Job Title: Service Designer / UX Researcher (Hybrid – Chicago)
Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid – Onsite 2-3 days/week)
Type: W2 Contract (6 months)
Industry: Agency / Consulting

About the Role:
Our agency client in Chicago is seeking a skilled Service Designer / UX Researcher for a 6-month contract engagement. In this hybrid role, you will work closely with cross-functional teams to map complex services, understand user needs, and design solutions that improve experiences across digital and physical touchpoints. You'll drive service design efforts from research through testing, and play a key role in shaping user journeys with clarity, efficiency, and empathy.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Service Design & Research

• Conduct stakeholder and user interviews to identify current workflows, challenges, and opportunities

• Develop detailed service blueprints mapping people, processes, and tech layers

• Identify and define pain points within existing service models

2. Personas & Scenario Planning

• Create research-based personas to represent key user groups

• Build scenario simulations and task flows to illustrate real-world user experiences

3. UI/UX Collaboration

• Partner with UI Designers to inform wireframes and interface designs

• Advocate for cognitive load reduction, clear system states, error recovery, and mobile/touch-friendly interactions

4. Design Review & Testing

• Participate in and facilitate design critiques to refine solutions

• Conduct field testing and usability assessments to validate concepts and drive iterative improvements

Qualifications:

• 4–7 years of experience in UX research, service design, or related fields

• Strong understanding of service design methodologies, user research techniques, and persona development

• Proven experience in scenario planning and complex system mapping

• Familiarity with UI/UX design principles and ability to collaborate with visual designers

• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, especially in cross-functional settings

• Comfortable working in hybrid environments and with distributed teams

Work Environment:

• Hybrid work setup: 2-3 days onsite in Chicago, 2-3 days remote

• Collaborative agency environment with high visibility into client-facing projects

The hourly pay range for this position (dependent on factors including but not limited to client requirements, experience, statutory considerations, and location) is $40.00 to $58.00/hr.  Benefits available to full-time employees: medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401k and commuter benefits.

 
Synergis is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, military/veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.
 
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including but not limited to, the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
 
For immediate consideration, please forward your resume to mpersons@synergishr.com
 
If you require assistance or an accommodation in the application or employment process, please contact us at mpersons@synergishr.com.

Synergis is a workforce solutions partner serving thousands of businesses and job seekers nationwide. Our digital world has accelerated the need for businesses to build IT ecosystems that enable growth and innovation along with enhancing the Total Experience (TX). Synergis partners with our clients at the intersection of talent and transformation to scale their balanced teams of tech, digital and creative professionals. Learn more about Synergis at www.synergishr.com.