Remote Senior UX Research Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Research Manager

Company: [Partner Company of Jobgether]

Location: Kentucky, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience Research Management / Product Operations

Date Posted: February 28, 2026

Experience Level: 8+ Years (with 2+ years management experience)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and evolve a comprehensive UX Research strategy within a dynamic, multi-product ecosystem, driving strategic product and business decisions through user insights.

• Develop and mentor a team of UX Researchers, establishing and maintaining high standards for research quality and operational efficiency.

• Translate complex customer inquiries into actionable, impactful research plans and methodologies, ensuring alignment with business objectives.

• Design and implement a scalable research operating model, clarifying research ownership and enabling effective research practices across non-researcher teams.

• Thoughtfully integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into research workflows to enhance efficiency, data analysis, and insight generation.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the primary focus is UX Research, the strategic leadership, operational model development, and cross-functional collaboration aspects position this role as a key player in Product Operations or GTM Operations by ensuring user-centricity is embedded in strategic decision-making. The emphasis on "evolving standards and practices" and "underpinning critical product and business decisions" highlights its strategic importance beyond just conducting research.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define, champion, and evolve the overall UX Research strategy and vision across the entire product ecosystem.

• Translate ambiguous or complex customer needs and business questions into robust, actionable research plans and methodologies.

• Design, implement, and refine a scalable and efficient UX Research operating model, including processes, tools, and best practices.

• Lead, manage, and develop a team of talented UX Researchers, fostering growth, providing mentorship, and ensuring high-quality research output.

• Establish clear guidelines and frameworks for research execution, differentiating between dedicated UX Research-led initiatives and research enabled across product, design, and engineering teams.

• Proactively identify opportunities to integrate AI and machine learning tools and techniques into research workflows to optimize efficiency, analysis, and insight delivery.

• Serve as a strategic partner to Product Management, Design, Engineering, and other cross-functional stakeholders, ensuring user insights are deeply integrated into strategic planning and decision-making processes.

• Champion a user-centric culture by effectively communicating research findings and their implications for product strategy, roadmap prioritization, and customer experience enhancements.

• Maintain rigorous research quality and ethical standards, even in environments where research is democratized or conducted by non-specialists.

• Measure and articulate the business impact of UX Research initiatives, demonstrating ROI and guiding future research investments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities explicitly mention "defining and evolving UX Research strategy," "design and implement a scalable research operating model," "partner with Product, Design, and Engineering," and "support the integration of user insights into product strategy." These elements strongly suggest a strategic and operational focus, typical of senior roles in Product Operations or GTM Strategy, aiming to embed user insights into the core of product development and business decision-making.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Information Science, or a related field is often preferred for senior UX Research roles.

Experience:

• A minimum of eight (8) years of hands-on experience in conducting primary user research.

• A minimum of two (2) years of direct experience managing and developing a team of UX Researchers.

Required Skills:

• UX Research Strategy & Operations: Ability to define, articulate, and implement a comprehensive UX Research strategy and a scalable operating model.

• Qualitative & Mixed Methods Expertise: Deep command and practical application of a wide range of qualitative research methods (e.g., interviews, usability testing, ethnography) and mixed methods approaches.

• Team Leadership & Development: Proven ability to lead, mentor, and grow a team of researchers, fostering a high-performing and collaborative environment.

• Business Acumen & Impact: Strong capability to connect research insights directly to tangible business outcomes, product strategy, and key performance indicators (KPIs).

• AI Integration: Experience and a forward-thinking approach to thoughtfully integrating AI and machine learning into research workflows for enhanced efficiency and insights.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Excellent ability to partner effectively with Product Management, Design, Engineering, Marketing, and other stakeholders.

• Communication & Influence: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a strong ability to influence stakeholders at all levels and advocate for user needs.

• Process Design for Non-Researchers: Experience in designing research systems, guidelines, and enablement programs for individuals outside of dedicated research roles.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a multi-product ecosystem or complex product portfolio.

• Familiarity with advanced analytics and data visualization tools to complement qualitative insights.

• Experience with A/B testing and experimental design.

• Knowledge of product analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel).

