Director, UX Research

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director, UX Research

Company: Collectors

Location: California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience Research / Customer Insights

Date Posted: 2026-06-02T00:00:00

Experience Level: 7+ Years UX Research, 2+ Years People Management

Remote Status: Remote or Hybrid (near Santa Ana, CA or Jersey City, NJ offices)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the User Experience (UX) Research function, establishing a comprehensive research strategy and roadmap to drive product and company-level decisions.

• Partner closely with Product, Design, Engineering, and Marketing leaders to integrate critical user insights into the product development lifecycle and business strategy.

• Oversee the execution of diverse research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) to uncover user needs, validate concepts, and optimize product usability.

• Mentor and develop a team of user researchers, fostering a high standard of research craft and ensuring impactful, actionable insights.

• Translate ambiguous problem spaces into clear research questions, connecting findings to product strategy and business outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership opportunity within the Customer Insights team, focusing on shaping the strategic direction of UX research for Collectors' digital products. The emphasis on influencing company-level decisions and cross-functional partnership indicates a high level of autonomy and strategic impact. The mention of "collectible trading cards, autographs, comic books, coins, video games, event tickets, and memorabilia" suggests a deep dive into a niche consumer market.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and drive the UX research roadmap: Identify critical knowledge gaps, prioritize research initiatives, and align them with overarching business objectives to maximize impact.

• Execute and guide research studies: Conduct and oversee generative, formative, and summative research, including ethnography, in-depth interviews, surveys, concept testing, and usability studies.

• Foster cross-functional collaboration: Act as a senior partner to Product, Design, Engineering, and Marketing leads, weaving together insights from various sources to inform decision-making.

• Lead and mentor the user research team: Provide clear direction, coach team members on research craft and methodologies, and establish a high bar for research quality and impact.

• Translate research findings into actionable insights: Effectively communicate complex user needs and behavioral patterns to diverse audiences, from product teams to senior leadership, to drive product strategy and business outcomes.

• Champion user-centricity: Advocate for the user throughout the product development process, ensuring their needs and perspectives are central to design and business decisions.

• Stay abreast of industry trends: Incorporate advancements in research methodologies and technology, including AI, to enhance research effectiveness and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on research execution, and team management. The emphasis on "influences company-level decisions" and "senior partner" suggests this role requires strong strategic thinking and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. The inclusion of "generative, formative, and summative research" indicates a need for a well-rounded researcher capable of supporting the entire product lifecycle.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Cognitive Science, or a related field is typically expected for this level of role.

Experience:

• 7+ years of progressive experience in user research.

• 2+ years of direct people management experience, with a proven track record of mentoring and developing research teams.

• Experience within consumer technology, collectibles, sports, or fandom industries is highly preferred. Required Skills:

• Research Strategy & Roadmap Development: Ability to define and articulate a clear research vision and prioritized roadmap that aligns with business goals.

• Methodological Expertise: Deep understanding and practical application of a broad range of qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g., ethnography, in-depth interviews, surveys, concept testing, usability studies, diary studies, card sorting).

• People Management & Mentorship: Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop a team of researchers, fostering their growth and ensuring high-quality output.

• Cross-functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: Experience partnering effectively with Product, Design, Engineering, and Marketing teams to drive insights and decision-making.

• Storytelling & Communication: Exceptional ability to craft compelling narratives from research findings and present them clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, including senior leadership.

• Product Strategy Acumen: Ability to connect research insights to product strategy, identifying opportunities and translating ambiguous problem spaces into actionable research questions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI in Research: Familiarity with leveraging AI tools and techniques to enhance research efficiency and effectiveness.

• Behavioral Data Analysis: Ability to integrate qualitative findings with quantitative behavioral data for a holistic understanding of user behavior.

• Market Research Integration: Understanding of how UX research complements market research to inform broader business strategy.

• Consumer Collectibles Market Knowledge: Familiarity with the unique needs, motivations, and behaviors of collectors in the trading card, memorabilia, or similar markets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a strong blend of research craft, strategic leadership, and people management. The preference for experience in consumer tech or collectibles is a key differentiator, suggesting a desire for candidates who can hit the ground running in this specific market. The mention of AI reflects a forward-thinking approach to research methodologies.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Impact: Showcase case studies that clearly illustrate how your research directly influenced product strategy, design decisions, and business outcomes (e.g., increased user engagement, improved conversion rates, reduced support tickets).

