Lead UX Product Researcher - Vendor Tools

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Product Researcher - Vendor Tools

Company: Target

Location: 1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403-2542, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Product Operations

Date Posted: April 23, 2026

Experience Level: 7+ Years (Mid to Senior Level)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead comprehensive UX product research initiatives for Target's vendor and B2B tools, focusing on enhancing the vendor experience and supporting efficient business workflows.

• Drive the product development process for B2B tools by ensuring alignment with vendor needs, business objectives, and technical feasibility through rigorous user research.

• Champion human-centered design principles and foster a culture of user empathy within UX, product, and engineering teams across the enterprise.

• Mentor and guide junior researchers, while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams to translate research insights into actionable product improvements and business outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Lead UX Product Researcher," has significant implications for operations, particularly in the realm of Vendor Operations and B2B Tooling. The focus on "vendor experience," "B2B tools," and "efficient workflows" directly impacts how Target manages its supplier relationships and internal operational tools. Therefore, the description is enhanced with a focus on operations-centric responsibilities and required skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the entire research project lifecycle, including methodology selection, scoping, in-field research facilitation, and post-research synthesis and analysis for vendor and B2B tools.

• Design, conduct, and synthesize qualitative research projects, encompassing moderated/unmoderated testing, surveys, journey mapping, persona development, benchmark studies, concept testing, online intercepts, and contextual inquiries.

• Translate research findings into actionable insights, identifying key opportunity areas that align with Target's strategic business direction and operational goals.

• Utilize influence and strong communication to drive user-centric outcomes and operational efficiencies within and across product domains.

• Facilitate multiple cross-functional working teams, fostering collaboration across design, product, and engineering departments to integrate research findings into product roadmaps.

• Mentor junior UX researchers, providing guidance on research methodologies, synthesis, and strategic application of insights to enhance their professional development.

• Actively advance a culture of human-centered practice by educating and activating product design and development teams on user needs and best practices.

• Build and maintain a strong network of relationships across the organization to effectively champion the vendor and B2B tool user experience and drive strategic vision.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a blend of direct research execution and leadership, emphasizing strategic impact on business operations through improved vendor tools and processes. The focus on "operational goals" and "business outcomes" signals a strong connection to revenue and efficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 7+ years of experience as a Product Researcher.

• Proven track record of managing and prioritizing multiple projects at various stages of the project lifecycle.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in a wide range of qualitative research methodologies (moderated/unmoderated testing, surveys, journey mapping, persona development, contextual inquiries, etc.).

• Strong portfolio showcasing successful research case studies and demonstrated understanding of AI best practices within product development.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to effectively communicate complex concepts to cross-functional partners, including stakeholders in operations and product management.

• Advanced strategic problem-solving and systems thinking abilities.

• Proven ability to tell compelling stories from data and research findings.

• Comfort with ambiguity and adaptability to changing priorities.

• Strong project management skills for managing multiple research initiatives simultaneously.

• Expertise in communicating how research connects to, serves, and improves business outcomes, particularly within B2B and vendor contexts.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with vendor management platforms or B2B tool development.

• Understanding of retail operations and supply chain processes.

• Familiarity with A/B testing and other quantitative research methods to complement qualitative findings.

• Experience in mentoring or leading junior researchers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of 7+ years, coupled with the "Lead" title, indicates a need for seasoned professionals capable of strategic thinking and operational impact. The emphasis on AI best practices and data storytelling is crucial for modern operations research roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 robust case studies demonstrating end-to-end product research projects.

• Clearly articulate the research problem, methodology applied, user insights derived, and the tangible impact on product development and business outcomes (e.g., efficiency gains, cost savings, improved vendor satisfaction).

• Include examples of how you have translated complex research findings into actionable recommendations for product and operational teams.

• Demonstrate experience in understanding and researching B2B or enterprise-level tools and user workflows.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of research plans, synthesis frameworks, and reporting templates used to ensure clear, repeatable, and high-quality research outputs.

• Documentation illustrating how research insights were integrated into product roadmaps and operational improvement initiatives.

• Case studies that highlight your ability to define success criteria for research projects and assess risk.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, as it will be used to evaluate the candidate's ability to execute and communicate research impact. The emphasis on "business outcomes" and "operational improvement initiatives" is key for demonstrating value in an operations-focused context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $132,000.00 - $238,000.00 Annually

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health benefits programs, including medical, vision, and dental insurance.

• Life insurance.

• 401(k) plan.

• Employee discount.

• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.

• Paid sick leave.

• Paid national holidays.

• Paid vacation.

Working Hours:

• Standard 40 hours per week.

• Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement, requiring time spent both onsite at the Minneapolis HQ and virtually, based on role, team, and task requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Lead Product Researcher role in a major metropolitan area like Minneapolis, reflecting the experience and strategic responsibility. The extensive benefits package is typical for a large retail organization like Target. The "Hybrid/Flex for Your Day" arrangement requires flexibility and strong self-management skills.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail (Technology & Operations focus within a large retail enterprise)

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Target operates globally with tens of thousands of employees)

Founded: 1902 (Target has a long-standing history, evolving into a modern retail leader)

Team Structure:

• Part of the Enterprise UX Team, specifically focusing on Vendor and B2B tools. This team likely comprises UX Designers, UX Researchers, Content Strategists, and Accessibility Experts.

• This role will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineering teams, and potentially stakeholders in Vendor Management, Supply Chain, and Operations departments.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, with a strong emphasis on human-centered design principles.

• Agile development methodologies are likely employed, requiring researchers to integrate seamlessly into product development sprints.

• Focus on continuous improvement of digital experiences for both internal teams and external partners.

• Emphasis on understanding and optimizing end-to-end workflows and processes.

Company Website: https://corporate.target.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Target's culture is known for its focus on guests, team members, and community, which extends to its internal operations and partner experiences. Understanding this guest-centric approach is key to succeeding in a role that influences B2B and vendor interactions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Lead-level position, signifying significant autonomy, strategic influence, and responsibility for research direction and outcomes within a specialized domain (Vendor/B2B Tools). It's a role that bridges deep research expertise with operational impact.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into a leadership position within the Enterprise UX team, likely a Director or Senior Manager. Collaboration will be extensive with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and various operational stakeholders who are direct users or beneficiaries of the tools being researched.

Operations Impact: The research conducted by this role directly influences the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and ease of doing business with Target for its vendors and partners. This impacts crucial operational areas such as procurement, supply chain, inventory management, and partner onboarding, ultimately contributing to Target's overall business performance and scalability.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in B2B/Enterprise UX research, vendor experience optimization, and retail operations technology.

• Leadership: Progress into Senior Lead, Principal Researcher, or management roles within UX Research or Product Operations.

• Cross-Functional Advancement: Opportunities to move into Product Management, Program Management, or operational strategy roles by leveraging deep user and process understanding.

• Mentorship: Develop leadership skills and contribute to the growth of the broader UX research community within Target.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to impact core business operations through UX research, providing a strong foundation for career growth in either specialized research leadership or broader operational strategy roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement. This means work is performed both onsite at the Minneapolis HQ and virtually.

Office Location(s): Target Headquarters, 1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403-2542. This is a central urban location.

Workspace Context:

• The Minneapolis HQ is a modern corporate campus designed for collaboration, innovation, and team engagement.

• Access to state-of-the-art facilities and technology to support research activities.

• Opportunities for in-person collaboration with design, product, engineering, and operational teams, fostering a dynamic and integrated work environment.

Work Schedule:

• Standard 40-hour work week.

• The hybrid nature requires adaptability and a proactive approach to managing work across different locations and collaborating with remote and onsite team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model necessitates strong self-discipline, effective remote communication tools and practices, and the ability to transition seamlessly between independent research work and collaborative onsite sessions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager to delve into experience, leadership capabilities, and understanding of UX research principles within a B2B/vendor context. Expect questions about past projects and strategic thinking.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present 2-3 key case studies from your portfolio. This is a critical stage to demonstrate your research process, insights, impact, and communication skills. Be prepared to discuss your role, methodology, and the business outcomes achieved.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with potential peers (other researchers) and cross-functional partners (e.g., Product Managers, UX Designers, Engineering leads, operational stakeholders). These sessions will assess your collaboration style, ability to integrate research into product development, and understanding of operational needs.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., Director) to evaluate strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select case studies that best showcase your experience with B2B/vendor tools, complex problem-solving, and measurable operational impact.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the critical insights, your recommendations, and the resulting business or operational outcomes. Quantify impact whenever possible (e.g., improved efficiency, reduced errors, increased adoption).

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize your role in leading research projects, mentoring others, and influencing product/operational decisions.

• Showcase Methodology: Be prepared to discuss why you chose specific methodologies and how they were adapted to the project's unique constraints and objectives.

• Address AI Best Practices: If relevant, clearly articulate how you've incorporated or considered AI in your research or product recommendations.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for behavioral questions assessing your leadership, problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability.

• Prepare to discuss how you handle ambiguity and drive user-centricity in a large corporate environment.

• Consider how you would approach researching a specific B2B tool or vendor process at Target.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only research expertise but also leadership, collaboration, and operational impact. A well-prepared portfolio presentation is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, or similar for remote moderated/unmoderated testing.

• Survey Tools: Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms for quantitative data collection.

• Collaboration & Whiteboarding: Miro, Mural, Figma for collaborative synthesis, journey mapping, and ideation sessions.

