Senior UX Researcher (3 Month Contract)

Summary

The Wikimedia Foundation is looking for an experienced mixed-method UX researcher (3-month contract) to extend our capabilities for doing qualitative and quantitative research to understand the experiences and needs of the humans who use and contribute to Wikipedia and the Wikimedia projects. As part of the Research group, the UX Research team leads UX research with the goal to improve user experiences and increase global usage.

Reporting to the Manager, UX Research and working directly with another researcher on the team who will assist in scoping project work and with research operations as needed, you will be responsible for leading the execution of high-quality research that results in actionable insights that inform decisions toward our organizational objectives. The work for this role is expected to be primarily quantitative but may also include some qualitative research projects or components. Examples of the sort of quantitative and mixed-methods UX research projects we’ve done recently are a survey-based experimental study of attribution signals (learn more) and a mixed-method study to understand Wikipedia readers’ use cases (learn more).

This is a contract position to cover a staff leave. This role is part-time, with an expected average of 30 hours per week.

Candidates must be available for critical meetings and synchronous work between 15:00 to 19:00 UTC. Availability to work outside of your local business hours may be needed at times during the data collection phase of studies or for occasional meetings with key stakeholders.

You are responsible for:

• Coordinating work with the point of contact in the UX Research team, the rest of the team, and stakeholders to drive and support research projects.
• Supporting the UX Research point of contact in scoping projects as requested (e.g., to determine project goals, methodologies, logistics, and timelines).
• Developing an understanding of the product, its context, and the research objectives.
• Coordinating with UX Research point of contact to manage and execute all phases of the research process, including creating materials, coordinating research operations, overseeing participant recruitment/survey distribution, scheduling and running research sessions (using interpretation support when appropriate) or data collection, and doing analysis and report-writing.
• Delivering comprehensive research results, translating findings into actionable insights that can inform product and decisions.
• Communicating research findings and recommendations to stakeholders in clear and compelling ways.

Skills and Experience:

• 5+ years of experience as a UX Researcher
• Expertise leading projects end-to-end using quantitative research methodologies, e.g. surveys, large-scale unmoderated testing, large-scale diary studies, quantitative UX benchmarking studies; expertise with statistical analysis, data visualization
• Experience with leading projects end-to-end using qualitative research methodologies, e.g. interviews, contextual inquiry, diary studies
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Experience leading research projects from start to finish (solo and in collaboration with others)
• Experience working collaboratively with product teams to translate insights into actionable recommendations

Qualities that are important to us:

• Strong time-management skills
• Self sufficiency and ability to resolve what blocks your work or escalate

Ability to organize and prioritize multiple priorities and deadlines and work collaboratively, as well as independently, to deliver results

Additionally, we’d love it if you have:

• Fluency in languages other than English
• Experience working with volunteer or open source communities and projects
• Experience editing Wikipedia or contributing to other wiki projects

About the Wikimedia Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation is the nonprofit organization that operates Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia free knowledge projects. Our vision is a world in which every single human can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. We believe that everyone has the potential to contribute something to our shared knowledge, and that everyone should be able to access that knowledge freely. We host Wikipedia and the Wikimedia projects, build software experiences for reading, contributing, and sharing Wikimedia content, support the volunteer communities and partners who make Wikimedia possible, and advocate for policies that enable Wikimedia and free knowledge to thrive. 

The Wikimedia Foundation is a charitable, not-for-profit organization that relies on donations. We receive donations from millions of individuals around the world, with an average donation of about $15. We also receive donations through institutional grants and gifts. The Wikimedia Foundation is a United States 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with offices in San Francisco, California, USA.

As an equal opportunity employer, the Wikimedia Foundation values having a diverse workforce and continuously strives to maintain an inclusive and equitable workplace. We encourage people with a diverse range of backgrounds to apply. We do not discriminate against any person based upon their race, traits historically associated with race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy or related medical conditions, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics.

The Wikimedia Foundation is a remote-first organization with staff members including contractors based 40+ countries*. Salaries at the Wikimedia Foundation are set in a way that is competitive, equitable, and consistent with our values and culture. The anticipated hourly rate range of this position for applicants based within the United States is US$45/hour to US$55/hour with multiple individualized factors, including cost of living in the location, being the determinants of the offered pay. For applicants located outside of the US, the pay range will be adjusted to the country of hire. We neither ask for nor take into consideration the salary history of applicants. The compensation for a successful applicant will be based on their skills, experience and location.

*Please note that we are currently able to hire in the following:
US States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico*, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming (*US Territory or Federal District)

Countries: Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya*, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore*, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Our non-US employees are hired through a local third party Employer of Record (EOR) and must have current work authorization in their location. (*citizens/permanent residents only)

We periodically review this list to streamline to ensure alignment with our hiring requirements.

All applicants can reach out to their recruiter to understand more about the specific pay range for their location during the interview process.

If you are a qualified applicant requiring assistance or an accommodation to complete any step of the application process due to a disability, you may contact us at recruiting@wikimedia.org or +1 (415) 839-6885.

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