• Methodological Breadth: Present examples of research conducted using a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods, demonstrating adaptability and expertise across different research needs.

• Strategic Thinking: Include examples where you translated ambiguous business problems into well-defined research questions and strategic recommendations.

• Leadership & Mentorship: If applicable, highlight examples of your experience leading research initiatives, guiding junior researchers, or influencing team processes.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Illustrate how you partnered with Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, and Marketing to integrate research into their workflows and decision-making.

Process Documentation:

• Research Planning & Execution: Examples of how you develop research plans, recruit participants, design study protocols, and manage research logistics.

• Insight Synthesis & Communication: Demonstrate your ability to synthesize complex data into clear, compelling, and actionable insights, presented in formats suitable for various stakeholders (e.g., reports, presentations, workshops).

• Integration of Research: Showcase how research findings were integrated into product development cycles, from early discovery to post-launch evaluation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Director-level UX Research role, a portfolio is crucial. It should not only showcase research projects but also demonstrate strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and the ability to drive tangible business impact through user insights. Emphasis should be placed on how research contributed to company-level decisions and product strategy.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $163,308 - $267,038 annually.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage.

• Specialized Assistance: Eligibility for Fertility, Commuter, and Educational Assistance benefits.

• Retirement Savings: Competitive 401(k) matching plan.

• Work-Life Balance: Flexible time-off policy for salaried employees.

• Paid Time Off: Ten company-paid holidays.

• Perks: Employee discounts on select grading services.

• Work Flexibility: Flexible hours and varying shifts available for many teams.

• Team Engagement: Participation in celebrations, holiday events, and team-building activities.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (likely 40 hours per week), with an emphasis on flexible schedules and varying shifts offered by many teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a Director-level UX Research role in a high-cost-of-living area like California. The extensive benefits package, particularly specialized assistance programs and flexible work arrangements, indicates a strong focus on employee well-being and work-life integration. The mention of flexible hours and varying shifts suggests potential for accommodating different working styles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Collectibles (trading cards, autographs, comic books, coins, video games, event tickets, memorabilia grading, authentication, and sales). The company is a leader in providing value-added services through innovative technology for collectors.

Company Size: Over 3,000 employees globally.

Founded: 1986. The company has a long history in the collectibles space, evolving with technology to modernize and digitalize its services.

Team Structure:

• Customer Insights Team: This role sits within the Customer Insights team, likely comprising other researchers, analysts, and data scientists focused on understanding customer needs and behaviors.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The Director will work closely with leads in Product, Design, Engineering, and Marketing, indicating a matrixed organizational structure where collaboration is key.

• Reporting: The Director will likely report to a VP or Senior Director within the Customer Insights or Product organization.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The company emphasizes using data and insights to drive decisions. The UX Research team plays a crucial role in providing the qualitative and quantitative data needed.

• User-Centric Product Development: The focus on UX research indicates a commitment to understanding and meeting user needs in product design and development.

• Innovation & Technology: Collectors is described as an "innovator of technology," suggesting an environment that values technological advancement and digital transformation.

Company Website: https://www.collectors.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company operates in a unique and passionate niche market. The size and global presence suggest a company with established processes but also room for growth and innovation. The emphasis on technology and modernization is key for a UX Research leader.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Director-level position, signifying a senior leadership role responsible for a strategic function within the organization. It requires not only deep expertise in UX research but also strong leadership, strategic planning, and cross-functional influence.

Reporting Structure: The Director will lead the UX research team and likely report to a senior executive (e.g., VP of Product, VP of Customer Insights, or Chief Product Officer). They will collaborate closely with peers in Product Management, Design, Engineering, and Marketing.

Operations Impact: The Director's work will directly impact the success of Collectors' digital products by ensuring they meet the needs of the collectibles market. This involves shaping product strategy, improving user experience, driving engagement, and ultimately contributing to revenue growth through enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Expansion: Potential to expand the scope of the Customer Insights function or take on broader responsibilities within the product organization.

