Staff User Experience Researcher

About the role

The Staff User Experience (UX) Researcher empowers product and user experience decision-makers with insights to make data-driven decisions. This role manages a research program for a tier of Workiva product teams or key opportunities, planning, conducting, analyzing, and communicating results from qualitative, quantitative, and experimental studies. These studies investigate users, their needs, motivations, and behaviors, informing Product Managers, User Experience Designers, and Software Engineers to build and optimize innovative, user-friendly products.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership
  • Drive strategy and execution of research across groups of product teams.
  • Partner with product leadership to ensure best practices of research and evidence-backed decision making are followed.
  • Provide research leadership for products or opportunities vital to Workiva strategy.
  • Mentor researchers and members of the user experience team.
• Designs and Conducts Research
  • Review research plans and offer consulting on best practices.
  • Provide leadership and ownership of analytics collection and communication of insights across multiple teams.
  • Coordinate research studies by planning, collecting evidence, analyzing, and communicating insights across teams and executives.
  • Collaborate with designers, product managers, and engineers to discover and prioritize opportunities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Enforce consistency in research plan development and scheduling by setting best practices.
  • Leverage a broad range of research techniques to develop a deeper understanding of customers and users.
  • Delegate tasks in collaboration with team management to distribute work effectively.
  • Use evaluation techniques to identify key usability needs and refine previously implemented features.
• Interprets and Presents Insights
  • Organize, interpret, and present evidence clearly, serving as a point of contact for key decision makers.
  • Lead team members and collaborators to explore new approaches for optimal feedback.
  • Analyze, synthesize, and communicate test/research results, advocating for user-centered product improvements.
  • Partner with leadership to inform and influence product strategy, tying business outcomes to reliable insights.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5-7 years of professional experience conducting user research in a product development environment.
• Undergraduate degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Sociology, Anthropology, Design, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing, conducting, and analyzing mixed methods research studies, integrating qualitative and quantitative data.
• Proficiency in a variety of qualitative research methods (e.g., usability testing, contextual inquiry, interviews, focus groups) and quantitative research methods (e.g., surveys, data analytics) and associated tools.
• Experience in developing and implementing data management strategies for UX research projects, including data cleaning, organization, and storage.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex research findings clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Outstanding interpersonal and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the SaaS industry or a related technology domain.
• Proven experience working as a UX Researcher within Agile development teams.
• Experience in planning and conducting JTBD-focused research activities, including job interviews and analysis of user stories.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to utilize statistical analysis techniques and software to interpret quantitative data.
• Experience with SQL.
• Familiarity with specific UX research tools (e.g., UserTesting, UserZoom).
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., QuickSights).
• Experience mentoring junior UX researchers.
• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a relevant field.
• Experience conducting global research studies.

Travel Requirements and Working Conditions

• Willingness to travel less than 15% for team and corporate meetings.
• Reliable internet access for any period of time working remotely, as flexible work arrangements are embraced.

Pay

• Salary range in the US: $129,000.00 - $210,000.00.
• A discretionary bonus typically paid annually.
• Restricted Stock Units granted at time of hire.

Benefits

• 401(k) match and comprehensive employee benefits package.