Senior User Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior User Researcher

Company: Artsy

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Research

Date Posted: April 30, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end user research programs to define and validate product strategy, directly influencing the roadmap for a complex two-sided marketplace.

• Act as a strategic partner to Product, Design, Data, and Commercial teams, translating user insights into actionable recommendations that drive growth and enhance user experience.

• Elevate research craft and standards across the organization, mentoring junior researchers and contributing to scalable research frameworks and participant strategy.

• Deeply understand and research the nuances of the U.S. art market, focusing on collector and gallerist needs to inform product development and business initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role specifically calls for a Senior User Researcher to embed within the NYC-based product and commercial teams, emphasizing real-time collaboration and strengthening research coverage across time zones. This indicates a critical need for on-the-ground presence to influence immediate strategic decisions within the U.S. market.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and execute comprehensive research programs from initial discovery and ideation through validation and post-launch evaluation, ensuring a robust understanding of user needs and market dynamics.

• Drive research initiatives that directly shape product strategy and accelerate marketplace growth by deeply understanding the unique needs of both collectors and gallerists.

• Proactively partner with U.S.-based Product Managers, Designers, Data Scientists, and Commercial teams to influence product roadmaps and prioritization through data-driven user insights.

• Serve as the primary advocate for the user within cross-functional teams, ensuring all decisions are grounded in credible, synthesized research findings that highlight user risks and opportunities.

• Design and implement advanced qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including but not limited to in-depth interviews, usability testing, diary studies, segmentation, surveys, and mixed-methods synthesis, to address complex research questions.

• Collaborate with the Data team to integrate behavioral analytics with attitudinal insights, creating a holistic view of user engagement and satisfaction.

• Develop and evolve scalable research frameworks tailored to the specific needs of a two-sided marketplace, ensuring consistency and efficiency in research operations.

• Conduct in-market research with collectors and galleries, exploring both established and emerging markets to identify new opportunities and validate product concepts.

• Mentor mid-level researchers, guiding their project scoping and research execution, and contribute to the long-term development of research operations and participant recruitment strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "deeply understand collector and gallery behavior, and art market dynamics" and "conduct in-market research with collectors and galleries along with unexplored markets" suggests a need for research that goes beyond typical e-commerce user behavior, requiring an understanding of luxury goods, high-value transactions, and nuanced market trends.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Information Science, or a related field is typically expected for this level of research role, demonstrating a foundational understanding of research methodologies and human behavior.

Experience: 5+ years of dedicated experience in User Experience (UX) or Product Research, with a strong preference for experience within marketplace platforms, luxury goods, or high-value e-commerce environments.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in leading end-to-end research programs, from defining research questions to delivering actionable insights that influence strategy and product roadmaps.

• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and executive leadership, effectively communicating research findings and their strategic implications.

• Strong systems thinking capabilities, with the ability to connect user behavior, business metrics, and product design to understand complex marketplace dynamics.

• Expertise in designing and executing a variety of qualitative research methods, such as in-depth interviews, contextual inquiries, usability testing, and diary studies.

• Proficiency in quantitative research methods, including survey design, segmentation analysis, and statistical interpretation.

• Experience in synthesizing mixed-methods research to provide comprehensive and actionable insights.

• Ability to operate autonomously in fast-paced, ambiguous environments, taking ownership of complex research initiatives.

• Experience working effectively within distributed, global teams, demonstrating strong cross-cultural communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience specifically within the art market or a related luxury industry.

• Familiarity with integrating behavioral analytics data (e.g., from tools like Mixpanel, Amplitude) with attitudinal research findings.

• Experience in building and scaling research operations, including participant recruitment strategies and research repository management.

• Knowledge of A/B testing principles and how to inform experimental design through research.