• Mentorship & Team Building: Opportunity to build and scale a best-in-class UX research team, developing talent and establishing industry-leading practices.

• Industry Influence: Contributing to the growth and professionalization of UX research within the burgeoning collectibles industry.

• Cross-functional Advancement: Gaining deep experience across product development, marketing, and engineering, which can open doors to broader product leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a Director, the growth potential lies in expanding strategic influence, building out the research function, and potentially moving into broader product leadership roles. The niche industry offers unique opportunities for deep specialization and impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company supports remote, hybrid, and on-site work. For remote roles, candidates close to Santa Ana, CA, or Jersey City, NJ, are preferred, suggesting these are key office hubs. The company mentions fostering "meaningful conversation" and creating an environment "that closely resembles our standard working environment" during video interviews, implying a collaborative and communicative culture.

Office Location(s): Headquarters in Santa Ana, California, with offices in New Jersey, Texas, Florida, Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Canada, Mexico, Germany, and France.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on camera-on during interviews and fostering "meaningful conversation" points to a culture that values direct communication and collaboration.

• Technology Integration: As a technology-driven company, expect access to modern tools and platforms necessary for UX research and product development.

• Team Interaction: For hybrid/on-site roles, expect opportunities for in-person collaboration, workshops, and team building. For remote roles, expect robust virtual collaboration tools and processes.

Work Schedule: While a standard full-time schedule is implied, the company offers "flexible hours" and "varying shifts" for many teams, suggesting a degree of adaptability to accommodate individual needs and research project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid/remote flexibility, combined with physical office locations, indicates a modern work environment. The company's stated preference for cameras on during interviews highlights a desire for genuine connection and engagement, even in a remote setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a phone screen with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager (likely a senior leader in Product or Insights) to evaluate strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and research expertise.

• Team/Peer Interviews: Conversations with potential direct reports (UX Researchers) and cross-functional partners (Product Managers, Designers, Engineers) to assess collaboration style and team dynamics.

• Presentation/Case Study: Candidates will likely be asked to present a portfolio showcasing their research work, strategic approach, and impact. This may involve a specific case study or a broader overview of their experience.

• Final Round: Potentially interviews with senior leadership to discuss strategic vision and organizational alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business impact of your research. Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., "improved conversion rate by X%", "reduced task completion time by Y seconds").

• Strategic Narrative: Structure your portfolio around key strategic problems you've solved, not just methods used. Explain the "why" behind your research.

• Methodological Justification: For each project, explain why you chose specific methodologies and how they best addressed the research questions.

• Leadership Examples: If applicable, highlight instances where you mentored team members, influenced strategy, or improved research processes.

• Conciseness & Clarity: Be prepared to present your portfolio efficiently, focusing on the most impactful projects and insights. Tailor your presentation to the specific needs of Collectors.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Strategy Questions: Be ready to discuss how you would develop a UX research strategy for a new product in the collectibles space, or how you would prioritize research for a specific business challenge.

• Methodology Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would approach research for different product phases (discovery, validation, iteration) and for various types of problems (e.g., understanding unmet needs, testing a new feature, diagnosing usability issues).

• Leadership & Team Management: Be prepared to discuss your leadership philosophy, how you develop researchers, and how you manage competing priorities within a team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, focusing on strategic leadership, research depth, and the ability to drive impact. A well-prepared portfolio demonstrating tangible results and strategic thinking will be critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: Experience with tools for survey creation, participant recruitment, and remote usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, UserZoom, Maze).

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency in tools for team communication and project management (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana, Jira, Confluence).

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with design tools used by product teams (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) to understand and review prototypes.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Software: Experience with tools for analyzing qualitative data (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and quantitative data (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets, basic statistical software).

• Business Intelligence Tools: Familiarity with BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to understand how research insights can be integrated with broader business data.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not directly managing CRM, understanding how user data within CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) can inform research and how research impacts customer journeys is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools are not listed, a Director of UX Research is expected to be proficient in a wide array of research execution and analysis tools. The mention of AI suggests an openness to exploring new technologies for research. Familiarity with the tools used by Product and Design teams is also important for effective collaboration.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user's needs and perspectives in all product decisions.

