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Usability Manager, Staples, Inc
Apr 13 04
Source: CHI-Jobs
(Position is located in Framingham, MA which is about 25 minutes west of
Boston)
You've heard our company tagline: "That was easy." Now come join one of the key teams that is making that statement a reality.
About Our Team
The Staples Usability team continues to be one of the thought leaders in usability and is growing to meet company demand for our services. We are comprised of researchers, information architects and analytics experts. Our mission is to cut costs and increase sales by using science to predict behavior and optimize design. No easy task, but one that is achievable with a focused, all-star team of experts all driving to the same goal.
About the Position
The Usability Manager will be responsible for ensuring that ecommerce web sites and emails provide a best-in-class usability experience. In this role, you will partner closely with the business and creative teams to architect research that uncovers the customer vision of an easy web experience. Then you will work with the team to make that vision a reality.
As the ideal Usability Manager, you will have a long and impressive track record of building usable solutions for ecommerce web sites. You will have many tools in your research toolbox including focus grouping, surveying and, of course, usability testing. You will use those tools to produce airtight research that leads to actionable and decisive design recommendations. You will be a leader who can deliver a message with clarity and appropriate weight. You will, above all, be someone who knows how to balance business and user needs--no ivory tower types please.
If you are passionate about making the lives of customers and associates easier and know how to balance that with the business realities of "good enough" keep reading. If you think radiantly about new and better ways to conduct research and design solutions, the Staples Usability group may be right for you. If you are cookie cutter, afraid to take risks and don't push others to also think differently, stop reading now. If you are still with us and starting to get excited about this opportunity, see the details below.
Responsibilities
Research: Lead data gathering by architecting and managing comprehensive research programs for ecommerce initiatives. Methodologies will consist of competitive reviews, focus groups, field studies, usability tests, surveys, cognitive walkthroughs and other means.
Responsible for full user research cycle including:
* Identify segmentation, user and business goals, and technical
requirements.
* Create tasks, screens needed for testing, and qualitative and
quantitative success criteria definition
* Conduct research with participants
* Aggregate findings and structure into findings document
* Present findings to cross-functional groups
* Work closely with business and creative teams to improve product
based on recommendations
Conduct expert reviews of web pages by applying scientific usability principles. Will manage heuristic process including:
* Create heuristic model appropriate for research goals
* Document needs for changes or improvements based on the review
* Rank the issues uncovered through the review into "must change" and
"should change" and communicate recommendations for improvements
* Work closely with business and creative teams to improve product
based on recommendations
Design: Work closely with business and creative teams to design best-in-class ecommerce solutions. Serve as customer voice in design process by consistently communicating user strategy and translating that into concrete design recommendations.
Client Management: Serve as main client focal point for all usability and analytics work across multiple business areas. In that role, ensure that overall usability budgets and strategies are adhered to. Conducted ongoing status updates to quantify gains from work.
Team Management: Manage 1 full-time Usability Analyst. On a project-basis, manage work load of other Usability team resources including Information Architects and Research Analysts. Additionally, locate and hire contractors as projects needs dictate. Supervise those contractors in the completion of deliverables.
Qualifications
-Minimum of an MS degree in Human Factors, Cognitive Psychology or related discipline required.
-Minimum of 5 years of usability experience in a corporate or consulting environment required.
-Minimum of 3 years experience in conducting customer research on ecommerce web sites.
-Deep experience in a variety of research methodologies including focus groups, usability testing, traffic analysis, field studies and competitive analysis.
-Deep understanding of human behavior as demonstrated through professional and educational study required.
-Strong relationship building skills and ability to work calmly in a deadline/client-driven environment a must.
-Proficiency in defining strategic goals of an ecommerce web site and the affect of user experience on business metrics.
-Understanding of internet technology such as browsers and coding languages (HTML, JavaScript, CSS, etc.) and the impacts those variables have on the design of a system and ensuing impact to the user.
-Experience performing usability studies on International web sites a big plus.
Approximately 10%-15% travel required.
Please direct all correspondence to Jason Dietz at jason.dietz at staples.com.