• Experience in mentoring or guiding junior researchers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "strong systems thinking" and experience in "marketplace, or luxury platforms" indicates that candidates will be evaluated on their ability to understand and research complex ecosystems with multiple user types (collectors, galleries) and high-value transactions, rather than just standard consumer e-commerce.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a portfolio showcasing end-to-end research initiatives that have directly influenced product strategy and roadmap decisions, with a clear articulation of the problem, your approach, and the impact.

• Include examples of complex research programs that spanned discovery, validation, and post-launch evaluation phases, highlighting your ability to manage research across the product lifecycle.

• Showcase instances where you've partnered with Product, Design, and Data teams, illustrating your collaborative approach and ability to integrate insights with quantitative data.

Process Documentation:

• Exhibit clear documentation of research processes, including how you define research objectives, select appropriate methodologies, and manage research execution from start to finish.

• Present examples of how you have synthesized research findings into actionable insights, including the creation of compelling deliverables (e.g., reports, presentations, personas, journey maps) that drive decision-making.

• Illustrate your approach to integrating qualitative and quantitative data, demonstrating how you use behavioral analytics and other data sources to enrich your research findings.

• Show evidence of developing or contributing to scalable research frameworks, templates, or best practices that have improved research efficiency or quality within an organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior User Researcher, the portfolio should emphasize strategic impact and leadership. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how their research directly influenced business outcomes, shaped product strategy for complex marketplaces, and contributed to the maturity of research practices within an organization.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $115,000 - $130,000 annually. This range is competitive for a Senior User Researcher role in New York City, reflecting the experience level, the strategic nature of the position, and the specialized industry (art market).

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary & Equity: Offering a strong base salary complemented by meaningful company equity.

• Flexible Time Off: A culture of trust and empowerment allowing employees to take necessary time away from work.

• Hybrid Work Model: Opportunity to work from the NYC office 2-3 days per week, fostering collaboration while maintaining flexibility.

• Comprehensive Healthcare: Includes medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Family Support: Parental leave benefits.

• Disability Coverage: Short-term and long-term disability insurance.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Access to free mental health support and other resources.

• Retirement Savings: 401k plan.

• Commuter Benefits: Assistance with transportation costs.

• Spending Accounts: Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) for healthcare and dependent care expenses.

• Financial Wellness: Support and resources to aid in financial planning and well-being.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for mentoring, training, regular workshops, and continuous learning.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work arrangement expecting 2-3 days in the New York City office. The role requires flexibility to collaborate effectively with U.S. planning cycles and research sessions, which may sometimes extend beyond standard hours depending on participant availability and project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is typical for a senior-level UX researcher in a major metropolitan area like New York City, especially in a specialized industry. The inclusion of equity is a significant component, common in tech companies like Artsy, and should be a key consideration for candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Online Art Marketplace / E-commerce / Technology. Artsy operates at the intersection of technology and the art world, aiming to make art more accessible and support artists and galleries globally. This unique positioning requires a blend of tech-driven innovation and deep understanding of a traditionally niche market.

Company Size: Artsy is a mid-sized to large tech company, likely employing several hundred to over a thousand individuals globally. This size typically offers a balance between the structure and resources of a larger organization and the agility and impact potential of a smaller one.

Founded: Artsy was founded in 2009. This history suggests a company with established processes and a mature product, but also one that has navigated significant market changes and technological advancements in the art tech space.

Team Structure:

• The User Research team likely consists of researchers embedded within product pods or focused on specific areas of the marketplace, reporting to a Head of Research or Director of Product.

• This Senior Researcher will be a key player within the U.S. product hub, likely working closely with a dedicated Product Manager, Designer, and Data Analyst for their focus areas.

Methodology:

• Artsy's approach to research and product development is likely data-informed and user-centric, balancing qualitative insights with quantitative analytics to drive decisions.

• The company values "Impact Over Perfection," suggesting an iterative approach to product development and research, prioritizing swift action and learning over exhaustive, slow processes.

• "Lead with Openness" and "Transform Together" indicate a culture that embraces feedback, diverse perspectives, and continuous learning, encouraging a collaborative and adaptive environment.

