Senior Researcher, User Experience - Financial Advisor & Sales

Vanguard • Malvern, PA

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

This role leads research across the product lifecycle, focusing on both advisor technology (financial planning and portfolio construction tools) and sales technology (CRM systems) to support evolving business priorities. The researcher will conduct end-to-end studies using qualitative and quantitative methods, delivering insights that inform product design and strategic decisions. The role also involves exploring market trends, competitive dynamics, and the wealth management ecosystem to identify innovation opportunities. Key responsibilities include generating actionable insights to influence product strategy, market positioning, and new capability development, as well as engaging with diverse stakeholders like financial advisors, sales partners, and internal teams. The researcher will synthesize findings into compelling narratives, partner cross-functionally with product, design, and business teams, and contribute to advancing research practices.

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.
• Working knowledge of the wealth management, financial services, or adjacent industries.
• 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.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree