Senior User Researcher

Description

Job Title: Senior User Researcher

Department: Intelligence / Operations Support

Reports To: Greenlight & User Research Director

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: El Segundo, CA

Job Summary

Square Enix NA (Los Angeles) is looking for a Senior UX/ User Researcher to support all Square Enix titles with high-quality research. This a full-stack, hands-on role that will join us at an exciting time where we are re-building and re-thinking the user research function. You will have a chance to truly influence the direction we take. This role reports into the Greenlight & User Research Director.

The Senior User Researcher is responsible for managing all aspects of User/UX Research at Square Enix , working closely with the User Research Director to ensure high quality, impactful, and cost-effective Research. This includes tailoring User Research plans for a diverse range of titles, budgets, and schedules, performing research activities, and further developing methodologies and approaches based on industry trends and best practices, as well as own ideas for research innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Effectively manage all aspects of User Research studies, including vendor relations, preparing and running studies, writing reports, debriefing, tracking etc.
• Work with the User Research Director to build and align the User Research vision with the overall department and group strategy and provide input to this strategy when relevant.
• Work closely with development teams near and far to help them understand the User Research program and inspire teams to integrate User Research into their projects.
• Co-create User Research standards and procedures for franchises, production schedules and budgets (incl. lab-facilities, remote testing etc.).
• Review methodologies in action and update as needed, based on internal needs and new research methods becoming available and/or relevant.
• Help establish pipeline for efficiently sourcing and tracking participants (we’re looking to use vendors as much as possible, but also in time to build our own list/panel sourced from the local area).

Knowledge and Experience

• 3-5 years of experience as User/UX Researcher, preferably in the video game industry (although we are open to people with strong research backgrounds from other industries).
• The User/UX researcher must be experienced in research design for video game studies as well as more ‘traditional’ website/app research studies, fluent in a relevant range of qualitative and quantitative social science and behavioral research methodologies and be able to quickly and effectively analyze and present data to influence project quality.
• A Master’s degree (MA) in a relevant field is preferred (e.g., HCI, Psychology, Sociology, Ethnography etc.). Solid practical skills must rest on a bedrock of theoretical knowledge – the Sr. User/UX researcher must have a theoretical perspective on their practice and understand the limitations and opportunities that different theories and methodologies offer.
• The User/UX researcher has experience with personnel management and development, and ability to work well with executive-level managers and development teams.
• Strong collaborative skills, and works well with cross-functional teams, including game designers, producers, engineers and artists. 
• Must be able to adjust your research communication to the audience’s needs (for instance people with minimal or extensive research or statistical backgrounds).
• Must be able to work independently.
• Strong knowledge of user-centered design principles, or related design methodologies (e.g., design thinking, double-diamond, service design etc.)
• It would be a plus if you have
• Experience working with Japanese development teams.
• Experience with using video for reporting purposes.
• Experience with Power BI, Tableau, R, Python, analytics, and/or advanced statistical methods.
• Experience with advanced qualitative methods (e.g., metaphor elicitation, participatory design studies, service design research, service blueprinting, participatory design sessions etc.)

Salary : $100,000 - $130,000