• Experience in agile development environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "experience designing research systems for non-researchers" and "ability to maintain research quality in democratized environments" points towards a strong operational component, emphasizing the need to build scalable processes that empower other teams while maintaining quality, a key function within Product Operations. The AI integration requirement also aligns with modern GTM and Product Operations trends.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Research Strategy & Methodology: Showcase examples of how you have defined and evolved research strategies, including the methodologies chosen and the rationale behind them.

• Team Leadership & Development: Highlight instances of managing and mentoring researchers, including team growth initiatives, performance improvements, and operational model development.

• Impactful Research Case Studies: Present detailed case studies demonstrating how your research directly influenced product strategy, design decisions, and led to measurable business outcomes (e.g., increased conversion, improved user satisfaction, reduced churn).

• Scalable Research Systems: Include examples of processes, frameworks, or systems you've built or improved to make research more efficient, accessible, or impactful, especially for non-researchers.

• AI Integration Examples: If possible, showcase projects where AI was thoughtfully integrated into research workflows, detailing the tools used and the benefits achieved.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate experience in designing and optimizing end-to-end research workflows from planning and recruitment to analysis and reporting.

• Operating Model Development: Provide evidence of creating or refining research operating models that ensure quality, scalability, and effective collaboration.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Show how you measure the effectiveness and impact of research initiatives and communicate these findings to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Manager role, especially one focused on evolving a practice and operating model, a portfolio demonstrating strategic thinking, operational design, and measurable impact is crucial. The emphasis on "scalable research operating model" and "research systems for non-researchers" indicates a need to showcase process design and implementation capabilities, aligning with Product Operations responsibilities.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior UX Research Manager in a fully remote position within the United States, with 8+ years of experience and 2+ years of management experience, the estimated salary range is approximately $160,000 - $220,000 per year. This range can vary based on specific geographic cost of living adjustments (though less impactful for fully remote roles), the company's compensation philosophy, and the candidate's precise skill set and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary & Annual Bonuses: Reflecting executive-level responsibility and performance-driven rewards.

• Comprehensive Health Benefits Package: Including medical, dental, and vision coverage, likely with PPO/HMO options and employer contributions.

• Generous Parental Leave Plan: Supporting new parents with paid time off for bonding and care.

• 401k Matching Program: A valuable retirement savings benefit, indicating employer investment in long-term employee financial security.

• Company-Wide Outdoor Adventures and Perks: Unique benefits fostering team cohesion and employee well-being, aligning with a potentially active company culture.

• Annual Funds for Active Lifestyle: Encouraging employee health and wellness through financial support for fitness and outdoor activities.

• Flexible Time Away Package: Including Paid Time Off (PTO) and company holidays, offering a balanced approach to work-life integration.

Working Hours: The role is listed as Full-time, typically implying a standard 40-hour work week. However, the "Flexible time away package" and the nature of a senior leadership role suggest a focus on outcomes and flexibility rather than strict adherence to hours, allowing for effective management of a remote team across potentially different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for a Senior UX Research Manager in the US market, considering the experience level and remote nature of the role. It's important to note that Jobgether is posting on behalf of a partner company, so specific compensation details will be confirmed by the hiring employer. The listed benefits are comprehensive and suggest a company culture that values employee well-being and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The specific industry of the partner company is not disclosed, but the emphasis on a "multi-product ecosystem" and "critical product and business decisions" suggests a technology-driven organization, potentially in SaaS, e-commerce, or a platform-based business model. This implies a fast-paced, innovative environment where data-driven decision-making is paramount.

Company Size: Jobgether's AI analysis suggests a company size that is likely mid-to-large, given the need for a "growing research practice" and the establishment of a "scalable research operating model." This implies a structure with multiple product teams, established development processes, and a need for formalized operational functions.

Founded: The founding date is not provided. However, the need to "build or mature a UX Research function" suggests the company may be past its initial startup phase and is now focusing on scaling and optimizing its operations and product development processes.

Team Structure:

• Research Team: The role involves leading and developing a team of UX Researchers, indicating a dedicated UX Research function exists or is being formally established.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Close partnership is expected with Product Management, Design, and Engineering teams, suggesting a matrixed organizational structure common in tech companies where product development is collaborative.

