Sr. User Experience Designer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina

Job Purpose

Responsible for designing user interfaces, interactions and information architectures for Web sites and applications and validating that those designs meet both business requirements and the needs of end users.  Act as a critical link between the end user, business owner and the web office team to ensure that user-centered design principles and best practices are applied to all web experiences.

Major Job Functions/Components

• Represent the voice of the user

• Evangelize the importance of usability and drive user-experience design principles within the organization, and effectively present recommendations at the Director and VP level
• Lead the user experience design on multiple large-scale projects or complex applications

• Plan, coordinate and conduct user research

• Proactively identify and communicate issues and opportunities
• Conduct site visits, contextual inquiries, lab-based and remote usability tests, surveys and/or other research to identify, understand and prioritize user needs and workflows; and prioritize and promote design recommendations based on research findings.

• Design user interfaces

• Translate business requirements, use cases and functional specifications into information architecture, user interface and interaction design for optimal user experiences
• Develop user experience documentation (wireframes and flows) detailing proposed solutions and revise as necessary to achieve stakeholder approval

• Evaluate proposed and existing designs

• Proactively drive UXD standards and process improvements on all projects
• Evaluate UI design at all stages of the development lifecycle (in wireframe form, in development and after implementation)
• Plan, organize and conduct usability testing sessions with both internal and external users
• Work collaboratively with Web Experience team members to ensure that visual design is user-friendly and consistent, and that copy is clear, concise, and user-friendly

Hiring Requirements/Qualifications

Hiring Preferences

To be considered for this position, please visit bcbsnc.com/careers and apply to 8076 BR.

Description:
The Lotus User Experience group (IBM) is seeking a User Experience Research student intern to work locally in Research Triangle Park, NC. The length of time for the internship is beginning Summer through the end of 2010 (with potential option for extension). A Spring start date is preferred. The Lotus User Experience Research team seeks to understand the voice of the customer to answer high-risk design and business questions using traditional and nontraditional research methods. The qualified candidate must be enrolled in a Human Factors (or related) graduate program and pursuing an advanced degree (Masters/Doctorate). A thorough understanding of HCI and research methods is required and usage/understanding of social media is desired.

Send resumes to Brian Utesch at butesch@us.ibm.com. Follow up interviews will be scheduled for candidates who best fit the requirements of the position.

We’re looking to fundamentally change the transit status quo by placing helpful technology in the lives of riders around the world. To do that we need a top developer to spearhead a new development project that will seek to build a cutting edge community focused transit site.

Working with others at TransLoc, you will build this new site from the ground up by creating the architecture and interaction models that define the daily experience of thousands of users, and then implementing them. A major component of your work will be to focus on the user experience of the web application, primarily focusing on the usability and user interface of the site but also working on the visual design. You will also be responsible for the architecture of many aspects of the software and will code many of the components.

In short, you will be responsible for developing our new product, from concept to delivery.

Required skills include

Experience designing web applications (in a software architecture sense)

* Experience with scalable architectures
* Actionscript 3 with Flex
* Python 2.4+ and Django
* MySQL (for content storage and retrieval)
* Standards-compliant HTML & Javascript
* Strong working knowledge of user experience (UX) design (schooled or self taught), including familiarity with
* Interaction models, usability and user interface design
* Wireframes, mockups and prototyping

Ideal applicants will also have

* An eye for good visual design
* Familiarity with community driven sites and especially crowdsourcing
* Experience with PHP

If this sounds like you we’d love to hear from you. Please send your resume and a brief description of related projects you recently worked on with sample designs (screenshots, wireframes, mockups, etc.) and the thought process behind them to work@transloc.com.

We are seeking candidates with immediate availability.

About TransLoc

At TransLoc we have set the stage for best-in class web access to real-time transit information, helping thousands of riders in their daily commute. For the past several years transit riders have come to depend on our system for a safe, comfortable and convenient wait for the bus. We’ve quickly become a leader in the field but we know our impact on riders can be even greater.

We are growing rapidly and we’re looking for the best talent to enhance our current service and to pursue new projects. Working with us can offer you an uncommon opportunity to

* build next-gen internet apps
* play with real-time data from hundreds of moving vehicles
* make stuff that impacts riders every single day
* lead projects

Everyone here has genuine enthusiasm for public transit and its role in shaping the future, and we encourage the same in all applicants. At TransLoc we foster independent thinking and creativity, so we value strong time management and an openness for active collaboration in our startup environment.