• Data-Driven: Reliance on both qualitative and quantitative data to inform strategy and measure impact.

• Collaboration: An emphasis on working effectively across teams and disciplines to achieve common goals.

• Innovation: A drive to explore new methodologies, technologies (like AI), and approaches to deliver exceptional user experiences.

• Impact: A focus on delivering measurable business outcomes through research.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership: The role requires functioning as a senior partner to Product, Design, Engineering, and Marketing, building trust and influencing decisions through data and insights.

• Transparent Communication: Honesty and transparency are highlighted as key traits for collaboration.

• Cross-functional Integration: The culture likely encourages researchers to be embedded within product teams or to work very closely with them, rather than operating in isolation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "meaningful conversation" and fostering a collaborative environment suggests a culture that values open communication and strong working relationships. The emphasis on user-centricity and data-driven decision-making aligns with best practices in UX research.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Niche Market Understanding: Deeply understanding the unique motivations, behaviors, and evolving needs of diverse collector segments within a specialized market.

• Balancing Research Agendas: Managing competing priorities and research requests from various stakeholders across different product lines and business units.

• Scaling Research Operations: Developing and implementing scalable research processes and infrastructure to support a growing product portfolio and team.

• Integrating AI: Strategically incorporating AI tools and methodologies into the research practice while maintaining rigor and ethical standards.

• Influencing Company-Level Strategy: Ensuring research insights translate into significant company-level strategic decisions, not just tactical product improvements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Expertise: Gaining deep knowledge of the collectibles market, its unique user base, and its technological evolution.

• Strategic Leadership Development: Opportunities to refine strategic planning, stakeholder management, and executive communication skills.

• Team Building & Scaling: Experience in building, mentoring, and scaling a high-performing UX Research team.

• Methodological Innovation: Exploring and implementing cutting-edge research techniques, including AI-driven approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges will revolve around navigating a specialized industry, the strategic integration of research, and leadership within a growing organization. Growth opportunities are significant for someone looking to build a function and influence strategy in a unique market.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define the UX research strategy for Collectors, given our mission and product portfolio?"

• "Describe a time you had to influence senior leadership with research findings. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?"

• "How would you prioritize research requests when faced with multiple, competing demands from Product, Design, and Marketing teams?"

• "What are your thoughts on leveraging AI in UX research? How would you approach integrating it into our practice?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about the collectibles industry and Collectors specifically?"

• "How do you foster a collaborative and transparent working environment within your team and with cross-functional partners?"

• "Describe your leadership philosophy and how you approach mentoring and developing UX researchers."

• "How do you ensure that user insights are not just presented, but actually acted upon to drive business impact?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your presentation to clearly state the business problem, your research approach, key findings, and the resulting impact. Use a STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or similar framework.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the tangible outcomes of your research.

• Tell a Story: Weave a narrative that highlights your strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and leadership.

• Showcase Methodology: Briefly explain why specific methods were chosen and how they were executed effectively.

• Tailor to Collectors: Highlight projects relevant to consumer technology, product strategy, or understanding niche user groups. Be prepared to discuss how your experience translates to the collectibles market.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to demonstrate strategic thinking, leadership, and a deep understanding of research methodologies and their business impact. The interview will likely assess your ability to lead a team and influence organizational strategy within a unique industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Director, UX Research position:

• Visit the Collectors careers page and submit your application through the provided link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful research case studies that demonstrate strategic leadership, methodological breadth, and measurable business results. Tailor the presentation to highlight your experience with consumer technology and your ability to connect research to business outcomes.

• Optimize Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 7+ years of UX research experience and 2+ years of people management. Use keywords from the job description, emphasizing strategic roadmap development, cross-functional partnership, and team leadership. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your research philosophy, leadership approach, and how you would tackle the challenges of understanding the collectibles market. Be ready to walk through your portfolio with confidence and detail.

• Research Collectors: Thoroughly understand Collectors' mission, product offerings (PSA, PCGS, Beckett, etc.), and the broader collectibles industry. Identify potential user segments and research opportunities.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.