User researcher

Job Description

Hybrid: Reporting to a specific location where work needs to be performed / collaboration should happen (regardless this location is within a hub) and without regard to where a candidate lives (some employees may end up hybrid who live more than 50 miles away but where business needs dictate them to be onsite at a specific location three days per week).

• This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to GM Global Technical Center- Sloan Engineering Center three times per week, at minimum.
• This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

About the Role:

As a User Experience Researcher , you would collaborate with designers, technologists, and business stakeholders to craft well designed research studies to inspire and inform customer centered design practices/initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a solid foundation in design research methods (primary/secondary, quantitative/qualitative, generative/evaluative), an understanding of and commitment to user-centered design and have experience planning and facilitating research for digital products.

User Experience Researchers will support multi-disciplinary teams focused on translating human needs into viable product concepts using iterative, human-centered design – in close partnership with our accomplished designers. Research will impact the development of both in-vehicle and out-of-vehicle digital solutions. (e.g., apps).

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with teammates to plan and facilitate user research that will guide the design of world-class user experiences across all products and platforms for mobile and vehicle features.
• Design and field mixed methods research studies (primary/secondary, quantitative/qualitative, generative/evaluative) that provide our designers a complete view of our customers’ motivations, attitudes, product usage, barriers to engagement, and moments of satisfaction/pleasure with our vehicles and associated digital features/functionality (in-vehicle and out-of-vehicle).
• Facilitate workshops and collaborative activities with the team, stakeholders, and users.
• Demonstrate advanced analysis and synthesis skills/approaches – utilizing common data management tools.
• Analyze research findings to inform problem statements, guide design strategy, and define requirements.
• Provide tactical and targeted insights to inspire and inform the work of our designers.
• Provide inspiring reports and feedback on the implications to user experience and where improvements to the design and functionality of the system can be made.
• Advocate for accessibility in our testing processes – implementing research approaches wherever/whenever possible.
• Gaining insights from people with a variety of disabilities – learning from them in their own environments and with their own tools (e.g., screen readers, etc.).
• Contribute to the continued evolution of the team’s workflows and processes to further improve quality and performance.

Additional Job Description

Qualifications:

• 5 or more years executing user research to inform interactive product design required.
• 2 or more years of experience with accessibility research (e.g., 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act [CVAA] and/or 508 accessibility standards) required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in HCI, Human Factors, Product Design, Psychology, Research, or related field required, master’s degree preferred.
• Enterprise experience preferred.
• Proficient in multiple user research methodologies is required (contextual inquiry, empathy interviews, ethnography/observational research, heuristic evaluation and expert reviews, usability testing; surveys, card sorting/tree testing - information architecture, focus groups, competitive evaluation, SUS testing).
• Proficient in all aspects of study planning/fielding/analysis/synthesis/socialization of key findings (i.e., team consultation, recruiting, methodology and metrics development, analysis, reporting results, socialization of key findings, etc.) required.
• Keen ability to identify issues and problems, generate solutions and choose appropriate alternatives through use of user research methods required.
• Familiarity with basic visual and interactive design principles and practices required.
• Strong portfolio with work samples showcasing expertise in user research required.
• Illustrating experience with mixed methods research practices.
• Illustrating experience with quantitative/qualitative, primary/secondary, generative/evaluative research.
• Strong written, visual, and verbal communication skills required.
• Ability to work collaboratively required.
• Understanding of technology and the product development lifecycle preferred.
• Automotive experience strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of design thinking methods strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with common design user experience research tools (e.g., dScout, Optimal Workshop, Qualtrics, User Testing, XM Discover, Miro, and Figma) required.
• Familiarity with common design tools like Axure, Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign preferred.
• Familiarity with data science practices and working closely with data scientists/analysts in the design space (A/B testing, data analysis, etc.) preferred.

GM DOES NOT PROVIDE IMMIGRATION-RELATED SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE. DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS ROLE IF YOU WILL NEED GM IMMIGRATION SPONSORSHIP (e.g., H-1B, TN, STEM OPT, etc.) NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.

#LI-JN1

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us

We aspire to be the most inclusive company in the world. We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Our Work Appropriately philosophy supports our foundation of inclusion and provides employees the flexibility to work where they can have the greatest impact on achieving our goals, dependent on role needs. Every day, we want every employee, no matter their background, ethnicity, preferences, or location, to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

The goal of the General Motors total rewards program is to support the health and well-being of you and your family. Our comprehensive compensation plan incudes, the following benefits, in addition to many others:

• Paid time off including vacation days, holidays, and parental leave for mothers, fathers and adoptive parents;
• Healthcare (including a triple tax advantaged health savings account and wellness incentive), dental, vision and life insurance plans to cover you and your family;
• Company and matching contributions to 401K savings plan to help you save for retirement;
• Global recognition program for peers and leaders to recognize and be recognized for results and behaviors that reflect our company values;
• Tuition assistance and student loan refinancing;
• Discount on GM vehicles for you, your family and friends.

Diversity Information

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that workforce diversity creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers. We understand and embrace the variety through which people gain experiences whether through professional, personal, educational, or volunteer opportunities. GM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications and apply for any positions that match your skills and capabilities.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statements

GM is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. GM is committed to providing a work environment free from unlawful discrimination and advancing equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, all practices and decisions relating to terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment are made without regard to an indivi d ual's protected characteristics. For purposes of this policy, “protected characteristics" include an individual's actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, weight, height, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us at or call us at . In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.