We’re located in downtown Raleigh, on Moore Square. All applicants must be willing to work from our office.

User Interface Developer – SAS
http://www.sas.com/jobs/USjobs/search.html

Description

As a UI Developer you will be responsible for designing, developing, improving, and debugging the software interfaces of both stand-alone client software and Web based software applications. These tasks will be associated with new and existing products in accordance with designated development practices and timelines.

Additional responsibilities may include:

* Designing and writing new or revised program language code or processing routines; actively soliciting the involvement of other developers to ensure integrity and cross-product consistency
* Developing storyboards, mockups and/or prototypes to communicate interaction and design ideas
* Evaluating the usability of new and existing products and making constructive recommendations for improvements
* Working with multiple operating systems and anticipating technical anomalies and enhancements for various environments
* Performing testing of software; verifying, tracking, and fixing “bugs”; modifying software design, as necessary.
* Discussing technical and design issues with users and customers; anticipating time needed to complete projects and assisting in product scheduling.
* Designing, developing, and ensuring quality of various prototype and demonstration systems.
* Preparing and conducting system and program tests requiring the interfacing of hardware and software.
* Determining hardware compatibility and developing compatible code as appropriate.
* Performing programming tasks including program design, coding, debugging, and documentation.
* Preparing feasibility studies and designing tests to determine operating characteristics of software as required.
* Performing other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Essential

* Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related quantitative field; with
* 5 years of software development/programming experience.
* Experience developing software user interfaces
* Experience with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), XML, HTML, and Javascript

Essential Equivalent

* Associate’s degree in the same fields with 7 years of the stated essential qualifications ~OR~
* High School diploma (GED) with 9 years of the stated essential qualifications.

Additional

* Working knowledge of multiple operating systems.
* Strong interpersonal, documentation, and problem-solving skills.
* Solid programming skills in SAS, Java, or language(s) related to user interface development
* Experience with Adobe Flash and/or Flex
* Experience with usability standards and guidelines and/or human computer interaction principles
* Ability to think analytically and to effectively communicate problems and fixes.
* Ability to work independently or with a team.

Preferences

* Familiarity with the Education Industry
* Familiarity or experience with accessibility standards and guidelines
* Familiarity with Agile software development practices

Additional Information

To qualify, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and should not require, now or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status.

The level of this position will be determined based on the applicant’s education, skills and experience.

Resumes may be considered in the order they are received.
SAS employees performing certain job functions may require access to technology or software subject to export or import regulations.  To comply with these regulations, SAS may obtain nationality or citizenship information from applicants for employment.  SAS collects this information solely for trade law compliance purposes and does not use it to discriminate unfairly in the hiring process.

In this role, the User Experience Architect will:

-Oversee day-to-day ongoing user research (understanding client/user needs) for assigned products, applications or solution areas.
-Analyze and synthesize user research & understanding to define appropriate functionality and product requirements to drive future redesigns.
-Define and design User Experience Strategies and Frameworks representing the future state of integrated solutions, product suites and integration into broader strategies.
-Define and design User Experience Architectures (comprised of wireframes, sitemaps, interaction flows, and prototypes) for desktop and online applications as well as web and mobile experiences.

This is a hands-on and strategic position offering the right candidate an unprecedented opportunity to lead the definition and evolution of several widely known and used products and applications.

Lead teams in user-centered design activities including:
-Heuristic Reviews and Competitive Audits: Performing heuristic evaluations of client and competitor products.
-User Research: Conducting contextual inquiry (in person observation & interviews) with target users to understand their mental models and behaviors.
-Research Analysis: Analyzing information gained during user research and also conducting heuristic and competitive analysis.
-Research Reporting: Writing recommendation reports based on research.
-Persona Development: Defining target users and authoring detailed user personas.
-Modeling & Task Flow Creation: Conceptualizing ideal user paths/task flows/scenarios, etc.
-Information Architecture/Interaction Design: Building navigational systems, information architectures, sitemaps, etc.
-Wire Frame Creation: Identifying key screen types and generating full screen inventories.
-Usability Testing: Conducting usability testing, analyzing the results and creating a recommendations report.
-Other UCD related activities as required.

Contact: Heather Wrenn

Senior Product Manager

The Product Development Infrastructure (PDI) team has an immediate opening for Business Analyst/Product Manager.

Location: RTP, North Carolina.

Job responsibilities:

Elicit requirements using interviews, document analysis, requirements workshops, surveys, site visits, business process descriptions, use cases, scenarios, business analysis, task and workflow analysis.