• Prototyping & Design Tools: Familiarity with Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD is beneficial for understanding design outputs and collaborating with designers.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Proficiency in synthesizing qualitative data using tools like Dovetail, NVivo, or Atlas.ti.

• Presentation Software: Highly proficient in PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote for creating compelling reports and presentations.

• Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Familiarity with BI tools like Tableau or Power BI can be advantageous for understanding broader business metrics and context.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM user in this role, understanding how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) or other B2B platform data might inform research or be impacted by product changes is a plus.

• Awareness of automation principles within B2B tools to understand user needs for efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with a range of user research tools is expected. The ability to synthesize data from various sources and present insights clearly using presentation software is crucial for communicating findings to operations and product teams.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Guest Obsession (extended to Vendor/Partner Experience): A deep understanding of the needs and pain points of all users, including external partners.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing research insights and operational data to inform product and strategic decisions.

• Efficiency & Simplicity: Striving to create seamless, intuitive experiences that reduce friction for vendors and internal teams.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working effectively across diverse teams to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Constantly seeking new ways to enhance experiences and optimize processes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively partnering with Product Management, Engineering, Design, and Operations to ensure research is integrated early and often into the development lifecycle.

• Open Communication: Fostering an environment where feedback is shared constructively and insights are debated and refined collectively.

• Knowledge Sharing: Proactively sharing research findings and best practices across teams to build organizational knowledge and elevate the user-centered practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: Target's core values, particularly around guest obsession and continuous improvement, are highly relevant to this role. Applying these principles to the vendor and B2B tool experience is key to success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Vendor Needs with Business Objectives: Navigating the complexities of diverse vendor requirements while ensuring alignment with Target's strategic and operational goals.

• Driving Change in a Large Organization: Influencing product roadmaps and operational processes within a large, established company requires strong stakeholder management and persuasive communication.

• Researching Complex B2B Systems: Understanding and researching intricate enterprise tools and workflows that may have long development cycles and deeply embedded user habits.

• Measuring ROI of Research: Quantifying the impact of UX research on operational efficiencies, cost savings, and vendor satisfaction can be challenging but is critical for demonstrating value.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Research Techniques: Opportunities to explore and implement cutting-edge research methodologies, including those involving AI and advanced analytics.

• Operational Domain Expertise: Gaining deep knowledge of Target's retail operations, supply chain, and vendor management processes.

• Leadership Development: Formal and informal mentorship programs to enhance leadership, strategic thinking, and stakeholder influence skills.

• Industry Conferences & Events: Participation in leading UX research and potentially operations or retail technology conferences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant opportunities for professional development by tackling complex operational challenges and gaining expertise in a critical area of retail technology.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders to adopt a user-centered recommendation that was counter to their initial assumptions. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on stakeholder management, data storytelling, and operational impact.)

• "How do you prioritize research efforts when faced with multiple competing requests from different product and operational teams?" (Assess project management, strategic alignment, and prioritization skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Target's approach to vendor relationships and B2B tools?" (Shows you've done your research on their operational context.)

• "How would you foster a human-centered design culture within engineering and product teams that may be more focused on technical feasibility or deadlines?" (Assesses your ability to champion UX and operations alignment.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each case study, clearly outline: Problem Statement (business/user need), Your Role (lead, contributor), Methodology (why these methods?), Key Findings (the "aha!" moments), Recommendations (actionable insights), Impact (quantifiable results, e.g., % improvement in task completion, reduction in support tickets, increased vendor satisfaction scores).

• Visuals Matter: Use clear, concise visuals (e.g., screenshots, personas, journey maps, data charts) to support your narrative.

• Focus on Impact: For this role, emphasize how your research directly improved operational efficiency, vendor relationships, or business processes.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, decision-making process, and how you handled challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating how your UX research skills directly translate into tangible operational improvements and business value for a large retail organization.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-centric UX research position:

• Submit your application through the Target Careers portal via the provided link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 7+ years of product research experience, specifically mentioning any work with B2B tools, vendor management, or enterprise systems. Emphasize achievements in process improvement, efficiency gains, and stakeholder influence using keywords like "UX Research," "B2B," "Vendor Experience," "Product Operations," "Qualitative Research," "Strategic Problem-Solving," and "Cross-Functional Collaboration."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest case studies. Ensure they clearly demonstrate your end-to-end research process, your ability to derive actionable insights, and most importantly, the measurable impact on product development and business/operational outcomes. Focus on how your work improved efficiency, reduced friction, or enhanced user satisfaction for B2B or vendor users.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice delivering your portfolio presentation, focusing on storytelling, clarity, and the quantitative impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your strategic approach to research and how it aligns with business objectives.

• Research Target's Operations: Familiarize yourself with Target's business model, its approach to vendor relationships, and the types of digital tools it might use for internal and external operations. Understanding their focus on guest experience can help you frame your understanding of partner/vendor experience.

⚠️ 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.

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