Jobs (From UsabilityNews)

Digital Inclusion Researcher - Barnsley, Yorkshire UK

Editor — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:00:46 +0100

Deadine: 9 July 2009
Digital Inclusion Researcher
2 year fixed term, full-time
Salary range: £22k - £24k

The Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering & Sciences at Sheffield Hallam University is seeking to appoint a KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership) Associate in collaboration with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, to be located in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

The role of the associate is to research effective strategies for digital inclusion in South Yorkshire. The successful applicant will work with four council teams (Barnsley, Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster) to evaluate and improve on existing engagement projects and develop case studies that encourage new forms of engagement. The output at the end of two years is intended to be a compelling summary of this learning to support the continuing work of the South Yorkshire councils on their Making IT Personal programme and to take the findings to a national local authority audience.

You will need good research skills and an interest in ICT. Experience of conducting both qualitative and quantitative studies is necessary, as is a track record in fieldwork involving multiple interests. Technical skills are not required, but enthusiasm for the potential of well-deployed social media, etc is fundamental to the role, as well as an interest in what motivates people to use them.

The job requires liaison between different departments across four councils as well as extensive contact with the public. You will need to work in close alignment with other projects and people working on parallel aspects of the Making IT Personal programme. You may find yourself as an informal advocate, as well as a researcher. Patience, dynamism and creative thinking will be required. Therefore we are looking for a person capable of flexible and confident communication, bringing experience of working with diverse communities. In return, we can offer extensive personal development, including registration for a higher degree, and further project-specific training.

South Yorkshire has big ambitions to become one of the most digitally enabled and aware regions in Europe - if not the world. It is investing £94m to bring next generation broadband to the whole sub-region, which will transform the economy. Plans are being developed to turn all of South Yorkshire's communities into knowledge communities, coalescing together into a South Yorkshire knowledge eco-system. Making IT Personal is the programme which will ensure that the benefits of the digital world, and of that investment, are enjoyed by all the people of South Yorkshire. The right candidate may find opportunities within Barnsley MBC or one of the other councils to continue their work when the KTP ends.

The interviews are scheduled for the 22nd July. Please send a CV and covering letter, in the first instance, to Mr Patrick Egan, Sheffield Hallam University: email p.egan@shu.ac.uk (Telephone: 0114 225 4185). Closing Date: 9th July 2009

User Experience Specialist, 3 -month contract - London

Editor — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:00:12 +0100

Deadine: 1 July 2009
This agency has possibly one of the best client lists in London.

The contract will be working for an international mobile handset provider, consulting on their new portal. Your background must be from an agency and you'll need to be happy to advise on strategy.

Initially a 3 month contract but could roll on for longer. Great day rate, get in-touch for information!

Ollie Williams, ollie@ecomrecruitment.com

PhD Studentship - University of Surrey

Editor — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:00:32 +0100

Deadine: 11 August 2009
Project Title – Role of sound in user experience of audio-visual consumer entertainment systems
Ref – 6616
Start date and duration: From 1 October 2008 for three years
Conditions - £12,940pa stipend in 2008-9, plus fees at the ‘home/EU’ rate.
Location – Guildford
Who/How – Stephanie Lesanne; e – s.lesanne@surrey.ac.uk, t – 01483 682605

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project will examine the role of sound in the user experience of different types of audio-visual content across a range of digital home entertainment devices. This includes the development of appropriate user experience concepts and measurement methods. The project will be jointly supervised by Professor Francis Rumsey and Dr Slawomir Zielinski (IOSR), and by Professor David Frohlich (DWRC).

The Institute of Sound Recording, University of Surrey, has an international reputation for research in sound quality evaluation and modelling. Further details of facilities and current projects in the group can be found at:
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/soundrec/php/iosr.php

The Digital World Research Centre, University of Surrey, is a leading multidisciplinary research centre with an international reputation for the study of user-centred innovation in digital technology for the consumer market. Further details of its activities can be found at:
http://www.dwrc.surrey.ac.uk/

The project would suit a psychologist or HCI specialist with an interest in the design and evaluation of multimedia user experiences, especially as they relate to the interplay between sound and image. A good Bachelor’s degree, or preferably a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is normally required.

A stipend will be paid at the current EPSRC rate of GBP 12940 in 2008-9, plus fees at the ‘home/EU’ rate.

Interested applicants can contact Francis Rumsey (f.rumsey@surrey.ac.uk) or David Frohlich (d.frohlich@surrey.ac.uk) for an informal discussion of the post, and view further details at:
https://jobs.surrey.ac.uk/index.html

Application forms for postgraduate study at Surrey can be downloaded from:
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/

Applications should be received by 11 August 2008

User Experience Architects, contract positions - London

Editor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:00:12 +0100

Deadine: 30 June 2009
LBi Group is recruiting Senior Contract User Experience Architects to work alongside our existing team of permanent User Experience Architects.

You will work as part of a project team to produce outstandingly innovative work, using high quality tools, methods, or approaches in order to achieve business and project goals. An understanding of market trends and the ability to translate them into viable service offerings for our business is vital. We require individuals with significant work experience as a User Experience Architect or similar role in consulting or industry, including managing user-centric intensive projects for blue-chip clients

Employing over 400 full-time digital experts in the UK, and 1600 worldwide, LBi is a global marketing and technology agency, blending insight, creativity and expertise to solve business problems. Our scale of expertise is unrivalled, ranging from high-level strategy to heavyweight technology implementation and award-winning media and creativity – building believable brand experiences for our large international client base.

If this matches your experience and skills, please send your CV and salary expectations to dave.graceson@lbi.com

We are unable to employ anyone without a work permit for the UK.

Senior User Experience Consultant - London

Editor — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:00:40 +0100

Deadine: 8 June 2009
Cimex is a multi award-winning ‘top 40’ interactive media agency with 15 years experience developing interactive solutions with a focus on User Centred Design (UCD). Based in central London, our facilities include a state of the art usability laboratory with leading edge technology, providing testing and evaluation with a broad spectrum of users including users with disabilities.

Our business is structured around four operating groups, each focused on a different area:

•Business & Government
•Learning
•User Experience
•Content

Our clients include:

•Broadcasters: BBC, Channel 4, Sky
•Government departments: DCFS, COI, Department of Health, Home Office, Cabinet Office
•Sector Skills councils
•Not for Profit /Charities, particularly ones aimed at supporting young people such as Save the Children and the Who Cares Trust
•Commercial sector: Ben Sherman, Yahoo, St Pancras International

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
•A demonstrated ability to 1) work independently and drive towards deadlines, 2) produce high-quality deliverables for clients, and 3) think creatively and solve problems;
•Designing, moderating one-on-one usability /accessibility sessions, analysing the data and report writing with recommendations;
•Using online/remote usability tools and web analytics software;
•Solid presentation skills, including building PowerPoint presentations and presenting results and practical solutions to clients;
•Experience in developing IA documentation, such as wireframes, sitemaps. Clickable prototypes. Ideally good knowledge of Axure, Visio or Omnigraffle;
•Engaging skills to collaborate with mutli-disciplinary team (from design, development, content, marketing and management);
•A university degree. It's a plus to have education or training in Applied Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Human Factors, Human Computer Interaction, or other related discipline with a solid foundation in research-based design using both quantitative and qualitative methods

WHAT WE OFFER
•You will have the opportunity to work across a range of projects mainly in the corporate and public sectors with some involvement on the eLearning sector too shaping the user experience of the end product.
•You will have the opportunity to influence the user experience practice and growth at Cimex.
•You will work in a vibrant multidisciplinary environment that helps you to grow and diversify your knowledge and skills.
•You will have the chance to apply a range of different usability/accessibility evaluation techniques and learn the ones you are not familiar with.
•You will be based in friendly surroundings and you will enjoy a flexible working scheme.
•Training opportunities and competitive salary rates.