative thinking and the ability to explore and solve complex user experience and interaction design problems

• Experience working in an agile (rapid and iterative) product design and development context

• Ability to facilitate requirements gathering, ideation and collaborative workshops with stakeholders and users; strong communication skills with technical and non-technical people

• Ability to work with technical leads/developers to ensure proposed designs are feasible and make sense for the product

• Ability to articulate design concepts and rationale to development teams or executives

• Enthusiasm for working collaboratively with other user experience designers, information architects, graphic designers, researchers, developers, and team members

• Ability to communicate designs effectively through sketches, storyboards, mockups, wireframes prototypes, and user stories/narratives, using a range of relevant tools, such as PowerPoint, Visio, Omnigraffle, Balsamiq, Axure, InDesign, Dreamweaver, JustInMind, etc.

• Experience with the design of user interfaces for search tools is a plus

------------------------------------------
Company Description

Design for Context, LLC is a Washington, DC-based consultancy specializing in user experience design. We work with a wide range of clients in small startups, large corporations, and the federal government. Our expertise in the design of interactive applications and search user interfaces is a key strength. Our projects range from quick expert reviews to large, multi-year transactional systems analysis and design projects.

As a small “boutique” business, our highly experienced team enjoys a culture that is creative, flexible, and collaborative. Our work culture fosters an incredible exposure to innovative ideas and challenges that create experience and opportunity. If you're looking for something more than a way to tick off the hours between 9 and 5, something that challenges you to grow, we'd love to hear from you!

------------------------------------------
How To Apply

Please contact us via email at: office@designforcontext.com

Please submit a resume and a list of books that help shape and influence your design work. We will ask to see a portfolio URL, if you have one, or samples of work demonstrating experience and relevant, user-centered designs.

Customer Insight Manager
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Akron, OH

Posted on: 05 January 2013

Full Time, Permanent position
Apply at:  www.goodyear.com/careers
                  Req ID 12082023
                 
Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. A Fortune 500 company, we employ approximately 73,000 people and manufacture our products in 53 facilities in 22 countries around the world. We have built our foundation on a commitment to forward-thinking innovation, and our industry-leading new product engine helps us bring new products to market that feature the latest advances in materials and technologies. At Goodyear, we embrace the diversity of our workforce and value the contribution of our associates. We strive to provide associates with a safe work environment, the resources they need to do their jobs and ample opportunities for growth. These objectives, coupled with competitive compensation and benefits, allow us to foster an environment where associates can work to achieve their full potential and contribute to the company's success. For more information, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

Goodyear is looking to create a strong Global Innovation practice and is looking for Customer Insight Manager to be a part of its Global Innovation Team. The Global Innovation Team is responsible for identifying new business opportunities, selecting appropriate business models for the same incubating scaling the opportunities to final market launch. Located out of Akron, OH this position will be expected to lead and drive customer focused concept engagements which will be instrumental in identifying and recommending value propositions that Goodyear can go to market with.

Requirements:

• 5+ years of experience in a fast moving consumers good, pharmaceutical, electronic or IT company in the area of ideation and creation of value propositions.
  
• M.S (Design or equivalent)., M.B.A., or Ph.D. in science of engineering preferred.
  
• Bachelor's degree in business, science, engineering or related field of study required.
  
• This position requires a working knowledge of Primary Research (ethnography, intercept, in person, etc).
  
• Demonstrated experience in ideation and portfolio management to drive the commercialization of new products, processes and services.
  
• Prior work and interaction with third parties as related to designing value propositions.
  
• Design analysis and synthesis
  
• Behavioral prototyping
  
• Conducting and leading workshops around brainstorming in groups
  
• Secondary research.
  
• Project management.
  
• Digital, video & physical presentation of findings
  

Tasks:

• Fully internalize business needs, user requirements, technology considerations to frame research problems
  
• Offer ideation techniques to explore new opportunities (tools (electronic, brainstorm sessions, awake resident tacit knowledge), internal and external)
  
• Conduct & lead ethnography, focus groups and other consumer insights collection related activities
  
• Design business experiments to validate research findings

Apply at: http://www.candidatecare.com/srccsh/RTI.home?r=2000018150810&d=goodyear2.candidatecare.com

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