• Reporting: While not explicitly stated, a Senior Manager role typically reports to a Director or VP level, likely within Product, Design, or a dedicated Research organization. The "clarify roles in research led by UX Researchers versus enabled across teams" suggests an ongoing effort to define clear reporting lines and responsibilities for research activities.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The core of the role is to "underpin critical product and business decisions" with user insights, emphasizing a data-driven and evidence-based approach to strategy and execution.

• User-Centricity: A fundamental principle will be integrating user needs and feedback into all stages of the product lifecycle.

• Agile & Iterative Development: Given the context of product development, it's likely that research will be integrated into agile methodologies, supporting iterative design and development cycles.

• AI-Powered Insights: The explicit mention of incorporating AI into research workflows suggests a forward-thinking approach to leveraging technology for enhanced insights and efficiency.

Company Website: [Partner Company Website - Not Provided]

📝 Enhancement Note: The absence of direct company information requires making informed inferences based on the job description's details. The "multi-product ecosystem" and "maturing a UX Research function" strongly point towards a scale-up or established tech company where operational rigor and strategic research are highly valued. The emphasis on AI integration suggests a company that is innovative and embraces new technologies.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Management position, specifically leading a critical function (UX Research) within the product development lifecycle. It signifies a pivotal role in shaping product strategy and user experience through research expertise. The responsibilities extend beyond execution to strategy definition, operational model development, and team leadership, placing it at a mid-to-senior management level.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Research Manager will likely report to a Director or VP of Product, Design, or a dedicated Head of Research. They will, in turn, manage a team of UX Researchers. This structure places them in a key intermediary role, translating high-level organizational goals into actionable research plans and guiding their team to execute them.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, directly influencing product direction, user satisfaction, adoption rates, and ultimately, business outcomes. By ensuring user insights are deeply embedded in strategic planning and product development, this role drives the creation of user-centric products that meet market needs and customer expectations, thereby contributing to revenue growth and market competitiveness. The role's output is crucial for informing GTM strategies by validating product-market fit and understanding customer segments.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Director or VP of Research or Head of Product/Design, overseeing broader strategic initiatives and larger organizations.

• Specialization & Expansion: Opportunity to expand the scope of research beyond UX to encompass market research, customer insights, or product analytics, potentially leading to roles in Customer Insights or Product Strategy.

• Operational Excellence: Develop expertise in building and scaling research operations, which is a highly transferable skill set valuable in Product Operations, GTM Operations, and broader organizational strategy roles.

• AI & Future of Research: Become a thought leader in integrating AI into research, a rapidly evolving field with significant career potential.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Gain broader experience in product strategy and cross-functional alignment, preparing for leadership roles that require a holistic understanding of the business.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's strategic and operational scope, combined with team leadership, offers substantial growth potential within UX Research, Product Management, or broader Operations leadership tracks. The emphasis on building and maturing functions is a key indicator of opportunities for significant impact and career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: As a fully remote position, the "office" is the employee's home workspace. The company likely supports remote work best practices and may offer stipends for home office setup.

Office Location(s): While the derived location is Kentucky, United States, the role is explicitly stated as "REMOTE." This implies that candidates from anywhere within the United States (or potentially globally, depending on the partner company's policy, though the derived location suggests US-centricity) can apply. The company may have physical offices for occasional team gatherings or strategic offsites.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Despite being remote, the role emphasizes strong collaboration with Product, Design, and Engineering teams. This necessitates proficiency in virtual collaboration tools and a proactive approach to communication and engagement.

• Tools & Technology: Access to and proficiency with a robust suite of remote collaboration and research tools will be essential. This includes video conferencing, project management software, and specialized UX research platforms.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for team interaction will primarily be through scheduled virtual meetings, asynchronous communication channels (e.g., Slack, Teams), and potentially virtual team-building activities or occasional in-person retreats.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with a focus on delivering results and managing a team effectively. While a 40-hour work week is standard, the remote nature and leadership responsibilities likely offer flexibility. Employees are expected to be available for key meetings and to manage their schedules to ensure team productivity and responsiveness, especially when collaborating across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature requires candidates to be self-motivated, disciplined, and adept at virtual communication and collaboration. The company's commitment to "company-wide outdoor adventures" suggests a culture that values employee well-being and may organize virtual or in-person events to foster connection.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: The process is managed by the hiring company, with Jobgether facilitating initial AI-driven matching. It is likely to involve multiple stages:

1. Initial Screening: Potentially an AI-driven assessment by Jobgether, followed by a recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager (likely a Director/VP) to evaluate strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and domain expertise. This is where your operational model and strategy experience will be key.

3. Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential direct reports (UX Researchers) and key cross-functional partners (Product Managers, Design Leads, Engineering Leads) to assess collaboration style, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

4. Portfolio Presentation/Case Study: A critical stage where candidates present their work, focusing on strategic initiatives, operational improvements, and measurable impact.

5. Final Interview: Potentially with a senior executive for final approval, focusing on strategic vision and cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Narrative: Structure your portfolio around strategic challenges and how your research and leadership addressed them, rather than just listing projects.

• Operational Impact: Clearly articulate how you built or improved research processes, operating models, and systems, emphasizing scalability and efficiency.

• AI Integration: If you have examples of AI integration, highlight them prominently, explaining the problem, solution, and outcomes.

• Quantifiable Results: For each case study, provide concrete metrics demonstrating the business impact of your research (e.g., percentage increase in conversion, reduction in support tickets, improvement in NPS/CSAT).

• Leadership & Team Development: Showcase your approach to managing, mentoring, and developing research teams, including examples of fostering talent and improving team performance.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize experiences relevant to a multi-product ecosystem and the need to balance centralized research strategy with democratized research practices.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Research Design: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing a research strategy for a complex, multi-product ecosystem or to solve a hypothetical business problem.

• Operational Model Design: Anticipate questions about how you would build or mature a research operating model, including defining roles, processes, and governance.

• AI in Research: Prepare to discuss your vision for AI in UX research and how you would implement it responsibly and effectively.

• Stakeholder Management: Practice articulating complex research findings and their business implications to non-research audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "building or maturing a UX Research function," "scalable research operating model," and "designing research systems for non-researchers" strongly suggests that the portfolio review and any case studies will heavily scrutinize the candidate's ability to operationalize research and demonstrate strategic impact, not just research execution.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Research Platforms: Proficiency with a range of tools for usability testing, surveys, interviews, and participant recruitment (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, UserZoom).

• Collaboration & Communication: Advanced use of tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Workspace for seamless remote team management and cross-functional communication.

• Project Management: Experience with tools such as Jira, Asana, Trello, or Monday.com to manage research projects, timelines, and team workflows.

• AI-Powered Research Tools: Familiarity with emerging AI tools for transcription, analysis, insight generation, and synthesis.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Experience with platforms like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to complement qualitative insights with quantitative user behavior data.

• Data Visualization: Ability to use tools like Tableau, Power BI, or specialized research reporting dashboards to communicate findings effectively.

• Spreadsheet Software: Advanced proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets for data manipulation and analysis.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing a CRM, understanding how user insights can inform CRM strategies and potentially integrate with marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo, Salesforce Marketing Cloud) would be beneficial for a holistic GTM perspective.

• Familiarity with tools that can help automate research synthesis or reporting processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires not just research expertise but also a strong understanding of how to operationalize research and leverage technology. The explicit mention of AI integration indicates a need for candidates to be forward-thinking about technology adoption in research.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep-seated commitment to understanding and advocating for the user in all product and business decisions.

• Data-Driven Impact: Valuing evidence-based decision-making and the ability to quantify the impact of research on business outcomes.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Fostering strong, respectful working relationships with cross-functional teams, built on trust and mutual understanding.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset of always seeking to refine processes, tools, and methodologies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Embracing new technologies and approaches, such as AI, to stay at the forefront of the research field.

• Quality & Rigor: Maintaining high standards of methodological integrity and ethical conduct in all research activities.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive & Transparent: Regularly sharing insights, updates, and progress with stakeholders, ensuring alignment and managing expectations.

• Consultative & Enabling: Acting as a strategic advisor to product teams, while also developing capabilities for other teams to conduct foundational research.

• Feedback-Oriented: Encouraging open feedback loops within the research team and with partner teams to foster continuous learning and improvement.

