The New York Public Library is hiring: UX Researcher in New York

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Description

Description

This is not a remote role; and requires onsite work in NYC three days a week.

This is a four-year, grant-funded temporary position.

Overview

The New York Public Library (the Library) is looking for a UX Researcher to help shape our user-centered design process by providing deep, actionable insights into how patrons and staff interact with our digital ecosystem.

You will work within the Digital team to ensure our products are built on a foundation of evidence and empathy. You will be a strong advocate for when and how to use design research though the product development process from discovery through in-market releases.

As a UX Researcher, you are a strategic advocate and teacher.

You will not only plan and execute research but also empower colleagues across the Library to understand and adopt user-centered methodologies, fostering a culture where every decision starts with the patron.

We are looking for someone we can count on to

Own

• The end-to-end user research projects, including research plan, study design, participant recruitment, moderation, and synthesis.
• The communication of insights through high-impact artifacts such as personas, journey maps, and research repositories.
• The advocacy for user needs and user research in product strategy meetings, ensuring that patron needs is a priority.
• The process to analyze findings and write insights that are meaningful that provide guidance and empathy for the product team, but also to our library partners.

Teach

• Best practices for user research and usability testing to the Digital team and the broader Library staff.
• Workshops on synthesis and empathy-building to help non-researchers interpret findings and apply them to their work.
• A range of qualitative and quantitative research skills and principles of core research methodologies.
• Rigor in research learning goals, research methodology, research participant criteria, research planning, managing of research logistics, facilitation, and information gathering.

Learn

• About NYPL - our culture, goals, strategy, and the environment in which we work
• About the specific challenges and opportunities that digital technology introduces for our patrons, the Library in general, and the work of our staff/vendors/partners
• About the wide variety of patrons and staff who use NYPL and the large array of resources that NYPL offers
• About industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in UX research

Improve

• Our organizational maturity regarding research by establishing repeatable processes and standardized research toolkits.
• The accessibility and inclusivity of our digital products by ensuring research reaches underserved and diverse populations.
• Understanding of the impact of research findings and how they translate into actionable recommendations

Some expectations for this role are that within

1 month, this person will

• Onboard into NYPL’s multi-year Digital strategy and familiarize themselves with the existing design system.
• Audit previous research studies to understand historical patron pain points and current knowledge gaps.
• Establish relationships with the product management, project management and engineering partners.

3 months, this person will

• Develop and launch their first comprehensive research plan for a priority Research product.
• Conduct a "Research 101" session for stakeholders to demystify the research process and its value.
• Standardize a recruitment pipeline to ensure a steady flow of diverse research participants.

6 months and beyond, this person will

• Influence the long-term product roadmap by delivering strategic research that identifies new opportunities for patron value.
• Develop a year long research plan for all products.
• Establish a research repository that allows the organization to self-serve historical insights.
• Act as a mentor for designers and product managers who wish to conduct their own evaluative testing.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute a variety of research methods including user interviews, usability testing, surveys, card sorting, and field studies.
• Synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable recommendations for design and product teams.
• Collaborate with Product Designers to validate wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes.
• Present findings to diverse audiences, ranging from technical teams to executive leadership, using compelling storytelling and visual aids.

Required Education, Experience & Skills

Required Education and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Anthropology, Information Science (MLIS), or a related social science field -OR- 5+ years of professional experience conducting user research for digital product
• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a relevant field is a plus but not required.

Required Experience

• 5+ years of professional experience conducting user research for digital products.
• A strong portfolio or case studies demonstrating your research process, methodology selection, and the direct impact of your findings on a product.
• Experience working in an agile environment alongside product managers and engineers.
• Experience advocating for user research in organizations with varying levels of UX maturity.

Required Skills

• Proficiency in both generative (discovery) and evaluative (testing) research methods.
• Exceptional ability to translate data into storytelling that inspires action.
• Ability to design and facilitate design workshops that enable cross-disciplinary collaboration that are outcomes driven
• Proficiency with research and design tools such as Figma (for prototype testing), UserTesting, Optimal Workshop, and research repository software (e.g., Dovetail or EnjoyHQ).
• Strong moderation skills with the ability to remain neutral and build rapport with diverse patron groups.
• Strong writing skills to synthesize clear and incisive insights.
• Strong presentation and storytelling skills to enable cross institutional interest and understanding

Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities

• N/A

More...

Core Values

All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:

• Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
• Be Resourceful in solving problems
• Be Curious in all aspects of your work
• Be Welcoming and Inclusive
• Work Environment
• Office environment
• Hybrid work environment; requires work onsite in NYC three days a week

Physical Duties

• N/A

Pre-Placement Physical Required?

• No

Union/Non Union

• Non-Union

FLSA Status

• Exempt

Schedule

• Monday - Friday; 9-5
• Hybrid work environment; requires work onsite in NYC three days a week

This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role.

Job duties may change if Library priorities change.

Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.

The New York Public Library Salary Statement

At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees.

When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills.

No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.

Union Salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement(s).