Associate Director of UXp

at VML, Inc. (WPP)

Location: Seattle, Washington

What if…you could apply user-centered design methodologies to ensure relevance and usability of websites and online applications for a variety of Fortune 100 clients? What if…you could do all that while working with one of the 25 "Best Small Companies to Work for in America"? At VML, you can.

We're seeking an Associate Director of User Experience Planning to join our Seattle office and provide positive leadership in the application and advocacy of these methodologies, working closely with cross-disciplinary teams (Account Management, Creative, Technology, Project Management, etc.) to plan and create rewarding user experiences on client sites.

The Associate Director's role is strategic and analytical in nature and is most critical during the discovery, design and development phases of a project, but should also follow through to all phases of the development cycle.

Responsibilities will include:

• Educating internal and external clients in all matters related to user-centered design
• Leading project teams in user-centered design activities by applying subject-matter expertise in the areas of user-based research and information architecture
• Collaborating as a member of the design and development teams
• Conducting stakeholder interviews to determine business / site objectives
• Conducting user interviews to assess needs and analyze task flows
• Performing heuristic evaluations, competitive site reviews, site-content audits, and existing-research reviews
• Creating information design and navigation systems for internet, intranet and extranet sites, as well as online applications
• Creating and refining user-experience documents, including task and gap analyses, content and feature/functionality matrices, usage scenarios, site maps, wireframes, flow diagrams and user-requirements documents
• Preparing and presenting design recommendations based on user research, UCD and IA principles

Qualified individuals should possess the following:

• Strong knowledge of user-centered design and HCI principles and user-analysis techniques
• A minimum of seven years of experience researching and developing strategic user-experience design for high-traffic dynamic websites
• Proficiency with one or more diagramming tool (e.g., Visio)
• Strong communication and organization skills
• The ability to work as a team member in a fast-paced, flexible environment, and to productively guide and cultivate the work of colleagues and support personnel (information architects, taxonomists, et al.)
• Willingness to travel

Strongly desired:

• Familiarity with foremost online programming languages – HTML, XML, AJAX, etc. – as they apply to experience-design objectives and alternatives
• Fluency and experience with mobile-device experience design.

Part of the WPP Group, VML offers one of the best overall compensation packages in the business. VML is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To learn more about us, visit www.vml.com.

Interested?

Send your resume and cover letter to careers@vml.com. No phone calls, please. Emails or cover letters should include career objectives, relevant experience and salary requirements.