Senior UX Researcher and Designer

About the role

We are seeking a Senior UX Researcher and Designer who will support our NYS client. This role will lead end-to-end user research and design activities for high-priority public-facing digital services within NYC Digital Service, the Office of Technology and Innovation, and other NYC agencies and departments. The consultant will partner with product, strategy, analytics, engineering, and stakeholder teams to translate user evidence and behavioral data into actionable insights, user requirements, and wireframed journeys that improve digital services for New Yorkers.

Responsibilities

• Execute end-to-end research for high-priority public services, defining challenges and identifying opportunities for evidence-based guided experiences.
• Collaborate with product managers, digital strategists, analytics teams, and other user researchers to create research plans, hypotheses, and user requirements for product development.
• Partner with analytics teams to synthesize qualitative research with behavioral data and provide a holistic view of the user experience.
• Compile finished, well-documented research findings and deliver meaningful, actionable insights for internal teams and stakeholders.
• Audit and mature the internal user research toolkit by introducing methodologies that broaden the team’s ability to capture user insights and strengthen a data-driven culture.
• Wireframe user journeys based on user research, stakeholder input, and documented requirements.

Qualifications

• Mandatory Qualifications:
  • 8+ years of experience leading generative research, including field studies and interviews, and evaluative research, including usability testing and A/B testing.
  • 2+ years experience of wireframe user journeys based on research insights and user requirements.
  • Ability to translate research hypotheses into actionable research plans using mixed methods and statistically sound analysis.
  • Experience recruiting users aligned with required demographic and behavioral profiles.
  • Expertise in research methodologies that prevent over-generalization, sample underrepresentation, and correlation/causation fallacies.
  • Ability to nurture a culture of creative solutioning that prioritizes high-quality digital experiences informed by strategy, user evidence, analytics, and competitive research.
  • Ability to inspire cross-departmental partners and colleagues to anchor their work in user centricity, research methodologies, and evidence-based solutioning.
• Desirable Qualifications:
  • Certification in evaluation practice, such as The Evaluators’ Institute (TEI), or equivalent education in qualitative evaluation and research methodology.
  • 10+ years of experience interpreting complex patterns across qualitative and quantitative data sets.
  • Understanding statistical principles to evaluate data.
  • Experience working in cross-disciplinary teams of product, engineering, and data experts to deliver products and services that improve user experience and organizational goals on time.
  • Experience facilitating group synthesis sessions with cross-disciplinary teams, including engineering, data, and product stakeholders.
  • Experience exemplifying diverse representation and accessibility in research practice and past projects.
• Educational & Certification Requirements:
  • Certification in evaluation practice, such as The Evaluators’ Institute (TEI), or equivalent education in qualitative evaluation and research methodology preferred.

What We Offer

• Opportunities to lead impactful transformations in the public sector infrastructure.
• Engagement with high-profile government initiatives, supporting meaningful change.
• A collaborative environment that values ownership, initiative, and continuous learning.

Salary Range

USD 55 - 65 hourly