Job Description
We are looking to recruit a UX Architect to join the Literature Services Team at the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) located on the Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge in the UK.
The Literature Services Team develops and maintains Europe PMC (http://europepmc.org), a large repository of over 33 million full text biomedical research articles and abstracts. These records are supplemented with links to biological databases, citation networks and semantic annotation. Europe PMC is one of several digital services which support the ‘Open Science’ movement, aiming to make scientific research and data freely available and reusable, in an easy to access format, for both professional scientists and amateurs. Europe PMC is funded by 28 funders of biological and biomedical research across Europe, led by the Wellcome Trust.
This role supports our ongoing User Experience (UX) research and design activities within a rapidly growing, successful team. We are looking for a UX Architect who has some UX experience, but is keen to learn new skills and advance their career. This position reports to the Product Manager in Literature Services.
You’ll be working as part of a product team which includes a Product Manager, front-end and back-end developers, a Helpdesk and a Community Manager. You will be specifically responsible for:
- Helping to plan and conduct user research to discover user needs and pain points, and sharing user research insights with the team and stakeholders, to help them empathise with users;
- Gathering business requests from stakeholders and colleagues;
- Collaborating with the development team to create elegant interaction design solutions which meet user and business needs, including ideation and sketching design concepts, creating user journeys, wireframes, prototypes and navigation structures;
- Maintaining and improving the Europe PMC design system / pattern library;
- Running usability tests; including recruiting participants, moderating sessions and finding effective ways to share usability issues and insights with the team;
- Helping to analyse user behaviour using web analytics.
At EMBL-EBI, we help scientists realise the potential of ‘big data’ in biology by enabling them to exploit complex information to make discoveries that benefit mankind. Working for EMBL-EBI gives you an opportunity to apply your skills and energy for the greater good. As part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), we are a non-profit, intergovernmental organisation funded by 23 member states and two associate member states and proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge in the UK, and our 600 staff are engineers, technicians, scientists and other professionals from all over the world.
Qualifications and Experience
The Product Manager has overall responsibility for UX and supports the Literature Services Team Leader to define a clear vision and objectives for Europe PMC. You will be helping to support the delivery of that vision, continually improving and evolving Europe PMC to meet and exceed user needs. You are expected to have an understanding of UX design principles and at least 1-2 years of experience working in a UX role, using an iterative user-centred process.
You will have some experience of planning and conducting user research to discover user needs, and presenting research insights to stakeholders.
You will have a proven track record of interaction design and information architecture (IA), for example creating design concepts, interactive prototypes, wireframes, user journeys and navigation structures. You will be comfortable sketching and critiquing design ideas. Experience using Sketch, Invision or similar design software would be an advantage.
Any experience in visual design, using pattern libraries and design systems, web analytics and familiarity with HTML and CSS is desirable, but not essential.
You will have some experience of planning and moderating usability tests, or other methods, such as card sorting, to validate your designs with users.
You will relish solving problems creatively and demonstrate excellent communication skills. You will be proactive in organising and planning your work, a team player and able to collaborate effectively with other team members. The team uses Agile methodologies including Scrum and Kanban, so experience of Agile is useful, but not essential.
Ideally you’ll have a degree in design, human computer interaction, psychology or computer science, or relevant experience working in a UX role. Experience working in bioinformatics, biological resource development and/or technical experience within scientific publishing or information science would be an advantage.
You will be willing to learn and use UX methodologies and tools that you are not familiar with and develop your skills and knowledge on the job. But you will also benefit from mentoring, a range of training opportunities and seminars within the organisation and the opportunity to seek advice from other UX practitioners at EMBL-EBI.
You will have the benefit of working on a fantastic campus with excellent facilities, within an international team. There will be occasional opportunities to travel overseas to conferences.
Benefits
EMBL is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation. The remuneration package comprises a competitive salary, a comprehensive pension scheme and health insurance, educational and other family related benefits where applicable, as well as financial support for relocation and installation.
We have an informal culture, international working environment and excellent professional development opportunities but one of the really amazing things about us is the concentration of technical and scientific expertise – something you probably won’t find anywhere else.
If you’ve ever visited the campus you’ll have experienced first-hand our friendly, collegial and supportive atmosphere, set in the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. Our staff also enjoy excellent sports facilities including a gym, a free shuttle bus, an on-site nursery, cafés and restaurant and a library.
Application Instructions
To apply please submit a covering letter and CV, with two referees, through our online system.
Additional Information
Applications are welcome from all nationalities - visa information will be discussed in more depth with applicants selected for interview.
EMBL-EBI is committed to achieving gender balance and strongly encourages applications from women, who are currently under-represented at all levels. Appointment will be based on merit alone.
The initial contract is for a period of three years with the possibility of a fixed-term extension.
Applications will close at 23:00 GMT on the date listed above.