Calling all researchers and product folks in Chattanooga looking to make an impact!

In an exciting collaboration with the City of Chattanooga’s Department of Innovation Delivery and Performance, U.S Digital Response (USDR) is launching the Chattanooga User Research Cohort. The program will connect a cohort of volunteer technologists with Chattanooga city departments to answer specific research questions and make actionable recommendations using best practices in user research.

Our goal? To give the City of Chattanooga a deeper understanding of its residents’ needs to improve the delivery of public services.

If you’re eager to contribute your user research or product management skills to an impactful local initiative, check out the details below.

What kind of project will you be working on?

Chattanooga User Research Cohort volunteers will engage in a variety of essential projects addressing key issues within the city. Examples of past civic projects include improving the user interface and experience of a city’s digital library system, integrating community feedback into the redesign of a Health Department’s website, boosting engagement with a city service app to ensure it reaches a wider audience, and gathering residents’ opinions on public transportation improvements through surveys and interviews.

Join a community of public servants and researchers working for the public good

Starting in late August 2024, the program will launch a ten-week sprint, inviting each volunteer to contribute approximately 10–15 hours per week while on a remote project. By October, you’ll deliver recommendations that will contribute to the city’s success.

Volunteers will gain invaluable hands-on experience solving critical problems, demonstrate the impact of digital best practices, and create tangible benefits for Chattanooga residents. Joining the cohort also means getting fully integrated into the broader USDR volunteer community.

We’re currently matching interested volunteers with aligned skills and experience levels to the Chattanooga User Research Cohort. If you’re ready to step up, fill out our volunteer interest form by August 10th and indicate your interest in the Chattanooga Cohort.

Spaces for this engagement are limited, but the opportunity to contribute is boundless. USDR offers many ways for technologists to meaningfully contribute to helping governments meet the needs of their communities through remote skills-based volunteering. Sign up with your interest to volunteer and we’ll be in touch about future opportunities.

Q&A

What skills are required or preferred for a Chattanooga Research Volunteer?

If you’re interested in becoming a Chattanooga User Research Cohort volunteer, here are some of the skills we’ll be looking for:

• Availability: All volunteers will remotely contribute approximately 10–15 hours of volunteer time weekly, with a 10 hr/wk minimum and some daytime (ET) flexibility for partner meetings. If you are unavailable for a few days during the stint, you can note your availability in the form for further discussion.
• Experience working on complex, collaborative projects: Successful volunteers demonstrate expertise in their particular technological area and experience working on complex, collaborative projects. Matched volunteers are typically mid- to senior-level in their careers. They are empathetic, able to work in ambiguous situations, and great communicators. Volunteer teams have full support from the City of Chattanooga’s Department of Innovation Delivery and Performance and USDR, but they are primarily responsible for setting their timelines, product decisions, and communication schedules.
• Product management: Experience with product management, particularly with helping to introduce user-centered design, inclusive design, and agile ways of working with new partners.
• User experience and user interface designers and researchers: All projects will look to bring in volunteers with honed user research skills, particularly those well-versed in qualitative user research. Some projects will also require specific expertise in user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design.

We encourage potential volunteers of all backgrounds to apply. Some of our most effective USDR volunteers are technologists with non-traditional backgrounds, and we value teams with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Chattanooga residents are a bonus!

How do I join as a volunteer?

To express your interest, fill out the USDR volunteer interest form. You can indicate specific interest in supporting the Chattanooga Civic User Research Cohort projects within the form.

Submit your interest by August 10th to be considered for the Chattanooga Civic User Research Cohort. Submissions received after August 10th will still be considered for future volunteer opportunities within USDR.

Are there location requirements?

This is a remote volunteer opportunity. There may be an opportunity for volunteers within the Chattanooga area to meet with the Chattanooga team, but generally, work will be remote and no in-person contribution is required.

How are volunteers selected?

Prospective volunteers submit a form with interest in volunteering, which will be reviewed by U.S. Digital Response for relevant skills, experience-level, availability and commitment. For applicants who could be a great fit for the Chattanooga Civic User Research Cohort based on projects’ needs, USDR conducts screening calls where we discuss their specific qualifications, interest, and availability and provide a more profound overview of our organization and the projects. Once a pool of qualified volunteers is identified, we will inform the potential volunteers of their status and conduct a final vetting and review.

Is this a paid opportunity?

No, this is a volunteer opportunity.

Will I be employed by USDR or the City of Chattanooga?

No. This is a volunteer opportunity. Status as a volunteer is not a step toward obtaining employment with USDR or the City of Chattanooga. All volunteers will follow U.S. Digital Response’s Volunteer Oath.

How do I learn more about the U.S. Digital Response?

Visit our website at usdigitalresponse.org. If you are a government interested in receiving pro bono technical support to meet the needs of your community, reach out here. If you are interested in volunteering with the government but the Chattanooga Civic User Research Cohort is not the right fit, sign up to join our handraiser community. You can also access frequently asked questions by both governments and volunteers.

Who do I contact if I have more questions?

If you have any questions, you can email us at volunteering@usdigtialresponse.org