User Experience Researcher

Job Description

Over 20 years ago, Stride was founded to provide personalized learning powered by technology. Stride innovated the learning experience with online and blended learning that prepared them for their lives ahead. Today, Stride has taken the next step toward virtual lifelong learning with products like Tallo. Tallo propels young talent to explore and match with high-quality jobs and complete the training they need to succeed. We focus on talent with skill or credential gaps because they offer the greatest opportunity to employers, states, and our society. Our country doesn't lack opportunity, and it doesn't lack talent.  It lacks a way to connect the two.  Come join us in building a bridge between talent and the opportunities awaiting them.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate User Experience Researcher to join our team focused on building a digital platform for early talent seeking guidance and pathways to new careers and opportunities. As a Product Researcher, you will be responsible for planning and executing end-to-end research initiatives in support of products at Stride, specifically Tallo.

As a key member of the Tallo product organization, you will collaborate closely with marketing, product, design, engineering, and data partners. This role demands a strategic mindset, keen understanding of user experience research throughout the product design lifecycle,  collaboration with cross-functional teams, a deep-rooted understanding of human-centered design and design thinking, and a comprehensive knowledge of the career navigation and edTech landscapes. Success in this role will require balancing collaborative team dynamics with autonomy and initiative of individual ownership. You must be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Above all, you should be a creative problem-solver and enthusiastic team player.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:   Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• Independently lead research efforts, in collaboration with stakeholders, to support product development across the product development lifecycle.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams of UX designers, product owners, product managers, developers, and researchers to clarify and define research objectives
• Employ a variety of research methodologies and tools to understand user attitudes, behaviors, and experience.
• Present and communicate research insights to key decision-makers and stakeholders.
• Equip designers, product managers, and other stakeholders with insights about users’ experiences to inform the product strategy and development decisions.
• Work closely with product teams to ensure features and functionality meets users’ needs and addresses user feedback, and develop and maintain a product roadmap that aligns with the company's business goals, budgets, and timelines.
• Create empathy throughout the organization by continuously sharing insights about the users needs, pain points, and experiences.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position has no formal supervisory responsibilities.

Certificates and Licenses: None required.

OTHER REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:   

• Three (3) years of industry experience in UX research, product research, or related fields (such as psychology, UX design, software development, etc.) OR equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Proven track record of collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and execute product strategies.
• Ability to foster a culture of continuous improvement within the team by identifying areas for optimization and implementing strategies for enhancement.
• Deep knowledge of human-centered design and product research methodologies, tools, and best practices needed across the product development lifecycle.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to work with diverse personalities and cross-functional teams
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Must be highly organized and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Additionally, you should have experience with facilitating interviews, and building surveys, unmoderated tests, analytics dashboards, and moderated usability tests.
• Ability to pivot and adapt, when necessary.
• Strategic thinker, creative problem-solver and enthusiastic team player.
• Microsoft (Sharepoint, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.); Web proficiency.
• Ability to travel up to 5% of the time.
• Ability to clear required background check.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor's degree or industry-recognized certification in a relevant field such as human-computer-interaction, human factors, psychology, sociology, or product management.
• Prior experience conducting product research within the EdTech sector.
• Knowledge of the EdTech market and trends.
• Understanding of GDPA, COPPA, and FERPA standards, and other UX research ethical standards.
• Experience using Hotjar, Qualtrics, UserTesting, and Figma.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This position is virtual and open to residents of the United States.

Compensation & Benefits: Stride, Inc. considers a person’s education, experience, and qualifications, as well as the position’s work location, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value when determining a new employee’s salary level.  Salaries will differ based on these factors, the position’s level and expected contribution, and the employee’s benefits elections.  Offers will typically be in the bottom half of the range.

We anticipate the salary range to be $58,379.25 to $115,113.60. Eligible employees may receive a bonus.  This salary is not guaranteed, as an individual’s compensation can vary based on several factors.  These factors include, but are not limited to, geographic location, experience, training, education, and local market conditions. Stride offers a robust benefits package for eligible employees that can include health benefits, retirement contributions, and paid time off. 

Job Type

The above job is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor. All employment is “at-will” as governed by the law of the state where the employee works.  It is further understood that the “at-will” nature of employment is one aspect of employment that cannot be changed except in writing and signed by an authorized officer.

Stride, Inc. is a Federal Contractor, an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status age, or genetics, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)