Company Website: https://www.artsy.net/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission to "expand the art market to support more artists and art in the world" and its focus on a "two-sided marketplace" are critical context. This means research must consider the needs and behaviors of both buyers (collectors) and sellers (galleries), and how their interactions are facilitated by the platform.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Senior User Researcher, signifying a mid-to-senior level position. It demands significant autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead complex, ambiguous initiatives independently. The individual is expected to be a thought leader in research within their domain and contribute to the broader research practice.

Reporting Structure: The Senior User Researcher will likely report to a Head of User Research, Director of Product Research, or potentially a Director of Product Management if the research function is more decentralized. They will be expected to collaborate closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Data Scientists within their assigned product areas.

Operations Impact: The Senior User Researcher's impact is critical to Artsy's mission. By deeply understanding collector and gallerist needs, they will directly influence product strategy, roadmap prioritization, and the development of features that enhance the user experience and drive marketplace growth. Their insights will help mitigate user risk, identify new opportunities, and ensure the product effectively serves its diverse user base, ultimately contributing to a more transparent, accessible, and inclusive art market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to mentor junior researchers, lead research initiatives for high-impact product areas, and contribute to the strategic direction of the research function.

• Domain Expertise: Deepen expertise in the art market, luxury goods, and complex marketplace dynamics, becoming a go-to expert for U.S. market insights.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Expand influence across Product, Design, Engineering, and Commercial teams, potentially leading research strategy for broader product initiatives or new market entries.

• Research Operations: Contribute to the evolution of research operations, participant strategy, and the adoption of new research tools and methodologies across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a need for strategic leadership and the ability to operate with significant autonomy. Candidates should highlight experience in influencing product strategy and roadmapping, not just executing research tasks.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Artsy operates on a hybrid work model, with employees expected to be in the New York City office 2-3 days per week. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed to facilitate in-person teamwork, brainstorming, and relationship-building.

Office Location(s): The role is based in New York City, indicating the primary office location for this position. This allows for real-time collaboration with U.S.-based product and commercial teams.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is likely set up to support collaboration, with meeting rooms, common areas, and potentially hot-desking arrangements to facilitate interaction between hybrid and in-office team members.

• As a tech company, expect access to modern tools and technologies necessary for research and collaboration, including robust communication platforms and potentially research-specific software.

• Opportunities for interaction with various departments will be abundant, fostering a dynamic and integrated work experience.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is likely 40 hours per week, but the hybrid nature and the need for real-time collaboration across time zones may require flexibility. Research sessions with participants, especially collectors or galleries, might occur outside of traditional business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model (2-3 days in office) is a key aspect of the work environment. Candidates should be comfortable with this arrangement and understand its implications for collaboration and team dynamics.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit your application directly through Artsy's careers website; email applications are not accepted.

• Initial Screening: A Talent Acquisition team member will review your application and resume to assess alignment with the role's requirements.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager (likely a Head of Research or senior product leader) and potentially other team members to delve into your experience, research philosophy, and strategic thinking. This stage will likely assess your ability to lead complex initiatives and influence stakeholders.

• Portfolio Presentation/Case Study: A critical stage where you will present a selection of your work. This will likely involve discussing 2-3 significant research projects, detailing your process, insights, and the impact on product strategy and business outcomes. Be prepared to discuss challenges and how you navigated them.

• Cross-Functional Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Designers, Data Scientists, and potentially Commercial leaders to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to integrate research into product development workflows.

• Final Interview/Executive Conversation: Potentially a conversation with a more senior leader to discuss overall fit, strategic alignment, and vision for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, your research goals, your methodology, key insights, and most importantly, the tangible impact your research had on product decisions, strategy, or business outcomes. Quantify impact where possible.

• Showcase Strategic Leadership: Highlight projects where you independently led complex, ambiguous research initiatives, influenced roadmaps, or shaped product strategy, rather than just executing assigned tasks.

