Location: Remote. Applicants must be located within time zones UTC +0 to UTC +4.
Application Deadline: Open until the position is filled.
About OCCRP
With staff across six continents and hubs in Washington, D.C., Amsterdam, and Sarajevo, OCCRP is one of the largest investigative journalism organizations in the world. We are a nonprofit, mission-driven newsroom that partners with other media outlets to publish stories that spur action. OCCRP is also a media development platform that advances investigative reporting worldwide.
Our mission is to spread and strengthen investigative journalism around the world and expose crime and corruption so the public can hold power to account. Our work has three main pillars: We collaborate with investigative journalists to publish hard-hitting stories that spark change; we provide training, tools, and infrastructure so nonprofit media outlets can thrive; and we develop technology and innovations that advance the entire industry.
Position Overview
We are seeking a skilled and driven UX Design Researcher to join our team, focusing on creating exceptional user experiences for OCCRP’s cutting-edge data platform. You will be responsible for conducting user research, developing user journeys and personas, and translating insights into actionable wireframes. This role is central to the redesign of Aleph and will also support the Lumivera project.
This is an exciting opportunity for a UX professional to contribute to meaningful, impactful work within a highly collaborative environment. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, developers, and data specialists, to ensure our products align with user needs and deliver innovative solutions.
Job Description
Responsibilities include:
Conduct qualitative and quantitative user research through interviews, surveys, and usability testing to gather insights into user needs and pain points.
Develop detailed user personas, user journeys, and experience maps based on research findings to guide design decisions.
Create low-fidelity and high-fidelity wireframes and prototypes to visually communicate design ideas.
Collaborate closely with the product managers and cross-functional teams to ensure user insights are integrated into the product roadmap.
Analyze research data to provide actionable recommendations for improving user experience and functionality.
Facilitate workshops or design sprints to explore user challenges and co-create solutions.
Test wireframes and prototypes with users, iterating designs based on feedback.
Ensure UX solutions align with the technical and business goals of Aleph’s rewrite.
Contribute to documentation and presentations to communicate research findings and design decisions to stakeholders.
Person Description
Skills:
Essential - required for this position
Strong proficiency in user research methods (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability testing).
Ability to create detailed user personas, user journeys, and experience maps.
Expertise in wireframing and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).
Analytical skills to interpret research data and provide actionable insights.
Strong communication and presentation skills, able to articulate research findings and design decisions to stakeholders.
Collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams including developers, product managers, and data specialists.
Desirable - would be great if you had these skills
Familiarity with UX design for complex data platforms.
Experience with workshop facilitation, such as design sprints or ideation sessions.
Knowledge of UI design principles and best practices.
Familiarity with front-end development basics.
Experience with project management or working in Agile environments.
Experience:
Essential - required for this position
Proven track record in UX research and design, preferably in data-rich environments.
Hands-on experience with user testing, including usability studies and feedback loops.
Demonstrated experience creating wireframes, prototypes, and user journey maps.
Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure user-centric product development.
Desirable - would be great if you had experience in this
Experience working on platforms or products that support investigative journalism, research, or data analysis.
Familiarity with tools like Jira, Confluence, or other project management and collaboration platforms.
Knowledge of Aleph or similar data platforms.
Experience in fast-paced, mission-driven organizations with global teams.
To Apply
To apply, please email a cover letter, resume, and a portfolio showcasing relevant user research and design work to jobs[@]occrp.org. Include case studies or examples that demonstrate your process for creating user personas, journeys, and wireframes.
All applications must be submitted in English. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Whilst we have internal goals to reply to unsuccessful candidates, we regret that the high number of applicants greatly exceeds our capacity to respond to each person. We apologise that we will not be able to reply to any unsuccessful applicants.
As an equal opportunity employer, OCCRP values having a diverse workforce and continuously strives to maintain an inclusive and equitable workplace. We offer competitive compensation and benefits and encourage people with a diverse range of backgrounds to apply. We do not discriminate against any person based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, medical conditions, family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics. If you are a qualified applicant requiring assistance or an accommodation to complete any step of the application process, please contact hr[at]occrp.org.