Senior UX Researcher - VP

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher - VP

Company: Citi

Location: London

Job Type: Full-time

Category: UX Research

Date Posted: 2025-06-10T00:00:00

Experience Level: 10+

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead comprehensive UX research initiatives within Enterprise Technologies, specifically focusing on applications in AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and Sanctions technologies.
• Apply extensive expertise in a diverse range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to inform and validate design and product strategies.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including UX Design, Product Management, Compliance Business stakeholders, and Engineering, to ensure user insights are integrated throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Drive a user-centered approach by generating actionable insights that directly influence the direction and development of critical financial technology applications.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Design, plan, and execute a wide variety of comprehensive UX research studies, including but not limited to user interviews, co-creation sessions, journey mapping workshops, usability testing, concept validation, and quantitative surveys.
• Analyze research findings rigorously, synthesize complex data from multiple sources, and translate insights into clear, actionable recommendations for design and product teams.
• Present research findings and strategic recommendations effectively to diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership, product managers, designers, and engineers, ensuring insights are understood and adopted.
• Champion user research best practices and methodologies across the organization, providing guidance and mentorship to other researchers and designers involved in research activities.
• Define and track relevant metrics for benchmarking and measuring the impact of design solutions on key user journeys and business outcomes.
• Integrate qualitative research insights with quantitative data sources to develop a deep, data-driven understanding of user behavior and inform data-driven prioritization decisions.
• Develop and implement innovative approaches and creative thinking to address challenges in recruiting and researching specialized user populations within the financial services domain.
• Actively understand and consider existing and planned Citi infrastructure and projects to ensure research initiatives are aligned with technical feasibility and business timelines.
• Mentor and support the growth and development of junior user researchers and designers, helping to scale research capabilities and elevate the overall quality of research practice.
• Collaborate with design leadership to identify and implement new research tools, processes, and methodologies that enhance alignment with design systems and improve research efficiency.
• Work closely with UX Designers, providing detailed research findings and insights to support the creation of detailed, user-informed design solutions.
• Stay current with the latest trends, practices, innovations, and tools in the field of UX research and applied behavioral science.
• Actively participate in and contribute to the wider Functions UX community of practice within Citi, sharing knowledge and fostering a culture of research excellence.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s/University degree required. A Master’s degree is preferred, indicating a desire for advanced theoretical knowledge and research expertise.

Experience: Extensive relevant UX research experience, specifically within a highly regulated industry (like financial services, healthcare, or government) and preferably in a B2B or enterprise software context. Significant hands-on experience leading complex qualitative and quantitative research studies across all stages of the Design Thinking process is essential. Experience working with senior stakeholders is critical for this VP level role.

Required Skills:

• Extensive hands-on experience leading and conducting both generative and evaluative user research studies, including complex methodologies.
• Proven ability to design and execute robust research studies that adhere to best practices and rigorous methodologies.
• Strong proficiency in a wide range of qualitative research methods such as in-depth interviews, contextual inquiry, co-creation workshops, and usability testing.
• Solid understanding and practical experience with quantitative research methods, including survey design, data analysis, and integrating quantitative data with qualitative insights.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively present research findings and communicate complex insights and recommendations to diverse stakeholder audiences, including senior executives.
• Proven experience in mentoring and guiding other user researchers and designers, fostering skill development and research maturity within a team.
• Experience working effectively within Agile development methodologies and collaborating with product and engineering teams in an iterative environment.
• Exceptional creative problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity and define research strategies in complex problem spaces.
• Strong self-starter mentality with the ability to independently define research goals, develop strategies, and manage research projects end-to-end.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with pragmatic execution, delivering high-quality research outcomes within practical constraints.
• Proactive and positive attitude with meticulous attention to detail and strong analytical capabilities.
• Significant experience building relationships and effectively collaborating with senior stakeholders across different functions.
• Familiarity with standard research tools such as EnjoyHQ (or similar research repositories), Qualtrics (or other survey platforms), and collaborative design tools like Figma/Figjam.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working specifically within the financial services industry, particularly with technologies related to compliance, risk management, or enterprise banking systems.
• Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, or a related field with a strong research focus.
• Experience leading Design Thinking workshops and facilitating collaborative problem-solving sessions with cross-functional teams.
• Familiarity with advanced statistical analysis techniques or data science concepts relevant to user behavior analysis.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Your portfolio should feature detailed case studies demonstrating your end-to-end UX research process, showcasing your ability to frame research questions, select appropriate methodologies, execute studies, analyze data, and synthesize findings into actionable insights.
• Include examples of research conducted in complex, highly regulated, or enterprise environments, highlighting your ability to navigate organizational constraints and stakeholder requirements.
• Showcase your skill in presenting research findings effectively, including examples of reports, presentations, or interactive dashboards used to communicate insights to diverse audiences, particularly senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrate your experience with both generative research (understanding user needs, behaviors, mental models) and evaluative research (testing concepts, prototypes, and existing products).

