Staff User Experience Researcher

About the position

The Staff User Experience (UX) Researcher is responsible for empowering product and user experience decision-makers with the insights to make data-driven decisions. This role will manage a research program for a tier of Workiva product teams or key opportunities. The Staff UX Researcher will also plan, conduct, analyze, and communicate results from qualitative, quantitative, and experimental studies that investigate users, their needs, motivations, and behaviors. The insights gleaned from these studies will inform Product Managers, User Experience Designers, and Software Engineers, enabling them to build and optimize innovative, user-friendly products.

Responsibilities

• 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 to a set of products or opportunities of vital importance to Workiva strategy.
• Mentor researchers and members of the user experience team.
• Review research plans and offer consulting on best practices of research.
• Provide leadership and ownership of the collection of analytics and communicating insights across multiple teams.
• Coordinate research studies by planning, collecting evidence, analyzing, and communicating insights across multiple teams as well as executives.
• Collaborate with designers, product managers, and engineers to discover and prioritize opportunities with new and existing products.
• Enforce consistency in the development and management of research plans and schedules for product teams.
• 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.
• Leverage evaluation techniques to identify key usability needs.
• Organize, interpret, and present evidence clearly and serve as a point of contact for key decision makers.
• Lead team members and key collaborators to explore new approaches that will provide optimal feedback.
• Analyze, synthesize, and communicate test/research results advocating for user-centered product improvements.
• Partner with leadership to inform and influence product strategy.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5-7 years of professional experience conducting user research in a product development environment.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating a range of research methodologies, data analysis techniques, and the tangible impact of research on product design and development.
• 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.
• Proficiency in a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methods and associated tools.
• Experience in developing and implementing data management strategies for UX research projects.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Outstanding interpersonal and collaboration skills.

Nice-to-haves

• 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.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to utilize statistical analysis techniques and software.
• 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.

Benefits

• Salary range in the US: $129,000.00 - $207,000.00.
• A discretionary bonus typically paid annually.
• Restricted Stock Units granted at time of hire.
• 401(k) match and comprehensive employee benefits package.