Manager, User-Testing

We are looking for a Manager of User-Testing to join our Corporate Studio and help take our current user-testing programs to the next level. The Manager of User-Testing is responsible for managing all aspects of user-testing for one or more of Activision’s franchises, working closely with the development teams and Activision Central Design to ensure top-notch, timely, and cost-effective user-testing. This includes creating efficient user-testing plans for a diverse range of titles, budgets, and schedules, and working with a range of developers to guarantee stellar user-testing coverage.

Responsibilities

1.    Create a vision for user-testing specific Activision franchises, incorporating existing practices where possible and creating new ones where necessary

• Audit developer user-testing practices and resources.
• Work closely with development teams to help them understand user-testing and inspire teams to integrate user-testing into their schedules, their development cycles, and their code bases.
• Determine and hire or train staff to support these efforts.
• Determine equipment/facility needs and work to secure support and funding.

2.    Create and Maintain User-Testing Procedures.

• Create user-testing standards and procedures for selected franchises, production schedules, and budgets.
• Disseminate and help train teams (internally and externally) on these procedures.
• Establish pipeline for efficiently sourcing and tracking participants.
• Review procedures in action and update as required.

3.    Manage user-tests and provide expert feedback on games in progress

• Create appropriate user-testing milestones and deliverables.
• Effectively manage all aspects of user-tests, including vendor relations, managing testing staff, handling participants, creating surveys, moderating feedback sessions, and writing reports.
• Provide timely feedback to stakeholders regarding ongoing user-testing issues
• Review design and implementation of all games and provide usability feedback on potential issues.

Qualifications

• Relevant College degree required. Relevant advanced degree preferred (branches of experimental psychology, human computer interaction, human factors, or related field).
• At least four years industry experience conducting usability tests and related research for games, OR at least five years industry experience conducting usability tests on software products
• Previous Management experience required
• Experience designing in the games or entertainment industry highly desirable
• Excellent interpersonal communication (both written and verbal)
• Ability to influence people without breaking relationships
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills
• Extensive knowledge of research design, qualitative and quantitative methodologies
• Proven ability to translate research findings into actionable product improvements
• Experienced with applying advanced statistical methods to a wide variety of problems
• An adaptable and quick learner that enjoys tackling a large variety of problems
• Must have an interest in games and the people who play them
• Must have a willingness to innovate in the interest of effective and efficient user-testing

Please apply at: https://activision.taleo.net/careersection/10020/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=GAM00003M