Process Documentation:

• For each case study, clearly document your research objectives, methodology selection (explaining your rationale), participant recruitment process (especially for challenging populations), data collection methods, and analytical techniques.
• Illustrate how your research insights directly informed design decisions, product strategy, or business outcomes, demonstrating the impact of your work.
• Include examples of how you collaborated with design, product, and engineering teams throughout the research lifecycle, showing your ability to integrate research into the agile development process.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry data for Senior UX Researcher roles (VP level) in London within the financial services sector, the estimated salary range is £85,000 to £120,000 annually. This estimate considers the seniority of the role (VP), the location (London, a high-cost-of-living city), the industry (Finance, typically higher compensation), and the required experience level. Actual compensation may vary based on qualifications, experience, and negotiation. Data sources include Glassdoor, Payscale, and industry salary reports for London-based design and research roles.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage, typically including medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Retirement savings plan (e.g., pension scheme or 401k equivalent) with potential company match.
• Generous paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.
• Potential for performance-based bonuses or incentive programs.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and continued education relevant to UX research and financial technology.
• Employee wellness programs and resources.
• Access to employee assistance programs.
• Potential for discounted financial services and products offered by Citi.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, typically 40 hours per week. Given the on-site nature and seniority, some flexibility may be required based on project needs and global team collaboration, but generally within standard business hours for the London office. Expect a dynamic environment that may occasionally require work outside typical hours during critical project phases.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Financial Services. Citi is a global leader in banking, offering a wide range of financial products and services. This industry context is crucial for a UX Researcher, as it implies a focus on security, compliance, complex workflows, and potentially a risk-averse environment compared to other industries. Design and research within this context must prioritize trust, reliability, and user efficiency in sophisticated financial tools.

Company Size: 10,001+ employees (approximately 195,000 globally). As a large, multinational corporation, Citi offers stability and extensive resources but may also involve navigating complex organizational structures, established processes, and numerous stakeholders. For a UX Researcher, this means working with large datasets, potentially diverse user groups across different business units, and collaborating within a sizable design and technology organization.

Founded: 1812. Citi has a long history in the financial sector, indicating a well-established brand and deep expertise. The company's longevity suggests a culture that values stability and compliance, which will influence the approach to UX research and design validation.

Team Structure:

• The role is within Enterprise Technologies, focusing on AML and Sanctions. This suggests a team embedded within a specific technology domain, working closely with product owners, engineers, and business stakeholders (Compliance).
• The mention of collaborating with UX Design colleagues implies a dedicated design team or function that the researcher will partner with.
• The "community of practice" indicates an effort to connect UX professionals across different functions within the large organization, fostering knowledge sharing and consistency.

Methodology:

• The job description explicitly mentions experience across the "Design Thinking stages," indicating a commitment to a user-centered, iterative design process that includes discovery, definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing.
• Experience with Agile methodology is listed as desirable, suggesting that the team likely operates within an Agile framework (Scrum, Kanban, etc.), requiring researchers to integrate research activities into sprints and work closely with development cycles.
• The role requires both generative and evaluative research, suggesting a methodology that spans understanding user needs upfront and validating solutions iteratively.

Company Website: http://www.citigroup.com

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This is a Senior UX Researcher role with a VP title. In a large organization like Citi, a VP title typically signifies a significant level of experience, leadership, and strategic impact. It's likely equivalent to a Senior Manager or Director level in some other tech companies, indicating responsibility for leading major research initiatives, influencing product strategy, and potentially mentoring or managing junior team members.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a VP-level role typically reports to a Director or Managing Director within the Technology or Design organization. The role's emphasis on working with senior stakeholders suggests direct interaction with leadership across Product, Business (Compliance), and Engineering.

Design Impact: As a Senior UX Researcher at the VP level, the impact is expected to be significant. You will be responsible for generating insights that directly inform the strategic direction and design of critical applications in a highly sensitive area (AML/Sanctions). Your research will influence product roadmaps, feature prioritization, and the overall user experience for internal or B2B users, contributing to compliance, efficiency, and risk mitigation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Advancement within the UX research track, potentially leading to Director or Managing Director roles focused on research strategy, team leadership, or a specific domain expertise.
• Opportunities to specialize further within financial technology, compliance systems, or enterprise software UX research.
• Potential to transition into broader design leadership or product strategy roles leveraging deep user understanding.
• Opportunities to mentor and build out research capabilities within the team and the wider organization.
• Participation in industry conferences, workshops, and internal training programs to develop new skills and stay current with research methodologies and financial regulations.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: The role is listed as on-site in London. This implies working from a corporate office environment. While the specific design studio setup isn't detailed, large financial institutions typically have well-equipped offices with dedicated workspaces, meeting rooms, and collaboration areas.

