Director, User Experience Research

Why Ryan?

• Hybrid Work Options
• Award-Winning Culture
• Generous Personal Time Off (PTO) Benefits
• 14-Weeks of 100% Paid Leave for New Parents (Adoption Included)
• Monthly Gym Membership Reimbursement OR Gym Equipment Reimbursement
• Benefits Eligibility Effective Day One
• 401K with Employer Match
• Tuition Reimbursement After One Year of Service
• Fertility Assistance Program
• Four-Week Company-Paid Sabbatical Eligibility After Five Years of Service

As the Director of User Research for tax.com, you will play a critical role in shaping our products by leading a team of researchers working in collaboration with a cross-functional team of product managers, designers, engineers and business stakeholders. Reporting directly to the VP of User Experience, you will build and lead a team of user experience researchers and be responsible for driving a user-centric approach to product development, ensuring that our solutions meet the evolving needs and expectations of our diverse user base.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a comprehensive user research strategy aligned with the company's vision and business objectives. Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to integrate user insights into product roadmaps and decision-making processes
• Team Management: Build, lead and mentor a team of user researchers, fostering a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning. Provide guidance and support to empower team members to excel in their roles and deliver impactful research outcomes.
• Research Planning and Execution: Oversee the planning, execution, and analysis of user research initiatives across the product lifecycle, including usability studies, interviews, surveys, and ethnographic research. Ensure research methodologies and tooling are tailored to address specific product questions and objectives.
• User Insights and Advocacy: Synthesize findings from user research to uncover actionable insights and opportunities for product improvement. Champion the voice of the user within the organization, advocating for user-centric design principles and best practices.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with product managers, designers, engineers, and other stakeholders to translate user insights into actionable recommendations and product enhancements. Foster a collaborative environment where cross-functional teams are empowered to co-create solutions that prioritize user needs.
• Metrics and Evaluation: Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure the impact of user research initiatives on product success and user satisfaction. Use data-driven insights to iterate on research methodologies and drive continuous improvement.
• Stakeholder Communication: Effectively communicate research findings, insights, and recommendations to internal stakeholders at all levels of the organization, including executive leadership. Present compelling narratives that inspire confidence in the value of user research and drive alignment around product priorities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in user research, with at least 5 years of experience in a leadership or managerial role, ideally in a SaaS environment.
• Proven track record of designing and executing user research initiatives that have led to measurable improvements in product usability, satisfaction, and business outcomes.
• Strong understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including usability testing, interviews, surveys, and data analysis techniques.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to distill complex findings into clear and actionable insights for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and influence decision-making through compelling storytelling and data-driven arguments.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, agile environment within the SaaS or software industry is preferred.
• Passion for user-centered design and a relentless commitment to advocating for the needs and preferences of users.

Computer Skills:

• Design: Balsamiq, Figma, UXPin, Framer.js, Quartz Composer, or the similar are required
• Proficiency with Excel, Google sheets or similar are required
• User research and testing tools: Experience with research and testing tools such as Qualtrics, Maze, UserTesting or similar is required
• Web analytics: Understanding of web analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Amplitude, MixPanel is preferred

Certificates and Licenses:

Valid driver's license required.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment:

• Standard indoor working environment.
• Occasional extended periods of sitting while working at a computer.
• Position requires regular interaction with employees at all levels of the firm and with external vendors and clients as needed.
• Independent travel requirement: up to 10%.

Compensation:

• For certain California based roles, the base salary hiring range for this position is $181,000 - $258,500
• For other California based locations, the base salary hiring range for this position is $167,000 - $237,600
• For Colorado based roles, the base salary hiring range for this position is $159,00 - $226,600
• For New York based roles, the base salary hiring range for this position is $181,000 - $258,500
• For Washington based roles, the base salary hiring range for this position is $167,000 - $237,600
• The Company makes offers based on many factors, including qualifications and experience.

#DICE

Equal Opportunity Employer: disability/veteran