CliftonLarsonAllen is hiring: User Experience Researcher in Milwaukee

CLA is a top 10 national professional services firm where our purpose is to create opportunities every day, for our clients, our people, and our communities through industry-focused wealth advisory, digital, audit, tax, consulting, and outsourcing services. Even with more than 8,500 people, 130 U.S. locations, and a global reach, we promise to know you and help you.

CLA is dedicated to building a culture that invites different beliefs and perspectives to the table, so we can truly know and help our clients, communities, and each other.

Our Perks:

• Flexible PTO (designed to offer flexible time away for you!)
• Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Paid Volunteer Time Off
• Mental health coverage
• Quarterly Wellness stipend
• Fertility benefits

CLA is growing and seeking to hire an experienced User Experience Researcher to join our talented Information Technology team. The position offers growth, flexibility, and a collaborative work environment.

In this position, you should have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate at all levels, strong problem-solving and creative skills, and the ability to exercise sound judgment. Most importantly, you must demonstrate a high level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results orientation.

The User Experience Researcher (UX Researcher) will play a pivotal role in shaping exceptional user experiences through data-driven insights and user-centered research methodologies. This role involves defining and executing comprehensive UX research plans, collaborating with stakeholders to identify key research questions, and prioritizing research initiatives to address significant user and business challenges. The UX Researcher will conduct a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including user interviews, usability testing, ethnographic studies, and surveys, to uncover user needs, frustrations, and behaviors. They will synthesize data into actionable insights, create user personas and journey maps, and present findings in compelling formats. Additionally, the UX Researcher will partner with cross-functional teams to ensure user insights are integrated into the design and development process, advocate for the user at all stages of product development, and stay current on UX research tools and methodologies to continuously improve research efficiency and effectiveness.

How you’ll create opportunities in this User Experience Researcher role:

Research Planning and Strategy

1. Define and execute a comprehensive UX research plan to inform design and product decisions.
2. Collaborate with stakeholders to identify key research questions and align research efforts with business objectives and product goals.
3. Prioritize research initiatives to address the most significant user and business challenges.

User Research Execution

1. Conduct a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including user interviews (with internal and external users), usability testing (remote and in-person), contextual inquiries, ethnographic studies, surveys, card sorting, tree testing, and A/B testing.
2. Facilitate workshops and focus groups with users to gather insights, encourage collaboration, and brainstorm solutions for improving application usability.
3. Collaborate with data teams to analyze system usage analytics, identifying underutilized workflow features or bottlenecks.

Data Synthesis and Insight Generation

1. Analyze and synthesize research findings into actionable insights and recommendations.
2. Develop evidence-based design recommendations and guide teams in prioritizing user needs over assumptions.
3. Present findings in clear, concise, and visually compelling formats to communicate effectively with stakeholders.

Collaboration and Communication

1. Partner with UX/UI designers, product owners, and technical stakeholders to ensure user insights are effectively integrated into the design and development process.
2. Advocate for the user at all stages of product development, ensuring designs align with real-world needs.
3. Communicate complex research findings clearly and persuasively to stakeholders at all levels.

Continuous Improvement and Innovation

1. Stay current on industry trends, emerging tools, and best practices in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
2. Experiment with new research techniques to improve the quality and efficiency of research efforts.
3. Develop and maintain a scalable research repository to document and share insights across teams.

Accessibility and Inclusion

1. Ensure all research activities and recommendations account for diverse and underrepresented user groups, including individuals with disabilities.
2. Advocate for inclusive design principles and ensure compliance with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG guidelines).

What you will need:

• 4+ years of experience conducting UX research, ideally within a fast-paced product development environment.
• Strong hands-on experience with research methods, including usability testing, interviews, surveys, and data analysis.
• Proficiency with research tools such as Maze, UserTesting, or similar platforms.
• Experience analyzing data using quantitative statistical software is a plus.
• Knowledge of Agile SAFe methodologies.
• Bachelor's degree or a combination of relevant experience and training may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Equal Opportunity Employer /AA Employer/Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.

To support our CLA family members, we focus on their physical, financial, social, and emotional well-being and offer comprehensive benefit options that include health, dental, vision, 401k, and much more.