Office Location(s): London, UK. Citi has significant operations in London, likely in the financial district (e.g., Canary Wharf). The specific address would be provided later in the process, but candidates should consider commuting to a central London location.

Design Workspace Context:

• Expect a professional, corporate environment. The workspace will likely be designed to facilitate collaboration among cross-functional teams (design, product, engineering, compliance).
• Access to meeting rooms, whiteboards, and potentially dedicated lab spaces for usability testing or research sessions.
• Opportunities for informal interaction and knowledge sharing with design colleagues and stakeholders through shared workspaces and common areas.

Work Schedule: Full-time, on-site. The schedule would typically align with standard UK business hours. While some flexibility might exist, the on-site requirement suggests a preference for in-person collaboration and presence during core working hours.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Initial screening call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and fit.
• Interview(s) with design leadership or hiring manager to discuss your experience, research philosophy, and approach to complex problems. Be prepared to discuss your portfolio case studies in detail, focusing on your process and impact.
• Interviews with key cross-functional stakeholders, including Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and Compliance Business representatives, to assess collaboration skills and ability to translate research into actionable insights for different teams.
• A portfolio presentation where you walk through selected case studies (likely 2-3) in depth, highlighting your research questions, methodologies, findings, and the impact of your work. Be prepared to discuss challenges faced and how you overcame them.
• Potentially a research exercise or design challenge, although for a senior researcher role, this might focus more on strategic problem-solving and research planning for a hypothetical scenario rather than hands-on execution. Prepare to articulate your research approach and rationale.
• Final interview(s) with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking, leadership potential, and cultural fit within the broader organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• For this role, focus your portfolio on case studies that demonstrate your experience in complex domains, highly regulated industries, or enterprise software. Highlight your ability to conduct research with specialized or difficult-to-reach user populations.
• Structure your case studies to emphasize your research process: clearly state the problem, research objectives, chosen methodologies (and why), participant details, data collection methods, analysis techniques, key findings, and actionable recommendations.
• Quantify the impact of your research whenever possible (e.g., how insights led to specific design changes, improved task completion rates, reduced errors, or influenced product roadmap decisions).
• Showcase your ability to synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative data and communicate findings effectively to non-researchers. Include examples of your research reports, presentations, or visual frameworks (like journey maps or personas).
• Tailor your portfolio presentation to the context of financial services and enterprise technology, demonstrating an understanding of the unique challenges and requirements of this domain.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a research exercise or design challenge is part of the process, it will likely involve a hypothetical problem related to financial technology, compliance, or enterprise workflows.
• Focus on clearly articulating your research approach: what are your initial research questions? What methodologies would you use and why? How would you recruit participants? How would you analyze the data? How would you deliver the insights?
• Demonstrate your strategic thinking and ability to prioritize research activities based on potential impact and feasibility within the given constraints.
• Be prepared to discuss how you would collaborate with design, product, and engineering teams throughout the research process.

ATS Keywords: UX Research, User Research, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, Usability Testing, User Interviews, Journey Mapping, Design Thinking, Stakeholder Management, Research Strategy, Research Methodology, Data Analysis, Insight Synthesis, Financial Services, Enterprise Software, B2B, Compliance, AML, Sanctions, Agile, Mentoring, Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, EnjoyHQ, Qualtrics, Figma, Figjam, Generative Research, Evaluative Research, Problem Solving, Analytical Skills, Attention to Detail, Report Writing, Presentation Skills, Workshop Facilitation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Familiarity with collaborative design tools like Figma or Figjam is mentioned, likely for collaborating with designers on concepts, prototypes, and shared understanding of user flows or journey maps. Expect to view and potentially comment on design files.
• Experience with research-specific tools is explicitly required. EnjoyHQ (or a similar research repository) is mentioned, indicating the use of a platform for organizing, analyzing, and sharing research data and insights.
• Qualtrics (or a similar survey platform like SurveyMonkey or Medallia) is mentioned, highlighting the use of quantitative research methods, specifically surveys.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, or similar platforms will be used for daily communication and team coordination.
• Project management tools such as JIRA or Confluence are likely used for tracking tasks, managing backlogs, and documenting project information within the Agile framework.
• Tools used for presenting research findings and insights, such as PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Miro boards for visual synthesis and workshops.

