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Synacor is a global technology company providing Internet Solutions to enable ISP's, media companies and advertisers to build close relationships with consumers on the Internet. Synacor's platform solutions include Turnkey Portals and Content Solutions as well as individual technology solutions such as a Content Management System (CMS); Sales and Promotions Manager (SPM); E-mail and Single Sign On (SSO). Synacor is a dynamic, fun and exciting company. Jeans and t-shirts are typical office attire, even for the executives. Flexible work hours accommodate employees with special scheduling needs, early risers and those who need a little caffeinated kick-start each morning. Synacor's headquarters are located along the Buffalo, New York waterfront. We are looking for great people to join our team and be given the freedom to do the work they were hired to do.

We are currently in search of a Director of Usability who will be responsible for setting the visual design direction and standards for Synacor products and services. The Director of Usability will also evaluate new and existing online content and applications, recommending improvements to enhance user experience.

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Collaborate with Product teams and Engineering teams in the planning and development of effective online solutions.
• Present to clients, development teams, and/or executives advocating design concepts and rationale.
• Contribute to online usability standards to ensure that Synacor products offer an efficient, effective and consistent user experience.
• Create documentation outlining recommendations to improve usability including blueprints, wireframes and reports to help others understand the intended approach.
• Conduct evaluations of online content and applications and suggest improvements.
• Suggest, plan and conduct appropriate user research via a variety of techniques including usability testing, online surveys, interviews, contextual inquiry, focus groups, paper prototyping and card sorting.
• Analyze user research data, recommend modifications and present findings.
• Investigate, evaluate and recommend new and emerging usability techniques, technologies, and methodology process improvements.
• Articulating the goals and expectations of the customer to internal and external audiences, and serving as their advocate throughout the design process.
• Participating throughout a project's quality assurance cycle to ensure that the final product meets the expectations of the original project requirements.
• Identifying weaknesses in current functionality and creating solutions that better serve the customer.
• Devising solutions that balance user goals and business goals while fitting within the constraints of brand, time, budget, and technology.
• Other duties as assigned.


What you’ll need to bring to the table:
• Bachelor’s degree in human factors, human-computer interaction, or related field. Minimum five years of online usability experience.
• Proven significant experience with user experience design, including interaction design and usability research, with a consumer-facing internet company or web design consulting firm/agency.
• A comprehensive understanding of the current state of web technology and best practices, with a critical awareness of implications on user-centered design and functionality.
• Proven experience in successfully guiding and managing a team of UI designers and front-end developers.
• Proven ability to deliver high quality interaction designs to customers/stakeholders in a collaborative environment.
• Understands how and why an interface succeeds or fails and can spot likely problems in flow, layout, copy, or presentation before they go into production.
• Experience on a Scrum team or as a ScrumMaster. Scrum certification a plus.
• A tangible, well-grounded sense of design with respect to creating simple, elegant, aesthetically pleasing interfaces based on usability

To apply please visit our website; www.synacor.com/jobs