Growth from Knowledge
Our world is changing fast. Consumers, users, and buyers are calling the shots. New things become possible every second. And more complicated, too. Our clients are businesses around the globe. To make the best possible decisions every day, they need to really know what is going on, now and in the future. We don’t have a crystal ball, either. But we love data and science and we understand how to connect the two. We care about attention to detail and accuracy. We are digital engineers who build world-class research, powered by high technology. Because people who know best lead the way. This is why GfK means Growth from Knowledge.
Position
Sr. Research Director, User Experience
Why GfK?
GfK offers an exciting work environment that encourages an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. As a trusted leader in market research present in over 100 countries, we know what makes consumers’ hearts beat – globally and locally. We work on projects for successful companies in virtually every major industry.
About Us
GfK is the trusted source of relevant market and consumer information that enables clients to make smarter decisions. More than 13,000 market research experts combine their passion with GfK’s long-standing data science experience. This allows GfK to deliver vital global insights matched with local market intelligence. By using innovative technologies and data sciences, GfK turns big data into smart data, enabling its clients to improve their competitive edge and enrich consumers’ experiences and choices.
About User Experience
We help design desirable, useful, usable, and engaging experiences by focusing on how users interact with products and services. We complement and extend GfK’s market research capabilities with direct observation and measurement of how customers experience products and services. We engage both early and late in the product development process, find the gaps, and produce recommendations and designs. As a result, our clients create experiences that are engaging and meaningful and that drive user adoption and customer satisfaction.
Position Description
This role is looking for HMI and Automotive experience. The Senior Research Director is responsible for managing multiple projects within the UX branded product areas. This position oversees all phases of UX projects, including bidding and scoping, preparation, execution, and delivery. This role operates as an independent team leader who can represent UX to industries as a SPL (Senior Practice Lead). They are responsible for a research practice area, as well as leading projects and acting as a mentor to specialist positions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The Senior Research Director is responsible for managing a specific UX practice area and core project activities to ownership and management of teams for projects and larger accounts (typically in excess of $500K).
Specific responsibilities include:
Act as a project and thought leader within UX. Provide positive and solution-focused direction to challenges. Manage multiple large research projects, focuses on all aspects of project management and execution through to delivery (research / design approach, execution, quality assurance, analysis, etc.).
Close sales opportunities, identifies leads, leads sales meetings; provides approach and bidding.
Communicate deliverables and design recommendations.
Oversee final reports and presentations to communicate results.
Ensure quality of all work performed by direct reports with regular review and interaction with researchers and research leads.
Conduct reviews of deliverables when supervising projects.
Communicate clearly to team members to ensure that the team is clear on what needs to be done to facilitate project success.
Foster collaboration and provides active formal and informal constructive feedback with the intent to grow talent. Act as a mentor to designer and design leads.
Work with UX team and KAMs to recommend approaches and bids with supervision.
Work to improve the UX practice by focusing on areas of interest (e.g., Customer Journey, Mapping, training, onboarding, process improvement, etc.).
Advocate for sound user-centered design approaches (UX research + design) to both clients and teams. Accepts project challenges with poise and confidence (“find the good”).
Experience and Skills:
Solid consulting skills are required for the role to be successful in sales, project and team management. Strong client management will be critical for success.
Competent at managing the project team and the client.
Proven ability to deliver strong presentations, ability to anticipate client questions and needs.
Demonstrated familiarity with UX products and sales process.
Strong understanding client management as a skill.
Competent skills in moderator’s guide development, analysis and recommendations for reporting.
Demonstrated ability to manage a variety of projects types and using different UX techniques.
Project management skills for logistics and planning and team activity execution.
Strong communication skills to explain design justification and flexibility to adapt to client needs.
5-7 years’ experience in related field (i.e., user experience research or design).
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in human factors, HCI, Psychology, Industrial Engineering, Industrial /Design, Visual Design, Behavioral Sciences or equivalent experience is required (Master’s degree or higher preferred).
If that sounds like you, we are excited to get to know you. Make your choice and apply today.
What does this mean for you?
The Work Environment We offer a great and inspiring work environment that enables our teams to deliver the best results for our clients. We embrace working in team settings, building on trust, collaboration, and open feedback, and we embrace the latest digital technologies. We foster diversity: this means more than gender, race or age for us. It is the inclusion of different thinking, experiences, expertise and backgrounds across all businesses and organizational levels.
So if you share our drive to help shape markets and like working with teams who are dedicated to bringing research insights and compelling data to life, you could be just the person we’re looking for!
Your Personal Development We believe a company grows when its employees grow. As a ‘people company’ investing in our most important asset, our people are key. We are committed to providing you with opportunities to develop both professionally and personally through local, regional and global programs.
We offer competitive salaries and attractive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, employer matching 401(k) plan, paid time off and more; as well as opportunities for professional growth and advancement. We believe that a healthy balance between work and life is crucial for motivated employees and a successful business
GfK is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to attracting, retaining and promoting an inclusive workforce that is fully representative of the diversity that exists in the communities in which we do business. EEO/M/D/V
About us
Make your choice today and take your future into your own hands. We value skills and talents, and will support your development within our international teams. We offer an exciting work environment that brings people together and encourages an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. As a trusted leader in market research present in over 100 countries, we know what makes consumers’ hearts beat-globally and locally. We work on projects for successful companies in virtually every major industry?