Job Description

As the User Research Manager, you will lead a team responsible for conducting user research activities to inform product strategy, development, and marketing decisions. You will collaborate with the product management, engineering, design, and marketing teams to identify user needs, behaviors, preferences, and pain points across different segments and markets. You will design and execute qualitative and quantitative research studies, analyze and synthe data, communicate insights and recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders, and build processes/programs to facilitate extended research throughout the organization. You will also manage relationships with external research vendors and partners, and stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices. Key Responsibilities: Lead the user research function within the product management team, including hiring, coaching, and mentoring a team of researchers. Collaborate with product management, engineering, design, and marketing teams to define research objectives, hypotheses, and KPIs that align with business goals and customer needs. Design and conduct user research studies, including interviews, surveys, usability tests, card sorts, diary studies, and ethnographic research, among others. Analyze and synthe research data to extract key insights, themes, trends, and patterns that inform product strategy, development, and marketing decisions. Communicate research findings and recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders, including product managers, designers, engineers, and marketers, using compelling visuals, reports, presentations, and other formats. Manage relationships with external research vendors and partners, including scoping, budgeting, contracting, and quality control. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices in user research, and share knowledge and expertise with the broader product management team and organization. Build processes and platforms that others within the organization can perform their own research with support from the research team. Qualifications Master\'s or PHD degree in a relevant field, such as psychology, human-computer interaction, market research, sociology, or anthropology. At least 5 years of experience in user research or market research, preferably in a consumer technology or software company. At least 2 years of experience in leading and managing a team of researchers, including hiring, coaching, and mentoring. Strong knowledge and skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods, tools, and techniques, including survey design, interview moderation, usability testing, data analysis, and synthesis. Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to connect data, insights, and recommendations to business goals and customer needs. Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex research findings and recommendations to diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing. Strong project management skills, with the ability to plan, prioritize, and execute multiple research projects in parallel, on time, and on budget. Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to influence, collaborate, and build relationships with cross-functional stakeholders and external partners. Passion for user-centered design, innovation, and customer satisfaction, with a curiosity and empathy for people and their needs, behaviors, and motivations. Experience with consumer storage products, technologies, and markets is a plus. Additional Information Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution. Western Digital is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying. Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution. Western Digital is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us atto advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying. NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: Western Digital has received reports of scams where a payment is requested on Western Digital\'s behalf as a condition for receiving an offer of employment. Please be aware that Western Digital and its subsidiaries will never request payment as a condition for applying for a position or receiving an offer of employment. Should you encounter any such requests, please report it immediately [HIDDEN TEXT].

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