Design Research Lead

Company: Ford Motor Company
Location: Charleston
Posted on: November 16, 2023

Job Description:

Design Research Lead
We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we're all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves?
We're in the midst of the biggest change the automotive industry has ever seen. Just as cars changed the world over the last century, new technologies such as self-driving cars, electric powertrains, and connected vehicles will radically reshape how we live, work, and play in the next hundred years. As a member of the Experience Design (XD) Team, you'll be at the heart of creating that future. Every day, Ford's vehicles, and services support millions of people around the world. You'll craft every touchpoint our customers encounter, designing people and society's needs into the heart of our next generation of out-of-vehicle products, services, and experiences.
What you'll do...
About the role: The Research Lead helps design an ecosystem of digital and physical products and services across the entire customer journey, from shopping and buying, to owning and maintaining vehicles. They will design and conduct research activities that help identify key opportunity areas, and evaluate and refine design solutions. This role will collaborate closely with the Design, Strategy, and Creative Technology teams.
The UX Research Lead is expected to function with a high degree of autonomy and contribute to the development and growth of the research practice by serving as a mentor, guide, and expert, both within and outside of the XD research team.
About you: You are a seasoned individual contributor with a pragmatic and creative approach; someone who is comfortable with formal research studies, when time and resources allow, but can also find creative ways to get in front of customers quickly when rapid feedback is needed. Just like us, you value curiosity, experimentation, and collegiality. You are an exceptional storyteller, and a deeply empathetic researcher. You thrive in a collaborative environment but can work independently to plan and execute research projects. You have a passion for new consumer technology, and significant experience in digital product and service development.
More often than not, our team is imagining new experiences, rather than refining existing products. You are comfortable in these open spaces, and inventive and thoughtful in your approach.
This position is remote eligible.
--- Translate project goals and learning objectives into appropriate research plans.
--- Identify effective research methods based on learning objectives, time, and resources.
--- Conduct generative research, both primary and secondary, to identify and explore opportunity areas.
--- Conduct evaluative research to refine design solutions and test new products/services in pilot programs.
--- Design learning experiences for your project team that generate actionable insights and build empathy with users.
--- Experiment with different tools and methods to execute research plans, e.g. co-creation.
--- Partner with the Design and Creative Technology teams to create research stimuli to deeply understand user needs, uncover possibilities, and test assumptions.
--- Make research findings relevant and impactful for design through a variety of formats.
--- Inspire the team through collaboration as well as direction, vision, and planning of all aspects of project work and deliverables.
--- Manage the project research budget, including compensation for participants and travel for fieldwork.
--- Communicate effectively with teammates, partners, and executive stakeholders.
--- Support development of the Experience Design Research practice across the community.
--- Do your part to help build a culture of trust and innovation where teams can do the best work of their careers.
You'll have...
--- Bachelor's Degree in a relevant social science discipline or a combination of education and equivalent experience.
--- 5+ years of UX research experience culminating in a sound ability to lead a team, scope a research process, lead fieldwork, and conduct interviews and user feedback sessions with working prototypes.
--- 5+---years' experience---using human-centered design, design thinking principles or methods
--- 3+ years' experience leading highly collaborative project teams.
--- Proficiency with common testing platforms (UserTesting, dScout, etc.).
Even better, you may have...
--- Master's or PhD in sociology, anthropology, psychology, design, or other relevant discipline.
--- Significant experience in evaluative research is a plus, both moderated and unmoderated studies.
--- Experience operating in cross-functional organizations.
You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!
As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder---or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
--- Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage
--- Flexible family care, parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and mor
--- Vehicle discount program for employees and family members, and management leases
--- Tuition assistance
--- Established and active employee resource groups
--- Paid time off for individual and team community service
--- A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day
--- Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
For a detailed look at our benefits, click here:
https://clicktime.symantec.com/15tStcu1QNtiiWvD7vfBg?h=CQ6Kh2-r-j8Li44sM4P9DwtT7A1qw6oiM-oi9wNen24=&u=https://fordcareers.co/LL6HTHD
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.
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Requisition ID : 20787

Keywords: Ford Motor Company, Charleston , Design Research Lead, Other , Charleston, West Virginia