Critically evaluate information gathered from multiple sources, reconcile conflicts, decompose high-level information into details, abstract up from low-level information to a general understanding, and distinguish user requests from the underlying true needs.

Proactively communicate and collaborate with internal (and sometimes external) customers to analyze information needs and functional requirements and deliver the following artifacts (or Agile/SCRUM equivalents) as needed: Functional requirements, Business Requirements Document, Use Cases, GUI, Screen and Interface designs
Required skills:

5+ Year in Business-Analysis/Product-Management OR Product /Applications Development
Strong experience with Technology and Application Architectures
Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
Very strong skills in influencing and persuasion
Strong Analytical skills
A passion for building excellent products and solutions
A good sense for great Usability and User Experience

Desired skills:

Certification in Business-Analysis, Product-Management or equivalent
Strong Usability/User-Experience Design background and experience

Please contact Brent Rogers (breroger@cisco.com).

Senior Usability Specialist Contractor
Wells Fargo
Charlotte, NC

Wells Fargo has an immediate opening to fill a 6-month Senior Usability Specialist contract in our Charlotte, NC office. There is a possibility of extending the contract up to 18 months if there is a business need.

The Senior Usability Specialist is responsible for designing and conducting 1×1 usability studies of web-based experiences. This individual will collaborate with interaction designers, business owners, developers, and graphic designers to establish the research plan and outline requirements for the test material. The researcher responsibilities include: devise screeners, manage recruiting, design study, facilitate testing, collect and analyze data, report results, make recommendations, and to effectively communicate findings to a broad audience of stakeholders.

The researcher will be part of the User Research team within the Internet Services group, and will collaborate with other senior researchers in the Charlotte and San Francisco offices (collaboration with SF is virtual). The primary focus of the research work for this position is related to the merger between Wachovia and Wells Fargo. The nature of these projects is fast-paced and complex – it requires researchers who are flexible, collaborative, with excellent problem solving skills and ability to prioritize research findings for business decision-making.

Requirements:

* 5 or more years focused experience in usability testing of web interfaces
* Excellent written and oral communication skills
* Outstanding analytical skills
* Detail orientation
* Quick learner
* Self-directed
* Demonstrated success in conducting research and testing with a wide variety of end users
* Demonstrated experience with a variety of research and testing techniques, including think-aloud, 1-on-1 interviews, card sorts, and on- site observation.
* Position is on-site in the Charlotte office during regular business hours (generally Mon – Fri, 8:30am – 5:30pm)
* Preferred Skills/Experience: Financial services experience

To Apply:

Please send resume to Caroline Beacham at caroline.beacham@wachovia.com

Wells Fargo in Charlotte is looking for free-lance user researchers who would work with us on a per-project basis from time to time when we have overflow.  This would be an ongoing opportuntiy.  This is 100% research, 1×1 usability testing. Please contact caroline.beacham at wachovia.com.

The Triangle Area ColdFusion Users Group (TACFUG) is planning a conference called CFinNC for October 17-18, 2009 on Centennial Campus at NC State University. The topics will be ColdFusion, Flex/Flash, AIR and miscellaneous other topics. The presenters will range from triangle speakers along with presenters from all over the US. Registration for this conference is FREE for attendees.

If you are interested in learning more about Flex or other Adobe technologies such as AIR and Coldfusion this is a great opportunity to receive FREE training. For more information or to register please visit: http://cfinnc.com/

STC competitions offer an excellent way for you and your team to get recognition for your technical publication, help system, artwork, training, or any other form of technical communication. Each year, the STC Carolina Chapter generally sponsors the following competitions:

• Online Communication Competition: This page describes the categories in which you can submit an online communication entry.
• Technical Publications Competition: This page describes the categories in which you can submit a technical publications entry.
• Technical Art Competition: This page describes the categories in which you can submit an art entry.

The Call for Entries has been distributed. Start working on those Competition Forms for items you or your colleagues want enter! Remember, you do not have to be an STC member to enter (but members save money on the entry fee, and even more by submitting entries by the Early Bird date.

• Entries are due by October 9.
• Early Bird rate ends September 18.

If you’re shy about submitting your work, sign up as a judge. Assessing the work of other technical communicators invariably gives you insight into your own work. Judge Training day is a great networking opportunity too. You don’t need to be a member to judge, so recruit those non-members in your office. Judge training is October 17. This year, the door prizes include four signed copies of “The Well Fed Writer” by Peter Bowerman.

Contact: Betsy Kent <lizkent@nc.rr.com> for more information.