Principal Researcher - HCI

Sutherland; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic design research practice in San Francisco as a Principal Researcher and HCI specialist. This role offers the chance to lead complex engagements and shape the development of innovative research methodologies. Collaborate with a talented team to deliver actionable insights for world-leading clients, while advocating for human-centered design across the organization. If you're passionate about enhancing user experiences and eager to make a significant impact, this position is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 6+ years leading research engagements in agency or in-house settings.
• Advanced skills in project management and research design.

Responsibilities

• Manage key client relationships and develop engagement strategies.
• Lead multiple research projects and deliver polished insights.

Skills

Project Management

Research Design

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

Communication Skills

Business Development

Education

Masters in Cognitive Psychology

PhD in Human-Computer Interaction

Tools

Mixed-Methods Research

Job description

We are a small but mighty design research practice in San Francisco looking for a Principal Researcher and HCI specialist to join our smart, creative and warm team. This role is an opportunity to make your mark on a key disciplinary area with a growing practice.

Sutherland Labs is an international team of researchers, designers and creatives who work with world-leading clients to improve everyday experiences. We pride ourselves on delivering creative, customized research solutions to address our clients’ questions with clarity and inspiration. Our practice is rooted in qualitative research, with a focus on uncovering rich, contextual insights to inform design strategy.

Job Description

The Role

Principal Researchers take responsibility for our most complex engagements, ranging from one-off studies to programs of research. Principals help shape the development of our practice, nurturing team growth and expanding our methodological toolkit. They are trusted by our sophisticated clients to recommend research solutions to fit their evolving needs.

Key Responsibilities

Relationship Management

• Develop and manage key relationships, from lead generation to post-delivery feedback
• Help to frame engagement strategy, proposal content, and the definition and positioning of our research value proposition
• Creatively develop bids, scope projects, and configure engagements to optimize results for clients with varying budget and timeline requirements
• Confidently lead and manage multiple engagements simultaneously
• Create engaging learning experiences for client teams throughout the research process, from senior executives and product leaders to junior researcher partners
• Recommend and deliver polished and compelling deliverables that enable action to realize organizational goals. These may include insights reports, journey maps, service blueprints, and video reels (with support from our in-house creative team). Where appropriate, reimagine traditional deliverables.
• Facilitate client meetings and workshops to achieve consensus or clarity
• Evangelize and grow expertise in HCI within our San Francisco practice
• Participate in building and evolving the research methodology, codifying and improving existing processes, and aid in the growth of our research design practice’s maturity
• Provide mentoring, and support professional development of team members, especially in research design and analysis
• Advocate for the team and our work, e.g. publishing papers, attending industry events, writing blogs, activity on social media
• Champion human-centered innovation across our broader organization, Sutherland Global, through leading, educating and collaborating with business development colleagues

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Academic qualifications in Cognitive Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Design Strategy or a related field are useful, with a Masters or PhD preferred; however exceptional candidates may instead have experience that serves as an equivalent.
• 6+ years of experience leading research engagements in an agency or in-house setting. Experience in a fast-moving agency, startup or innovation lab setting is strongly preferred.
• Experience leading research in the consumer financial services domain is highly desirable.
• Advanced skills in project management, research and experiment design, crafting and writing of deliverables. Mixed-methods research skills desirable.
• Strong business development experience, from developing new client relationships through to account management
• Demonstrable experience tackling complex projects that involve simultaneous stakeholders and/or research sites or segments

Job Requirements

• Eligibility to work in the US. Unfortunately, visa sponsorship is not available
• Occasional global and domestic travel may be required
• Role is located in downtown San Francisco on a hybrid basis. For exceptional candidates, a fully remote role in NYC may be possible.
• Ability to carve out goals as well as the plan to reach them, and is comfortable with ambiguity.
• willingness to get scrappy and roll up your sleeves on occasion.
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to work in close collaboration with colleagues.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

EEOC and Veteran Documentation
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At times, government agencies require periodic reports from employers on the sex, ethnicity, handicap, veteran and other protected status of employees. The purpose of this Administrative EEO Record is for statistical analysis only and is used to comply with government record keeping, reporting, and other legal requirements. Periodic reports are made to the government on the following information. The completion of the Administrative EEO record is optional. If you choose to volunteer the requested information, please note that all
Administrative EEO Records are kept in a Confidential File and are not part of your Application for Employment or Personnel file.
Please note: YOUR COOPERATION IS VOLUNTARY. INCLUSION OR EXCLUSION OF ANY DATA WILL NOT AFFECT ANY EMPLOYMENT DECISION.