Lead UX Researcher - Supply Chain

Target • Minneapolis, MN

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

As a Lead UX Researcher – Middle Mile, you will set research direction for how Target understands and improves the tools, workflows, and experiences supporting warehouse operations within its Global Supply Chain & Logistics organization. The role focuses on the needs of warehouse team members who plan, coordinate, and execute Middle Mile operations, while accounting for how upstream and downstream processes, systems, and decisions affect their daily work.

You will lead foundational and applied research across warehouse products, platforms, and operational workflows. Using a holistic, systems-oriented approach, you will connect people, processes, technology, and business outcomes to uncover opportunities that balance team member needs with Target’s operational goals. You will partner with UX, Product, Technology, Data Science, Process, and Supply Chain Operations teams to connect insights with business strategy and operational realities, build alignment, and shape product strategy and future-state experiences.

You will use human-centered design and design thinking to understand needs, balance business ideas, deliver design from concept through execution, and champion cross-functional experimentation. You will also contribute to Target’s broader UX practice through influence, impact, and craft, educate cross-functional teams as needed, mentor researchers, and strengthen human-centered decision-making across Middle Mile.

The position operates in a Hybrid/Flex for Your Day arrangement. Work is performed both onsite at the assigned Target HQ location in Minnesota and virtually, depending on role, team, and daily tasks. Work duties cannot be performed outside the country of the primary work location unless otherwise prescribed by Target.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience completing research in UX research, product research, human-computer interaction, design thinking, service design, behavioral science, or a related field.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative research expertise, including experience leading complex research initiatives and influencing product strategy.
• A holistic, systems-oriented mindset and ability to connect team member needs, operational processes, technology, and business objectives.
• Ability to synthesize research, analytics, and operational data into actionable insights and measurable outcomes.
• Strong relationship-building, facilitation, and storytelling skills, including the ability to navigate ambiguity, align diverse stakeholders, and influence without direct authority.
• Strong project management skills and experience managing multiple projects at various stages in the project life cycle.
• Experience mentoring researchers and advancing inclusive, accessible, and high-quality research practices.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities, coordinate across teams, and drive initiatives forward.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead research strategy for Middle Mile warehouse experiences, influencing product priorities, roadmaps, and business decisions.
• Lead foundational and applied mixed-method research to understand warehouse team member needs, workflows, behaviors, and operational challenges.
• Connect people, processes, technology, and business outcomes, including upstream and downstream impacts on warehouse operations.
• Partner with UX, Product, Technology, Data Science, Process, and Operations teams to identify opportunities, shape future-state experiences, and align solutions with team member and business needs.
• Combine qualitative insights with analytics and operational data to identify opportunities, inform decisions, and measure impact.
• Translate research into actionable recommendations that improve usability, workflow efficiency, operational effectiveness, and team member experience.
• Use AI-powered tools and emerging technologies to enhance research efficiency, accelerate synthesis and analysis, uncover insights, and explore new approaches to understanding team member needs and improving warehouse experiences.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration, navigate ambiguity and competing priorities, and build alignment to move initiatives forward.
• Communicate insights through compelling storytelling, influence stakeholders, mentor researchers, and champion high-quality research practices.
• Act as a strategic thought partner and provide expert guidance in leading, conducting, and synthesizing qualitative research projects, including in-person moderated testing, remote moderated and unmoderated testing, surveys, heuristic reviews, benchmark studies, concept testing, online and in-warehouse interviews, ethnographies, and co-creations.

Benefits

• Eligible team members and dependents may receive comprehensive health benefits and programs, including medical, vision, dental, and life insurance.
• 401(k)
• Employee discount
• Short-term disability
• Long-term disability
• Paid sick leave
• Paid national holidays
• Paid vacation
• Financial, education, and well-being benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed