Ux Research Engagement Manager

Summary

Join U.S. Digital Response as a Government UX Research Engagement Manager to lead our UXR portfolio. You will manage the entire lifecycle of user experience research projects, from initial client conversations to final deliverables and retrospectives. This role requires strong project management skills, experience working with government agencies, and the ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects. You will work with a team of volunteers to deliver impactful results and contribute to the strategic growth of the UXR program. The position offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and a supportive remote work environment. The ideal candidate possesses 6+ years of UXR experience, 3+ years of strategic leadership experience, and 3+ years of experience working with government agencies.

Requirements

• 6+ years of experience in UXR-related fields
• Ability to scope UXR work realistically and align partner requests with organizational priorities
• 3+ years of strategic leadership experience (growing a portfolio, contributing to business development, or bringing new services to market)
• 3+ years of experience working in or with government agencies or a highly regulated industry
• Ability to manage stakeholders at all levels, including C-suite, and comfortably lead partner conversations solo after 1 month
• 3+ years in a role requiring strong project management skills, comfortable monitoring up to ~15 simultaneous projects
• Proactive, action-oriented leadership to make sense of unclear requests and guide partners toward clarity
• Experience managing and coaching individuals with diverse backgrounds, ensuring a positive volunteer experience
• Ability to model the values in the Community Oath

Responsibilities

• Field initial conversations with government partners to determine project fit and UXR needs
• Develop realistic scopes of work for volunteer teams, typically within an 8-12 week timeframe
• Identify required roles and skills for projects, and vet and staff volunteers
• Manage successful project kickoffs, providing context, setup, and introductions
• Ensure projects stay on track by checking in with volunteer teams and proactively identifying risks
• Ensure deliverables are saved and conduct project retrospectives with volunteers
• Identify themes across retrospectives, opportunities for amplifying work, and generalizing deliverables
• Contribute to fundraising through grant proposals, concept notes, and fundraising calls
• Identify opportunities to scale UXR across partners, create new offerings, and develop resources
• Partner with the Program Manager on UXR roadmapping and strategy, including planning around offerings, revenue generation, and business development
• Speak about UXR best practices or previous USDR projects at conferences or events
• Update or develop UXR-related templates and onboarding materials for volunteers
• Partner with colleagues to identify opportunities across focus areas

Preferred Qualifications

Background in UX/UI design, UX research, service design, product design, or research operations

Benefits

• Competitive salary ($170,000 - $190,000 annually)
• Full health, dental, and vision benefits (USDR pays 100% for employees, 80% for dependents)
• 401K with matching contribution (up to 3% at $1/$, up to 5% at $0.50/$)
• Equipment reimbursement ($2,000 for computer and peripherals)
• Work from Home allowance ($100/month)
• Learning and development budget ($400/year)
• Fully remote work environment (for US-based employees) and flexible schedules