UX/UI Designer & Researcher at Experis/Manpower Group Washington DC

Position: UX/UI Designer and Researcher Location: Washington, DC (metro accessible) Duration: 5 month plus contract Hybrid: 3 days/week onsite About the Role: We are seeking a seasoned UX/UI Designer and Researcher to lead a focused user research initiative supporting the modernization of two key HR systems. This role is central to gathering early user feedback through structured focus groups and translating insights into actionable recommendations for system design and experience improvements. Key Responsibilities: Research Planning & Design Define clear learning goals and research objectives aligned with project outcomes. Develop session scripts, discussion guides, and in-session polling activities. Coordinate logistics for focus groups. Moderation & Data Collection Lead and moderate all focus group sessions using Microsoft Teams. Ensure sessions are recorded and leverage Client's AI tools for transcription and data collation. Apply best practices in qualitative research to elicit meaningful insights. Analysis & Reporting Synthesize findings across all sessions into structured reports for each HR system. Prepare an executive summary and presentation tailored for senior management. Highlight user pain points, opportunities for improvement, and design recommendations. Required Qualifications: Proven experience conducting UX/UI research and design in enterprise or institutional settings. Strong moderation and interview skills , with the ability to guide conversations and probe effectively. Expertise in focus group facilitation , qualitative data analysis, and reporting. Familiarity with remote research tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Miro, Dovetail, etc.). Experience working with AI-assisted data collation tools is a plus. Excellent communication and presentation skills, especially in delivering insights to non-design stakeholders. Core Competencies: Empathy & User-Centered Thinking - Ability to understand diverse user needs and translate them into actionable insights. Analytical Rigor - Skilled in identifying patterns, themes, and implications from qualitative data. Stakeholder Engagement - Comfortable interacting with cross-functional teams and presenting to leadership. Attention to Detail - High standards for documentation, reporting, and deliverable quality. Time Management - Ability to deliver all research activities within a tight 5-week timeline. Deliverables: Research plan and session materials Moderated focus group sessions (recorded) Collated and analyzed data Two system-specific reports Executive summary and presentation deck