Research & Testing:

• Usability testing platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, remote moderation tools) are likely used for conducting and recording usability sessions.
• Analytics tools (e.g., Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics, or internal dashboards) for accessing and integrating quantitative user behavior data.
• Tools for data analysis and visualization, potentially including spreadsheet software (Excel, Google Sheets) or more specialized statistical software depending on the complexity of quantitative analysis.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value is likely placing the user at the center of the design and development process, driven by research insights.
• Collaboration: The emphasis on working with cross-functional teams (Product, Business, Engineering) suggests a collaborative environment where research insights are shared and discussed openly.
• Impact & Actionability: The focus on delivering "actionable results" indicates a culture that values research that directly informs decisions and leads to tangible improvements in the user experience and business outcomes.
• Rigor & Best Practices: The requirement to "provide guidance and rigor around research methodologies and best practices" points to a value placed on conducting high-quality, ethical, and methodologically sound research.
• Continuous Improvement: Staying "up to date with the latest UX practices, innovations, and tools" and participating in a "community of practice" suggests a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the design and research teams.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional collaboration is key, working closely with product managers to define research priorities, with designers to inform concepts and validate solutions, and with engineers to ensure technical feasibility and successful implementation.
• Expect a culture of presenting and sharing research findings widely across stakeholder groups to build empathy and align understanding of user needs.
• Participation in design critiques or research reviews might be part of the culture to provide and receive feedback on research plans and findings.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Navigating the complexities of a highly regulated industry (AML/Sanctions) and ensuring research adheres to strict compliance requirements while still generating meaningful insights.
• Recruiting and researching specialized user populations (e.g., financial professionals, compliance officers) who may have limited availability or require specific protocols.
• Integrating research findings effectively into established Agile development processes and influencing product roadmaps within a large, complex organization.
• Translating complex technical and business concepts within financial technology into researchable questions and understandable insights for diverse stakeholders.
• Balancing the need for rigorous research with the pace of development in an enterprise technology environment.
• Educating stakeholders on the value and application of UX research, particularly in a domain traditionally focused on technical or business requirements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening expertise in UX research methodologies specific to complex enterprise systems and regulated industries.
• Developing leadership skills through mentoring junior researchers and influencing research strategy at a VP level.
• Gaining in-depth knowledge of financial services, AML, and Sanctions technologies, becoming a domain expert researcher.
• Opportunities to attend industry conferences focused on UX research, financial technology, or design leadership.
• Potential for internal training programs on leadership, project management, or specific technologies used within Citi.
• Networking and knowledge sharing within Citi's global UX community of practice.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss your end-to-end UX research process for a complex project. Walk through how you identified research questions, chose methodologies, recruited participants (especially if challenging), collected and analyzed data, and synthesized findings. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and highlight your impact.
• Expect questions about your experience with both generative (discovery) and evaluative (testing) research methods. Be ready to discuss when and why you would use specific methods (e.g., when to conduct interviews vs. surveys, when to use moderated vs. unmoderated usability testing).
• Prepare to discuss how you adapt your research process when working within Agile sprints and collaborating with cross-functional teams. How do you ensure research is timely and actionable?

Company Culture Questions:

• Research Citi's values, particularly those related to innovation, collaboration, and client focus. Be prepared to discuss how your approach to UX research aligns with these values.
• Given the focus on a regulated industry, be ready to discuss your experience working within environments with compliance requirements and how you ensure ethical research practices.
• Prepare questions for your interviewers about the team structure, how research insights are currently used, the biggest UX challenges they face in this domain, and the opportunities for a Senior UX Researcher to make a significant impact.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 case studies that best demonstrate your relevant experience, particularly those in complex, regulated, or enterprise B2B environments.
• For each case study, clearly articulate the business problem, the research questions you aimed to answer, the methodologies you employed (explaining your rationale), your key findings, and the specific actions or decisions that resulted from your research.
• Focus on the "so what?" – explain the impact of your research on the product, the user experience, or business outcomes. Use metrics or qualitative evidence to support your claims.
• Practice your presentation to be clear, concise, and engaging. Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your process, sample size, analysis techniques, and how you handled challenges.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Carefully review your resume to ensure it highlights your extensive UX research experience, particularly in regulated industries and enterprise settings. Use relevant keywords from the job description and ATS keyword list.
• Prepare a portfolio of research case studies (as described in the Portfolio & Creative Requirements section) that clearly demonstrates your process, methodologies, analysis skills, and the impact of your research on product and business outcomes.
• Tailor your cover letter to specifically address your experience with UX research in complex or regulated environments and explain why you are interested in this specific role at Citi within Enterprise Technologies. Highlight your leadership and stakeholder management experience.
• Practice articulating your research process and presenting your portfolio case studies effectively, focusing on storytelling and the actionable insights derived from your work.
• Research Citi's business, particularly its presence in Enterprise Technologies and its approach to compliance, to demonstrate your understanding of the domain during interviews.