• Demonstrate Methodological Breadth: Include examples of both qualitative and quantitative research, and how you synthesized them. Showcase your ability to adapt methodologies to different research questions and contexts, particularly in a marketplace environment.

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentation like a narrative. Clearly explain the context, your role, the challenges, your approach, the findings, and the ultimate outcome.

• Tailor to Artsy: Research Artsy's mission, values, and product. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with their specific needs, especially regarding the art market and two-sided marketplaces.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a research case study or a hypothetical problem-solving exercise. This could involve analyzing a user problem, proposing a research plan, or interpreting data.

• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely. Demonstrate how you would approach ambiguity and define research objectives.

• Think about how you would collaborate with Product, Design, and Data teams to gather insights and drive action.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is highlighted as a critical stage. Candidates should prepare to showcase their ability to not just conduct research, but to translate it into strategic business value and demonstrate leadership in driving user-centric product development.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: Tools for conducting remote usability testing, surveys, and participant management (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Typeform, SurveyMonkey).

• Collaboration Tools: Platforms for cross-functional communication and documentation (e.g., Slack, Google Workspace, Notion, Confluence).

• Prototyping/Design Tools: Familiarity with tools used by designers to understand prototypes and user flows (e.g., Figma, Sketch).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Behavioral Analytics: Experience working with or interpreting data from tools like Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Google Analytics to complement attitudinal research.

• Data Visualization: Ability to understand and potentially work with data presented in tools like Tableau or Looker for reporting and insights.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing a CRM, an understanding of how user data is managed within a CRM (e.g., Salesforce) and how it might inform or be informed by user research would be beneficial.

• Familiarity with how automation plays a role in user journeys or marketplace operations could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, for a Senior User Researcher, proficiency in a range of qualitative and quantitative research tools is assumed. Emphasis should be placed on the ability to integrate insights from behavioral analytics with qualitative findings, which is crucial for a marketplace environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• For the Love of Art: A deep appreciation and curiosity for the art market, artists, collectors, and galleries, driving a passion for making the art world more accessible and fair.

• Own Our Outcomes: Taking personal responsibility for the success of research initiatives and their impact on the business, demonstrating resourcefulness and resilience.

• Lead with Openness: Fostering trust, seeking diverse perspectives, communicating authentically, and acting with integrity in all interactions.

• Transform Together: Embracing feedback, continuous learning, and change to challenge the status quo and drive transformation within the art industry and the company.

• Impact Over Perfection: Prioritizing speed, clarity of action, and iterative learning to achieve significant impact, rather than getting bogged down in achieving absolute perfection.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively partnering with Product, Design, Data, Commercial, and Engineering teams, embedding research insights into their workflows and decision-making processes.

• Data-Driven Dialogue: Engaging in constructive debates informed by both user research findings and quantitative data, contributing to strategic product discussions.

• Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing: A willingness to share expertise, mentor junior researchers, and contribute to a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the research team and beyond.

📝 Enhancement Note: Artsy's values, particularly "Impact Over Perfection" and "Lead with Openness," suggest a culture that values agility, collaboration, and constructive feedback, essential for a senior role requiring significant cross-functional influence.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Complex Two-Sided Marketplace: Understanding and researching the distinct needs, motivations, and behaviors of both collectors and galleries, and how their interactions drive the platform's success.

• Balancing Strategic vs. Tactical Research: Juggling long-term strategic research initiatives that shape product vision with more immediate, tactical research needs for feature validation and iteration.

• Influencing Senior Stakeholders: Effectively communicating complex research findings and advocating for user needs to busy executives and product leaders, ensuring insights translate into action.

• Researching a Niche Market: Deeply understanding the nuances of the art market, its stakeholders, and its dynamics, which may differ significantly from more common consumer or enterprise markets.

