At Northwestern Mutual, we are strong, innovative and growing. We invest in our people. We care and make a positive difference.

At Northwestern Mutual, we are strong, innovative, and growing. We're going through a digital technology transformation and are making major improvements to the ways our employees experience their work! Come help us build for the future.

What's the Role?

The User Experience Research Lead is a creative problem solver that can develop systems of research to solve sophisticated problems from the tactical to the strategic. Employing a variety of different research approaches, you are going to help Northwestern Mutual improve our existing experiences and develop new ones. You'll need to be good at research (both qualitative and quantitative) and good at making that research become part of our narrative and decision-making. This is a leadership role so you'll need to be able to manage and mentor other researchers.

How You'll Do It:

Champion our end users through research

Collaborate with customers across design, product, marketing, etc to understand their needs and develop research solutions to help drive the business forward

Synthesizes existing research findings and makes recommendations; leads testing and evaluation of proposed critical initiatives requiring large corporate investments.

Directs fact-based, research driven decision-making, planning and strategic solutions to senior leaders.

Partners with senior executives within the business units and corporate functions to understand their strategic objectives, develops research strategies to support their goals, and ensures integration with marketing.

Establishes and maintains the processes, systems and methodologies to provide management with useful insights into consumer and field behavior.

Initiates proactive research to support company strategy, direction and strategic objectives.

Leads research design and methodology decisions; conducts and/or leads all aspects of quantitative analysis and analysis plan design; collaborates with Analytics teams on quantitative analyses.

Works with customer to prioritize research initiatives and shape learning agenda.

Design and implement research from start to finish

Evolve the practice of UX Research through the introduction of standard methodologies and tools

Evangelize the role of UX Research through deliverables, workshops, communications, etc

Lead more junior researchers and help them develop their career growth

Serve as an authority on our end users by connecting dots across different research projects

What You'll Need:

An undergraduate degree in psychology, social science, statistics, business, marketing or a related field

10 or more years of experience leading research efforts with end users

Firm grasp of the language of research, design, product, engineering, as well as the business

Expertise in a variety of research techniques both quantitative and qualitative including surveys, one on one interviews, card sorts, and tree tests

Experience with the nuts and bolts of executing research from end to end

Ability to craft and build sophisticated surveys with platforms like Qualtrics or Confirmit

Seasoned expert in advanced features of a variety of programs that may include, Excel, Access, Tableau and other business intelligence tools

Proficiency at developing interview guides and other qualitative research instruments

Ability to consult with stakeholders to think through problems and develop research plans that go beyond ad hoc projects

Experience managing ongoing and ad hoc research studies with shifting priorities

Translation of research data into consumable insights that tell a story about our business and products

Effective at communication up to and including the C-suite

Passion in ambiguity and uncertainty

If you work or would be working in Colorado or outside of a Corporate location, please click here (http://careers.northwesternmutual.com/colorado-and-remote-workers-compensation-and-benefits/) for information pertaining to compensation and benefits.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our client’s interests at the center of all we do. Get started now!

W e are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you work or would be working in Colorado or outside of a Corporate location, please click here for information pertaining to compensation and benefits.

FIND YOUR FUTURE

We’re excited about the potential people bring to Northwestern Mutual. You can grow your career here while enjoying first-class perks, benefits, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.