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively seeking opportunities to embed research insights into the workflows of Product, Design, and Engineering, rather than operating in a silo.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values and collaboration style are inferred from the responsibilities and requirements, emphasizing a strategic, operational, and collaborative approach essential for success in this senior leadership role within a tech environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Research in a Multi-Product Ecosystem: Ensuring consistent quality and strategic alignment across diverse product lines and user bases.

• Balancing Centralized Strategy with Decentralized Execution: Maintaining research rigor and efficiency when research is conducted or enabled by non-specialists.

• Demonstrating ROI of Research: Quantifying the impact of research on business outcomes to justify investment and strategic importance.

• Integrating AI Thoughtfully: Navigating the ethical considerations and practical implementation of AI in research without sacrificing human insight or quality.

• Influencing Senior Stakeholders: Effectively communicating complex research findings and advocating for user needs to drive strategic decisions.

• Managing and Developing a Remote Team: Fostering a strong team culture, ensuring effective communication, and supporting professional growth in a distributed environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership: Deepen skills in strategic planning, organizational design, and executive communication.

• Operational Excellence: Gain expertise in building scalable operational frameworks for research functions.

• AI in Research: Become a pioneer in leveraging AI for enhanced research efficiency and insight generation.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Develop advanced skills in influencing and collaborating with diverse stakeholders across Product, Engineering, and Business units.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Opportunities to attend leading UX research and product management conferences, and pursue relevant certifications.

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior executives and to mentor junior researchers, fostering leadership development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The identified challenges and growth opportunities are derived from the nature of the role (senior management, remote, scaling a function) and the specific requirements outlined in the job description.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to developing a UX Research strategy for a company with multiple, distinct product lines. How would you ensure alignment with overall business objectives?" (Focus on strategic planning, ecosystem thinking, and business alignment.)

• "How would you design and implement a scalable research operating model? What key components would you prioritize, and how would you measure its success?" (Focus on operational design, process, and metrics.)

• "Discuss your experience with integrating AI into research workflows. What are the benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations you've encountered or foresee?" (Focus on forward-thinking, practical application of AI, and responsible innovation.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on what you know about this role, what do you see as the biggest opportunity for UX Research at our company?" (Demonstrate understanding of the role's strategic importance and company context.)

• "How do you foster a strong team culture and ensure effective collaboration within a fully remote research team?" (Focus on remote leadership, team building, and communication strategies.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a high-level overview of your strategic vision and operational philosophy. Then, present 2-3 in-depth case studies that best illustrate your leadership, strategic impact, and operational achievements.

• Highlight Operational Wins: For each case study, explicitly detail any processes, frameworks, or systems you developed or improved, and the resultant efficiency gains or quality improvements.

• Quantify Everything: Use clear metrics to demonstrate the business impact of your research initiatives. If precise numbers are confidential, use percentages or clear qualitative statements of impact.

• AI Integration Showcase: If applicable, dedicate a segment to how you've integrated AI, detailing the tools, methodologies, and outcomes.

• Leadership Examples: Weave in examples of how you've managed, mentored, and developed researchers throughout your case studies.

• Q&A Readiness: Be prepared to dive deeper into any aspect of your portfolio, especially regarding strategic rationale, operational challenges, and specific research methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice is geared towards highlighting the strategic and operational aspects of the role, emphasizing the need to demonstrate not just research expertise but also leadership in building and scaling research functions within a complex environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Jobgether platform via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature examples of research strategy development, scalable operating model design, team leadership, and measurable business impact. Specifically highlight any experience with democratizing research or integrating AI.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your experience in managing UX Researchers, building research functions, and connecting research insights to business outcomes. Use keywords from the job description such as "UX Research Strategy," "Research Operations," "AI Integration," and "Cross-functional Collaboration."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your strategic vision for UX Research, your approach to operationalizing research, and how you measure success. Prepare a compelling narrative for your portfolio presentation, focusing on strategic leadership and operational impact.

• Company Research: While Jobgether is the posting platform, research the partner company as much as possible through their website and public information to understand their product ecosystem, market position, and potential culture. Frame your application and interview responses to align with their likely needs and values.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details, particularly regarding the partner company and specific compensation, should be verified directly with the hiring organization or through Jobgether's process before making application decisions.