Program Manager

Blink is looking for a Program Manager to add to our Project Management and Core Account team. This individual will work closely with our Research Manager and account team to facilitate the growth of our lab-based, hardware and evaluative research program for one key client account. This role will require strategic account management through day-to-day leadership and coordination in client relationships, budget management, schedule planning, and deliverables for user research and data collection programs. The ideal candidate will have high emotional and social intelligence, remain calm under pressure, and enjoy working in a challenging environment. 

A note about location: This is a primarily onsite role, located at our downtown Seattle studio. There is flexibility to work from home when onsite requirements are light. This requirement is due to the responsibilities of this position to help grow our Seattle-based evaluative research program. Much of this work requires in-office research lab oversight as we build this program. Therefore we are looking for someone who is in the Greater Seattle Area or who would be open to relocation. 

What you will be doing:

• Account and Business Development - Supporting the organization's sales & revenue objectives by building strong client relationships and seeking new opportunities. Collaborating with the core account team on strategy and account planning to facilitate annual growth of the account. Participating in developing (and sometimes owning) proposals, estimators, and scope of work documentation. 
• Project Management - Planning and managing the complete lifecycle of multiple projects within a program concurrently. Ensuring the accuracy of project data within our system and tools, including general project data, scheduled and tracked time. Contributing to the resourcing process and helping to determine team & PM assignments.
• Budgeting & Reporting - Managing the financial health of all projects with a keen eye on project profitability. Ensuring projects are completed on time, on budget, and within scope. Attending weekly office hours and providing regular project health reports. Driving revenue recognition by coordinating with finance. Reviewing project data for direct reports and ensuring the accuracy of all data.
• Risk Management & Mitigation - proactively identifying, assessing, and monitoring potential risks. Collaborating with project leadership teams on potential strategies for mitigating risks and implementing change orders within projects and programs. 
• Communication & Collaboration - Creating a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities at the start of each project. Thinking and communicating clearly and succinctly, at the right pace, in the right channel, and with the appropriate level of depth. Driving communications with internal teams with daily syncs. Driving communication with clients with regularly scheduled status meetings, key milestone reviews, and weekly status updates.
• Leadership - Managing 1-2 project managers (plus 1-2 contractors) and facilitating their career growth and development. Fostering a culture of trust and respect that is inspiring and rewarding. Continually driving positive change by leading process improvement efforts and suggesting ways to increase efficiency within our processes and tools. 

What we are looking for:

• 8+ years of experience working as a Project/Program Manager. Consulting, Human-Centered Design, Research, and/or UX experience strongly desired.
• Demonstrated experience in leading large-scale UX design and/or research programs. Experience managing hardware research programs preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work remotely with cross-functional teams in a collaborative style and working environment. 
• Exceptional oral and written communication and presentation skills with the ability to clearly and confidently communicate information so that clients and other stakeholders feel the information is grounded and valid. 
• Exemplary attention to detail, organization, and time management skills with the ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a fast-paced environment. 
• Demonstrated relationship builder with strong business acumen.
•  Positive problem solver skilled at identifying and tracking potential project risks.

If your experience looks a little different from what we’ve identified, and you think you can rock the role, we’d love to learn more about you. Please feel welcome to apply, including a cover letter that tells us why you feel you’d be a good match.

About Us:

Blink UX is a design consulting firm creating products that people use, love and remember. Blink has over two decades of experience in UX research, strategy, and design partnering with innovative industry leaders including Amazon, Chase, Gates Foundation, Google, Meta, and NASA. For more information visit blinkux.com. 

Our Culture 

Maintaining a positive company culture requires the same careful curation, management, and rigor as any other aspect of a business. At Blink, we consciously design our culture to ensure that employees have the structure and guidance they need to fully develop their skills and abilities for a happy and rewarding career. Be sure to read up on the unique aspects of ourcompany culture framework and ensure they align with your working style. 

EEO

When hiring, we aim to build teams of compassionate people with diverse experiences, thoughts, and skills. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual preference, gender identity or age, disability or length of time spent unemployed. 

Following your application submission we encourage you to disclose personal demographic information in order to help us comply with federal and state Equal Employment Opportunity record-keeping requirements. We will also use this information in an anonymous aggregated form to help us measure and improve diversity at Blink