User Experience Researcher

Shepherd Center; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Shepherd Center is seeking an experienced User Experience Researcher to lead data‑driven studies on assistive technologies and product usability. You will design projects, recruit participants, ensure data integrity, and produce research reports and manuscripts for publication and grant proposals.

The role requires navigating with sponsors and internal teams, conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, and maintaining comprehensive records.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required, preferably in human computer interaction, public‑health, software engineering, design, or related fields.
• Two years research, engineering, or clinical experience in industry, educational, or health care setting, preferred.
• Two years of experience conducting user centered or user experience research for product development.
• Demonstrated expertise in accessibility design principles, guidelines and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to lead development and implementation of new service line focused on accessibility compliance audits for mobile, web, and physical environments.
• Experience collaborating with diverse, cross‑functional product teams.
• Knowledge and experience in research methods, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, and report writing, including evaluating ICT, and user‑experience/user testing research.
• Skilled in use of productivity software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) required.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience using quantitative data analysis software.
• Strong analytical, writing, and organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to independently solve problems, coordinate communications among research and clinical staff on site and at partner institutions and manage administrative functions and records.
• High level of attention to detail and ability to multi‑task.
• Ability to engage/communicate independently with external stakeholders, including project owners on the client side and research participants with disabilities.
• Preferred qualifications: Doctoral degree and/or certifications in accessibility or user experience research and design; experience leading production of manuscripts for submission to peer‑reviewed research journals.
• Must possess or obtain CITI program certification in human research subjects protection.

Responsibilities

• Lead design of research studies on assistive technologies and product usability, accessibility and disability.
• Lead planning for study implementation.
• Lead accessibility compliance audits.
• Recruit and interact with research participants.
• Organize and maintain research participant records.
• Coordinate/lead quantitative and qualitative data collection for individual projects.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Write research reports, papers, articles, and presentations.
• Conduct literature searches for research manuscripts, identifying articles relevant to a selected topic.
• Maintain detailed study records.
• Track progress of projects and provide updates in regular team meetings.
• Prepare administrative reports as required.
• Maintain and update project management tools and files related to data collection activities, presentations, publications, or other dissemination activities as needed.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of current and emerging assistive and consumer technologies for people with disabilities, as well as accessibility regulations, policies and guidelines.
• Contribute to program development as needed.

Skills

UX research methods

Qualitative analysis

Quantitative analysis

Accessibility design principles

Cross‑functional collaboration

Written and oral communication

Product usability

Study design

Recruitment of participants

Data integrity and security

Education

Master’s degree in HCI / public health / software engineering / design

CITI certification in human research subjects protection

2 years research/engineering/clinical experience

Experience conducting user‑centered research for product development

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Access

Job description

About Shepherd Center

With five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world‑class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi‑trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd is the only rehabilitation facility in the nation with an intensive care unit on‑site, allowing us to care for the most complex patients and begin the rehabilitation process sooner. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again. Shepherd Center’s culture is one of hope, humor, and hard work, supporting career growth and long‑term retention of staff.

Job Description Summary

The User Experience Researcher leads the collection, entry, processing, and analysis of data obtained through user‑centered research projects on established and emerging technology solutions and concepts for people with disabilities. This role also helps design research projects, recruit participants, ensure data integrity and security, write user‑needs/user‑experience research reports, manuscripts for publication, and grant proposals. The role involves engaging directly with study sponsors and other relevant parties within and outside Shepherd Center. Ability to perform research and program activities independently and collaborate with the team is critical. Strong communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity skills are essential.

Accountabilities

• Lead design of research studies on assistive technologies and product usability, accessibility and disability.
• Lead planning for study implementation.
• Lead accessibility compliance audits.
• Recruit and interact with research participants.
• Organize and maintain research participant records.
• Coordinate/lead quantitative and qualitative data collection for individual projects.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Write research reports, papers, articles, and presentations.
• Conduct literature searches for research manuscripts, identifying articles relevant to a selected topic.
• Maintain detailed study records.
• Track progress of projects and provide updates in regular team meetings.
• Prepare administrative reports as required.
• Maintain and update project management tools and files related to data collection activities, presentations, publications, or other dissemination activities as needed.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of current and emerging assistive and consumer technologies for people with disabilities, as well as accessibility regulations, policies and guidelines.
• Contribute to program development as needed.

Qualifications – Master’s Level

• Master’s degree required, preferably in human computer interaction, public‑health, software engineering, design, or related fields.
• Two years research, engineering, or clinical experience in industry, educational, or health care setting, preferred.
• Two years of experience conducting user centered or user experience research for product development.
• Demonstrated expertise in accessibility design principles, guidelines and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to lead development and implementation of new service line focused on accessibility compliance audits for mobile, web, and physical environments.
• Experience collaborating with diverse, cross‑functional product teams.
• Knowledge and experience in research methods, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, and report writing, including evaluating consumer information and communication technologies (ICT), and user‑experience/user testing research.
• Skilled in use of productivity software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) required.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience using quantitative data analysis software.
• Strong analytical, writing, and organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to independently solve problems, coordinate communications among research and clinical staff on site and at partner institutions and manage administrative functions and records.
• High level of attention to detail and ability to multi‑task.
• Ability to engage/communicate independently with external stakeholders, including project owners on the client side and research participants with disabilities.
• Preferred qualifications: Knowledge of web and mobile software development environments; experience conducting accessibility audits; Doctoral degree and/or certifications in accessibility or user experience research and design; experience leading production of manuscripts for submission to peer‑reviewed research journals.
• Must possess or obtain CITI program certification in human research subjects protection.

Qualifications – Bachelor’s Level

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in psychology, public‑health, engineering, social sciences or related fields.
• Two years research, engineering, or clinical experience in industry, educational, or health care setting, preferred.
• Preference for knowledge, skills, and/or experience in research methods, data analysis, and writing/communication, including evaluating consumer information and communication technologies (ICT), and user‑experience/user testing research.
• Skilled in use of productivity software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) required; knowledge of SPSS preferred.
• Strong analytical, writing, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to solve problems, coordinate communications among research and clinical staff on site and at partner institutions, and manage administrative functions and records.
• High level of attention to detail and ability to multi‑task.
• Ability to communicate with external stakeholders and engage/recruit people with disabilities.
• Ability to engage/communicate independently with external stakeholders, including project owners on the client side and research participants.
• Must possess or obtain CITI program certification in human research subjects protection.