Senior Researcher, User Experience - Financial Advisor & Sales

Vanguard•Malvern, PA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Vanguard is seeking a Senior Researcher, User Experience to lead research across the product lifecycle, focusing on both advisor technology (e.g., financial planning and portfolio construction tools) and sales technology (e.g., CRM systems). This role involves conducting end-to-end research using qualitative and quantitative methods to deliver insights that inform product design and strategic decisions. The researcher will also explore market trends, competitive dynamics, and the broader wealth management ecosystem to identify innovation opportunities. Key responsibilities include generating actionable insights to influence product strategy and market positioning, engaging with diverse stakeholders, synthesizing findings into compelling narratives, and partnering cross-functionally to translate insights into solutions. The role also contributes to advancing research practices and fostering a culture of continuous discovery.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in user/UX research, human-centered design, or a related field, with experience spanning both discovery and evaluative research.
Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience in a creative or technical field.
Demonstrated ability to apply qualitative and quantitative methods to uncover user behaviors and inform both product and business decisions.
Strong storytelling and stakeholder influence skills, with the ability to translate insights into clear business implications.
Ability to operate across multiple domains (e.g., advisor-facing and sales-facing experiences).

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree preferred.
Working knowledge of the wealth management, financial services, or adjacent industries.
Experience conducting or supporting strategic research, including market, competitive, or ecosystem analysis preferred.

Responsibilities

Leads research across the product lifecycle, with an expanded focus spanning both advisor technology (e.g., financial planning and portfolio construction tools) and sales technology (e.g., CRM systems) to support evolving business priorities.
Conducts end-to-end research using qualitative and quantitative methods (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys), delivering insights that inform both product design and broader strategic decisions.
Expands research beyond traditional user studies by exploring market trends, competitive dynamics, and the broader wealth management ecosystem, identifying opportunities for innovation and growth.
Generates actionable insights that influence product strategy, market positioning, and new capability development, including shaping decisions on where and how Vanguard can compete and differentiate.
Engages with a wide range of stakeholders, including financial advisors, sales partners, internal stakeholders, and industry experts, to develop a deep understanding of user needs and external market drivers.
Synthesizes findings into clear, compelling narratives that align stakeholders, inform prioritization, and drive user-centered and business-aligned outcomes.
Partners cross-functionally with product, design, and business teams to translate insights into solutions across digital and human touchpoints.
Contributes to advancing research practices by promoting strategic thinking, elevating research impact, and supporting a culture of continuous discovery and innovation.