Design Research Manager

📋 Description

• • Lead impactful design research initiatives that will shape the future of enterprise experiences across General Motors and its iconic brands, driving user-centered design strategies.
• • Manage and mentor a team of talented design researchers, fostering a culture of excellence, strategic thinking, and robust cross-functional collaboration.
• • Develop and execute a comprehensive research roadmap, meticulously aligned with overarching business priorities, ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality generative and evaluative studies.
• • Facilitate strategic dialogues with senior stakeholders, adeptly translating complex research findings into actionable insights that inform durable and impactful business decisions.
• • Elevate the team’s ability to communicate research outcomes through compelling storytelling and persuasive narratives, directly influencing product direction and shaping business strategy.
• • Design and lead a diverse range of mixed-methods research studies, encompassing live studies, unmoderated testing, in-depth field studies, participatory design workshops, rigorous heuristic evaluations, and efficient remote usability testing.
• • Guide research team members in the critical synthesis of insights, ensuring a strong alignment between research outcomes and the broader business and design strategies.
• • Forge strong partnerships with internal and external teams, seamlessly integrating research findings with analytics, market data, and operational metrics to provide a holistic view of user needs and business impact.
• • Act as a powerful advocate for the customer, representing their voice and needs effectively within strategic planning sessions and throughout the product development lifecycle.
• • Contribute significantly to the continuous evolution of research workflows, governance structures, and organizational standards, driving best practices and consistency across the design research function.
• • Communicate research findings with clarity and impact through high-quality presentations and visually engaging storytelling, ensuring insights are understood and acted upon by diverse audiences.
• • Shape enterprise experiences that thoughtfully span both physical and digital user journeys, understanding the complexities and interdependencies of these environments.
• • Demonstrate proven leadership in managing and mentoring researchers, consistently setting a high bar for research quality, the depth of insights generated, and the strategic impact of the team's work.
• • Exhibit mastery of both generative and evaluative research methodologies, with a strong ability to guide team members in selecting, executing, and synthesizing findings from appropriate methods.
• • Function as a strategic thinker, adept at translating research insights into concrete product priorities, identifying new business opportunities, and fostering cross-functional alignment.
• • Act as a strong collaborator, effectively influencing product, design, engineering, and business partners through clear communication and data-driven recommendations.
• • Embrace a growth mindset and demonstrate adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving business environment, remaining agile and responsive to changing priorities.
• • Possess the ability to direct and produce high-quality work within demanding timeframes, effectively multi-tasking across various projects and platforms, and adapting to the dynamic needs of the business.
• • Collaborate with data science teams to integrate research findings with A/B testing, behavioral analytics, and experimentation efforts, creating a comprehensive understanding of user behavior and product performance.
• • Ensure research efforts are integrated with analytics, market data, and operational metrics to provide a holistic view of user needs and business impact.
• • Contribute to the evolution of research workflows, governance, and standards across the organization, promoting best practices and continuous improvement.
• • Communicate findings through high-impact presentations and visual storytelling, making complex insights accessible and actionable for various stakeholders.
• • Drive research that supports the strategic vision for complex workflows and enterprise journeys, ensuring a user-centric approach to business operations.
• • Foster a collaborative environment where research insights are leveraged to inform product development and business strategy, ultimately enhancing the customer experience across all touchpoints.