[Job] Design Positions in Telefonica I+D (Spain) – USER EXPERIENCE RESEARCHER

USER EXPERIENCE RESEARCHER

Telefonica I+D Background

Telefonica I+D (TID) is the research and development company of Telefonica. Telefonica is an internationally integrated Telco who is ranked number 1 based on size of customer base. It is also ranked as the largest European Telco based on market capitalization. Telefonica remains one of the top 30 Innovation companies in the world.

TID was founded in 1988 in Madrid, and now has research centers in Grenada, Barcelona, London and Brazil. TID is committed to producing innovative products and services that make a difference. During the last several years, TID has embraced innovation methodologies to drive customer centric innovation. These methodologies include generating customer insights, concept ideations and evaluations, rapid prototyping, agile development processes and on-going engagement with customers.

Interaction designers, visual designers, design thinkers and researchers have become critical to the successes of TID products and services. In 2011, we continue growing the User Experience Design team with top design and research talent.

 

Opportunity

The research candidate needs to have experience in a range of research methods to be able to develop deep understanding and insights into customer habits, motivations, needs, mind sets, behaviours and more, to understand the ‘whys’ behind customer observations. Such methods include: ethnographic and observational techniques, photo diary studies, participatory design practices, use of analytic and statistical tools, and facilitating group discussions.

The candidate must be able to translate the observations and understanding into customer insights, strategic product and service opportunities, use cases, and service ideas that can drive TID’s product and service innovations. They need to be able to summarize customer profiles and insights for different initiatives, sometimes in the form of personas, to allow project teams to continue to ground product and service ideas and decisions in customer needs.

The candidate needs to have understanding of product development and user experience design, and be able to collaborate closely with design strategists, interaction designers and visual designers to create innovative products and service ideas and solutions.

In addition to leading and participating in insights initiatives, the candidate will need to lead participatory design studies, provide heuristic evaluation, complete usability studies and participate in translating user insights into user experience artifacts. They may execute wireframes and flows to communicate the concept and experience. Most importantly, they need to be able to lead workshops and group discussions.
Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct research studies applying a wide range of user research techniques: focus groups, ethnographic interviews, diaries, etc.

• Co-facilitate brainstorms and work sessions using a range of innovation techniques and methods.

• Provide expertise for cross-platform user experiences and behaviour models, including platforms such as desktop applications, web, mobile computing, TV interaction, and emerging technologies and interaction paradigms (touch screens and multi-touches, immersive interfaces, etc.).

• Facilitate workshops and discussion.

• Write research finding reports that clearly elaborate the customer opportunity, the business opportunity and the innovation opportunity. Create models of the findings that are actionable for teams.

• Stay connected to social theories and evolving insights research practices; bring new practices to the team and to projects.

• Adapt research methods to different project needs and situations.

• Ensure integrity of research insights are maintained through iterative concept and product development cycles.

Qualifications

• 4+ years as researcher, working in interdisciplinary environment and on a wide range of products and interfaces.

• Proven record for creating valuable customer insights that have led to valuable and innovative product ideas and concept.

• Passion for understanding customers and their needs; and skill in engaging with them.

• Passion for technology, for design practices, and creating a better world.

• Knowledge of social trends and theories.

• Experience supporting product development teams with customer engagement through product or service launch.

• Experience working with business metrics to devise product strategies.

• Excellent problem solving skills, thinking beyond the familiar, and comfortable with ambiguity.

• Basic interaction and visual design knowledge.

• Great analysis capacity.

• Team player and excellent communicator.

• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies (SCRUM).

• Knowledge of usability standards such as ISO-9241-11.

• Strong skills in statistics (descriptive statistics, benchmarking, predictive modelling adjustment, etc.), and management of statistical packages.

• Experience in training others in research methods.

• MA/MS in Psychology, Sociology, Linguistics or related study.

• Work and research samples required.