SENIOR USER EXPERIENCE (UX) DESIGNER/ RESEARCHER

About the AstraZeneca AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused pharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious disease. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. At Astra Zeneca, we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to work!   The Senior UX Designer/Researcher is responsible for using research to understand what users want/ need from digital products & services then using these insights to design products that are easy, safe, and delightful to use.  These products and services will include both external (patient- and/or doctor-facing) and internal colleague-/scientist-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. You should have strong UX Design skills and ideally have a good working knowledge of UX research methodologies and be able to carry out user research/usability testing yourself when necessary.  Working by yourself or with a Researcher, you will use qualitative/ quantitative user research studies and/or analyse data from existing research.  Ideally you will have experience with a range of user research methods including interviewing and observation.  You will use the outputs of the research to inform the early design process; for example, creating personas or user journey maps.   Using the available insights, you will then design the product’s high-level UX (e.g. via flows and wireframes), plus lower-level interaction designs (e.g. via interactive prototypes) which unambiguously communicate the intended product experience.  While visual design skills are a plus, our team’s focus is on maximum usability, not aesthetics.  You will iteratively improve your designs based on results from usability testing (carried out by yourself or others).  You will work closely with technical developers during the build process to manage compromises and ensure the best possible UX is launched. You will find ways to measure and prove the impact and value that your research and design interventions have made to the end user and/or the business.  In order to make efficient use of our resources and ensure a consistent and learnable experience across products (when applicable), you will help to create design libraries where proven design patterns and interactions are documented for future reuse.  You will act as an advocate for users by ensuring that UX is kept top of mind throughout the design process. You will champion UX across the organization by helping senior Global stakeholders and project team members understand the value of UX, the User-Centered Design process and when/how to engage our team. You will coach/mentor junior UX staff in core UX skills as well as stakeholder and project management  Requirements (Technical)  A thorough understanding of UX principles from on-the-job experience  Experience (typically 5+ years) as a UX Designer – ideally working either in or for large, client-side companies. Experience working in a global distributed organization preferred  Experience across UX Research methodologies – e.g. interviews, surveys, usability testing, field trials – and how they fit into a full UCD process.  (Direct experience moderating such research is preferred).  Experience using research insights to make design decisions, and in creating strategic design documents such as Personas, User Journey Maps and Storyboards.  Experience creating high-level information architectures, low-level flows and wireframes, interaction designs, interactive prototypes, etc.  Experience with using Figma or similar tools for UX design and interactive prototyping   A portfolio of case studies where good UCD has made a difference to the quality of digital products and services  Experience designing products for multiple platforms and user groups  Working knowledge of Accessibility/ Inclusive Design principals and guidelines – i.e. ensuring the best experience for all users, independent of their (dis)ability  Requirements (Soft Skills)  A self-starter, not requiring hand-holding.  An excellent listener, with the ability to quickly filter the relevant user insights for design   An excellent presenter, succinctly imparting UX designs, 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 designs  Able to successfully juggle the competing demands of multiple concurrent projects within a global corporate environment  Must have excellent fluency in English- both verbal and written  When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we ignite ambitious thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working give us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That’s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn’t mean we’re not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our outstanding and bold world. AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer. AstraZeneca will consider all qualified applicants for employment without discrimination on grounds of disability, sex or sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity leave status, race or national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, gender identity or re-assignment, marital or civil partnership status, protected veteran status (if applicable) or any other characteristic protected by law.