User Experience Researcher, Specialist

Vanguard • Malvern, PA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Designs and conducts complex user experience research studies to support user interface design and provide actionable recommendations that improve usability across digital products. Partners with business, design, and technology teams to deliver insights that enhance user satisfaction, efficiency, and overall product quality. Core Responsibilities User Research & Usability Evaluation Designs and executes complex UX research studies—including usability testing, heuristic evaluations, surveys, card sorting, tree testing, interviews, and field/contextual inquiries—to support UI decision-making across web and mobile applications. Selects and recommends appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methods based on project needs, audience, and required insights. Reviews and applies human factors research and usability best practices to strengthen design decisions and overall user experience quality. Client & Stakeholder Engagement Provides usability services and consultation for business and IT teams across multiple platforms and mid-scale projects. Conducts user interviews and contextual inquiries professionally, ensuring participant privacy and data protection. Analyzes findings, synthesizes insights, and presents results to design teams, business stakeholders, and mid-level decision makers in clear, compelling formats. Suggests strategies for securing stakeholder buy‑in and adoption of critical usability recommendations. Insight Delivery & Impact Delivers actionable recommendations grounded in UX principles and knowledge of the product’s target users. Identifies key qualitative and quantitative usability issues and collaborates with cross-functional teams to address them. Presents usability findings to leaders and works with support from senior UX colleagues to negotiate adoption of research-backed recommendations. Leadership, Mentorship & Practice Development Contributes to the development and evolution of usability principles, methodologies, and best practices within the organization. Provides mentorship, training, and guidance to junior researchers, sharing expertise in research design, usability testing, and analysis. Supports organizational UX maturity efforts by educating teams about the value and impact of user experience research. Additional Contributions Participates in special projects to advance UX research practice and organizational goals. Performs other responsibilities as assigned to support business, product, and design objectives.

Requirements

• Five or more years of relevant UX research or usability experience.
• Undergraduate degree in a creative, behavioral science, human factors, HCI, or technical field—or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Responsibilities

• Designs and executes complex UX research studies—including usability testing, heuristic evaluations, surveys, card sorting, tree testing, interviews, and field/contextual inquiries—to support UI decision-making across web and mobile applications.
• Selects and recommends appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methods based on project needs, audience, and required insights.
• Reviews and applies human factors research and usability best practices to strengthen design decisions and overall user experience quality.
• Provides usability services and consultation for business and IT teams across multiple platforms and mid-scale projects.
• Conducts user interviews and contextual inquiries professionally, ensuring participant privacy and data protection.
• Analyzes findings, synthesizes insights, and presents results to design teams, business stakeholders, and mid-level decision makers in clear, compelling formats.
• Suggests strategies for securing stakeholder buy‑in and adoption of critical usability recommendations.
• Delivers actionable recommendations grounded in UX principles and knowledge of the product’s target users.
• Identifies key qualitative and quantitative usability issues and collaborates with cross-functional teams to address them.
• Presents usability findings to leaders and works with support from senior UX colleagues to negotiate adoption of research-backed recommendations.
• Contributes to the development and evolution of usability principles, methodologies, and best practices within the organization.
• Provides mentorship, training, and guidance to junior researchers, sharing expertise in research design, usability testing, and analysis.
• Supports organizational UX maturity efforts by educating teams about the value and impact of user experience research.
• Participates in special projects to advance UX research practice and organizational goals.
• Performs other responsibilities as assigned to support business, product, and design objectives.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level