Design Researcher

James Hardie Building Products Inc. is the North American leader in fiber cement home siding and exterior design solutions. Hardie® products offer long lasting beauty and endless design possibilities with trusted protection and low maintenance. The company pioneered modern fiber cement building products and continues to invest in innovation to transform the industry. James Hardie is a high-performance organization, with an unwavering commitment to Zero Harm. The company proudly employs a diverse workforce of over 3,000 employees across operations in North America.

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Relocation assistance to our Hybrid R&D location in Southern California!

It is the vision of our Global R&D business to have an inspired team delivering sustainable innovation to fuel Hardie's growth. As part of this team, you will have the opportunity to work alongside industry-leading engineers and scientists, develop and pursue research, work with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities and be challenged to think differently about the way you work. Our business is fast-paced, and our people are smart in the way they solve problems, driven in their pursuit of results, and real in the way they build relationships and work together.

We are seeking a highly skilled Design Researcher to join our Insights and Design Team.

In this role, we are looking for a seasoned practitioner with a strong track record in design research. The ideal candidate will be adept at formalizing comprehensive research plans, meticulously structuring and executing field research, and displaying adaptability and resourcefulness in gathering both qualitative and quantitative insights.  You will design lead and conduct research activities that help identify key opportunity areas, evaluate concepts, and refine solutions. You will represent the voice of the customer in the design process by translating users values, needs and motivations into meaningful insights that inform our innovative products. You will be part of James Hardie’s global Insights and Design community, collaborating, defining and sharing best practices with R&D, product and market professionals in North America and Asia Pacific.

What You’ll Do:

• Be a leader in managing and progressing innovation growth at James Hardie through increasing our understanding of the desirability of new product concepts.
• Utilize relevant research techniques to understand customer unmet needs in a complex B2B2C environment consisting of architects, builders, distribution, and homeowners.
• Work across multiple projects to execute research, delivering actionable and timely insights
• Create, implement and lead strategies and action plans based upon your insight’s learnings.
• Business partner with the R&D and Commercial teams to integrate and realize Design Research based methods into new product development process.
• Identify how to frame complex research problems, as well as evaluate agencies and vendors to support projects (when needed).
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different research methods, including when and how to apply them during each product phase
• Support and facilitate design thinking workshops with stakeholders
• Act as a change agent, sparking fresh ideas that elevate the research practice
• The position responsibilities outlined above are in no way to be construed as all encompassing. Other duties, responsibilities and qualifications may be required and/or assigned, as necessary.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in design research, Psychology Behavioral Science, Anthropology, or a related field.
• 5+ years proven experience in design research, usability testing, and user-centered design methodologies.
• Proficiency in a wide range of research techniques and tools, both qualitative and quantitative.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to distill complex data into actionable insights.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, for presenting research findings to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and adapt to fast-paced project environments.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a keen eye for detail.

James Hardie Building Products Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or any other basis protected by law.