Background

AstraZeneca (AZ) is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world's most serious diseases.

Digital products and services are becoming increasingly important for AZ, whether these are aimed at patients (e.g. an asthma inhaler connected to a mobile app to remind patients to take their medicines), doctors or colleagues (e.g. a web tool for scientists to visualise real-time data coming from a clinical trial). To address this, ~5 years ago, we created an in-house global User Experience team to promote User-Centred Design (UCD) across AZ and ensure that these products are both usable and desirable.

The UX team is currently made up of 18 experts in UX Research, UX Design and UI/ Visual Design, across the UK (Cambridge, Macclesfield), US (Wilmington, DE; Gaithersburg, MD) and China (Shanghai). We're an empowered, growing team, offering great opportunities and able to make a real difference to people's lives.

Role Description

The Senior UX Researcher is responsible for researching what users want/ need from (mainly-digital) products & services then using the insights to ensure that these products are easy and delightful to use. These products and services will include both external (patient- and/or doctor-facing) and internal colleague-facing tools, and cover a range of platforms (devices, websites, mobile apps, etc.). We are looking for someone who can own and run a full, end-to-end UCD process, not just an 'expert researcher'.

You will carry out discovery user research studies using a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods including interviewing, surveys and observation. You will use the outputs of this research plus any other secondary (existing) research to inform the early UX design process; for example, you will create Personas and/or User Journey maps to consolidate what you know about users' needs and current experiences.

You will work with UX Designers to ensure that your insights are incorporated as they create interactive prototypes, etc. to describe the experience. The focus is on creating products which are easy to use and meet the core needs of users.

You will then moderate usability testing to validate those UX designs, ensuring that the feedback from testing is incorporated back into the designs (working with both UX Designers and technical developers). Post-launch, you will continue to collect user feedback to continually improve the UX.

You will find ways to measure and prove the value that your research interventions have made to the product and the wider business.

As well as the tactical side of UX Research, the role also includes a more strategic side. You will support the Head of UX and the UX Leads in evangelizing the benefits of UX/ UCD across AZ, using a set of excellent case studies where UCD has made a measurable difference to business performance. You will help to develop new business for yourself and the wider UX team. You will also support training non-UX colleagues into UX/ UCD methods.

Requirements (Technical)

Degree-level qualification (preferably postgraduate) in Ergonomics, Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction, Applied Psychology or a related relevant field
Understanding of UX principles, both from academic learning and on-the-job experience
Experience (typically 3+ years) as a UX Research Practitioner in an industrial (not just academic) environment - working either in or for large, client-side companies
Theoretical knowledge and significant applied experience across UX Research methodologies - e.g. interviews, surveys, observation, usability testing, field trials, etc. - and how/ where they fit into a full UCD process.
Experience using research insights to make design decisions, and in creating strategic design documents such as Personas, User Journey Maps and Storyboards.
Appreciation of the UX design process and tools. Experience creating wireframes, interactive prototypes, etc. (e.g. Figma, Sketch, InVision, Axure, Adobe XD) is not essential but nice to have
Experience working with products across digital channels, including mobile, fixed-web and tablet.
Strong analytic skills; comfortable working with big, complex, numerical data
A portfolio of case studies where good UCD has made a measurable (quantitative) difference to the quality of digital products and services
Experience in Accessibility/ Inclusive Design - i.e. ensuring the best experience for all users, independent of their (dis)ability - would be nice to have
Experience working with pharmaceutical/ medical products and services is not essential but would be nice to have

Requirements (Soft Skills)

A self-starter, not requiring hand-holding.
The energy and pro-activity to develop new business opportunities for yourself and the wider UX team
An active member of the external UX community, with an interest in sharing and keeping up with the state-of-the-art in design tools and research methods
An excellent listener, with the ability to quickly filter the relevant user insights for design
An excellent presenter, succinctly imparting UX design recommendations, with appropriate rationale, in both written and spoken formats, and in plain, non-technical, language
Great influencing skills, including the ability to evangelize UCD to stakeholders
A great team player, able to work well as part of a small UX team and also collaborate closely with Product Managers, Business Analysts, Technical Developers, etc.
Motivated to both give and receive constructive criticism on UX design and research
Able to successfully juggle the competing demands of multiple concurrent projects within a global corporate environment

WHY JOIN US?

We're a network of entrepreneurial self-starters who contribute to something far bigger. There's a diversity of expertise in our Technology group that's unique to AstraZeneca - it allows us to dive deep into

exploring new leading-edge technology. We enable AstraZeneca to perform at its peak by delivering world-class technology and data solutions, unlocking the potential of science. We optimise and evolutionise AstraZeneca by maximising efficiencies and finding new ways to drive productivity. From automation to data simplification.

A place to be open and transparent - we speak up, think creatively and share ideas. Our diverse contributions help us to make better decisions. But we have a constant drive to innovate, and an appreciation for high standards. It takes challenging the status quo to add value in our ever-evolving environment. We love it here because put simply, we make a meaningful impact.

Technology at AstraZeneca is a home for purposeful disruptors!

SO, WHAT NEXT?

If reading the above has tickled your senses and you're ready to join us, hit the apply button and we look forward to reviewing your application soon.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/astrazenecacareers/

Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/astrazeneca_careers/?hl=en

Competitive salary & benefits on offer.

Open Date: 30/05/2022
Close Date: 12/06/2022

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