User Researcher

About the job

We are currently looking for a user researcher to join our educational family! This position reports directly to the User Research Lead and is part of the digital products Product Management organization. Other team members work from Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Poland, and Spain.

The team is truly international and collaborates to create world-class digital learning solutions based on user discoveries. The User Researchers help all Sanoma Learning products deliver the greatest value to users. Based in Helsinki, you will work closely with colleagues across the Nordics, conducting research primarily in Finland and Sweden to support key cross-market initiatives.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Conducting qualitative research using methods such as interviews, diary studies, online panels, field studies, contextual inquiries, and heuristic evaluations
• Formulating hypotheses, defining research objectives, uncovering emerging themes, evaluating concepts in collaboration with users and designers, and delivering unbiased, actionable insights that inform product decisions
• Facilitating collaboration with cross-functional product teams across multiple countries, to conceptualize new features and develop digital and blended (digital & print) content capabilities
• Maintaining a clear overview of local user needs and market opportunities, using tools such as user journeys and experience mapping
• Collaborating with the international user research team to align on common frameworks, processes and tooling
• Supporting a user-centric culture by facilitating stakeholder engagement and effectively communicating research findings through presentations and evidence-based recommendations

Formal Requirements

• At least 3 years of hands-on experience conducting qualitative user research
• Experience leading early-stage concepting and exploration work for new product ideas
• Proven ability to collaborate with multinational teams and manage a variety of stakeholders
• Fluency (written and spoken) in English and Finnish is crucial (Finnish will be the primary research language when conducting interviews), and ideally you are also skilled in Swedish
• Solid experience in mixed methods research (qualitative coupled with quantitative approaches)
• Strong interest in the future of K–12 digital learning and a passion for improving education
• Highly advantageous
  • Pedagogical knowledge and/or prior experience from EdTech industry
  • Academic degree in user-centric design (UX, HCI, psychology, or related field)

Keys to Success

• Strong communication and facilitation skills, proactive mindset and collaborative approach
• Agile and solution-oriented, with an internal drive to find the way forward in ambiguous situations
• Comfortable working independently as well as within cross-functional teams
• Experience or strong interest in innovation and AI is a significant advantage

Sanoma offers

As an employer, Sanoma offers a working environment where you are able and encouraged to show your best self. The working environment is result-oriented as well as flexible, with a focus on collaboration. We offer you a key position with interesting and challenging tasks and excellent opportunities for professional growth. You will be part of a highly professional and experienced international team in an open and informal setting, where initiative is anticipated and rewarded.

Position Specs

Location – Helsinki

Work model – Hybrid (3 days a week at the office)

Contract – Permanent, full time

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, please submit your CV, cover letter and portfolio in English, as it is our corporate working language. We are not looking for polished portfolios, but rather raw, honest examples that demonstrate your expertise and way of thinking.

About Sanoma Learning

How do you prepare students for the world, engage their curiosity and inspire them to grow? That is the main question of teachers all around the world. At Sanoma Learning, it has always been our mission to help to find and develop best-in-class answers to this question. If you join us, it means that you embark on an exciting journey to help shape the future of learning for primary, secondary and vocational education. We believe that your journey is our success as a company. Sanoma Learning is a leading K12 European learning company, operating in 12 countries. Our learning products and services enable and support teachers and schools to develop the talents of every child to reach their potential.

By offering printed and digital learning