• Global vs. Local Focus: Balancing the needs of a global platform with a specific focus on strengthening research coverage and understanding for the U.S. market, requiring in-market research and time-zone alignment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Art Market Expertise: Gain unparalleled knowledge of the art industry, its key players, and market trends, becoming a recognized expert in this domain.

• Strategic Leadership: Develop skills in influencing product strategy, shaping roadmaps, and leading high-stakes research programs that have significant business impact.

• Mentorship and Coaching: Opportunities to mentor junior researchers, contributing to the growth of the research team and honing leadership skills.

• Methodological Advancement: Explore and implement advanced research techniques, potentially integrating AI-driven insights or novel quantitative methods to understand user behavior in the art market.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Enhance skills in stakeholder management and influencing across diverse teams (Product, Design, Data, Commercial, Engineering).

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the specialized nature of the art market and the complexity of a two-sided marketplace, requiring researchers to be adaptable and strategic. Growth opportunities are geared towards leadership and domain expertise.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a complex, ambiguous research initiative from end-to-end. What was the problem, how did you approach it, what were your key findings, and what was the ultimate impact on the product or business?" (Focus on your strategic thinking, leadership, and ability to drive outcomes.)

• "How would you approach understanding the unique needs of both collectors and galleries in a marketplace like Artsy? What research methods would you prioritize, and why?" (Demonstrate your understanding of marketplace dynamics and methodological flexibility.)

• "Tell me about a time your research findings challenged existing assumptions or directly influenced a significant product strategy shift. How did you communicate this to stakeholders?" (Highlight your influence and executive communication skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Artsy's mission and the art market? How does your experience align with our values, particularly 'Impact Over Perfection' and 'Lead with Openness'?" (Research Artsy thoroughly and connect your experience to their mission and values.)

• "How do you typically collaborate with Product Managers, Designers, and Data Scientists? Describe a successful cross-functional partnership and any challenges you've overcome." (Emphasize your teamwork and communication skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Key Projects: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your senior-level capabilities: strategic leadership, end-to-end ownership, complex problem-solving, and significant impact.

• Quantify Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, your role, your methodology, key insights, and the tangible, quantifiable impact (e.g., increased conversion, reduced churn, improved user satisfaction scores, informed strategic decisions).

• Showcase Your Process: Walk through your research process, emphasizing how you defined objectives, selected appropriate methods, synthesized data, and communicated findings. Be ready to defend your methodological choices.

• Highlight Stakeholder Influence: Demonstrate how you effectively partnered with and influenced stakeholders, turning research insights into product actions.

• Address Ambiguity: Be prepared to discuss how you tackled ambiguous problems and navigated uncertainty in your research.

• Tailor to Artsy: Frame your projects in a way that resonates with Artsy's business (marketplace, art industry) and their stated values.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation strongly emphasizes strategic leadership, stakeholder influence, and the ability to drive tangible business impact, aligning with the "Senior" level of the role and Artsy's value of "Impact Over Perfection."

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior User Researcher position:

• Submit Your Application: Navigate to the Artsy careers page and submit your application directly through their online portal. Applications sent via email will not be considered.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 5+ years of experience in UX/Product Research, emphasizing your work in marketplace or luxury platforms. Use keywords from the job description (e.g., "product strategy," "stakeholder management," "qualitative and quantitative research," "marketplace dynamics," "systems thinking"). Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful research projects to showcase. Ensure each project clearly demonstrates your strategic leadership, end-to-end ownership, ability to influence product roadmaps, and the tangible business impact of your work. Be prepared to present these projects in detail.

• Research Artsy: Thoroughly understand Artsy's mission, values, business model (two-sided marketplace), and the art industry. Prepare specific examples of how your skills and experience align with their needs and culture, especially their values like "Impact Over Perfection."

• Prepare for Case Studies: Anticipate potential research challenges or hypothetical scenarios. Practice articulating your research process, problem-solving approach, and how you would collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive user-centric decisions.

⚠️ 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.