User Experience (UX) Designer
KUOW
Seattle
,
WA
Application Deadline: Thursday, Mar 31, 2022
Description
KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio is Seattle’s NPR news station. We are an independent, nonprofit news organization producing award-winning journalism, podcasts, and events in service to the 3.9 million people in our coverage area. As a self-sustaining service of the University of Washington, our mission is to create and serve a more informed public.
KUOW has an outstanding opportunity open for a Temporary (through February 2023) User Experience (UX) Designer in its Digital Products division.
The Digital Products division is a new and exciting team at KUOW tasked with transforming KUOW into a digital media powerhouse. We are building our UX practice from the ground up. This role will be tasked with advocating for the users of KUOW digital properties and channels, extolling the value of UX internally and delivering delightful experiences. The UX designer will be expected to provide subject matter expertise for the organization, while leading design and exploration efforts in a fast-paced Agile environment.
Responsibilities
Designing Solutions (60%):
Utilizing user research and data, design mobile-first, reliable, usable and intuitive solutions in a number of mediums, including lo- and high-fidelity designs, user flows, process improvements and information architecture, while maintaining the digital style guide used to ensure consistency across websites and apps owned by KUOW. The UX Designer brings the ability to execute on end-to-end practices beginning with research and realizing design specifications that can be independently handed off to developers for build.
The UX Designer maintains the digital style guide used to ensure consistency across websites and apps owned by KUOW. The UX Designer partners with Marketing to ensure brand compliance when adapting elements such as brand fonts (sizes/weights) and colors for optimal display on devices. The UX Designer ensures that a flexible brand-compliant system is maintained that meets accessibility standards and also interaction patterns unique to digital form factors.
Research and Analytics (20%):
In partnership with Analytics and Marketing teams, utilize qualitative and quantitative data from user research, A/B testing and business analysis to drive improvements. Evaluate competitive and innovative approaches to identify best practices and encourage innovation. Coordinate, execute and evaluate user testing activities.
Design Review & Documentation (10%): The UX Designer is responsible for reviewing screens throughout the sprint lifecycle and providing the final sign-off on release decisions. The UX Designer will partner with the Product Manager to create the user stories and acceptance criteria related to designs delivered as a part of iterative design delivery in the Agile Scrum process
Design Validation during Development (10%): Partner closely with the development team to consult on challenges that arise when implementing designs, update design specs to match decisions made during implementation, and validate all experiences before they are passed through cross-device testing.
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Design or equivalent practical experience
• 3+ years of work experience
• Portfolio highlighting multiple projects and your direct contributions
• Data- and hypotheses- driven
• Self-starter, empathetic to users, passionate about accessibility and usability
• Excellent communication, writing, organizational and client service skills
• Experience designing news and information content for digital platforms a plus, but not required
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND RACIAL EQUITY
KUOW and the University of Washington are equal opportunity employers. KUOW is dedicated to building a culturally diverse staff and creating a working environment that promotes racial equity and inclusiveness. We believe attracting and retaining diverse staff is crucial to serving our community and fulfilling our mission. Women, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities and veterans are highly encouraged to apply.