Senior User Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior User Researcher Company: Ciklum Location: Romania Job Type: Full-time Category: Product Development / User Experience Date Posted: 2025-08-29 Experience Level: Senior (4+ years) Remote Status: Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and execute end-to-end user research initiatives, from opportunity identification through to insight integration into product development lifecycles.
• Champion a user-centric approach, ensuring product and service design addresses genuine user needs and solves real-world problems.
• Drive research practices within agile workflows, seamlessly integrating discovery and delivery phases to maximize impact.
• Contribute to the growth of the user research community by sharing knowledge, enhancing guidelines, and supporting fellow researchers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Senior User Researcher," indicating a need for a candidate who can operate with a high degree of autonomy, strategize research approaches, and mentor others. The emphasis on "owning the user research stream" and "minimal direction" underscores the expectation of proactive leadership and strategic thinking.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Independently own and manage the entire user research stream for assigned projects, encompassing opportunity spotting, research planning, participant recruitment, execution, and synthesis of findings.
• Design and implement comprehensive research plans tailored to project needs across discovery and delivery phases, ensuring alignment with agile methodologies and team workflows.
• Conduct a diverse range of research methodologies, including exploratory, assessment, evaluative, quantitative, and qualitative research, selecting the most appropriate methods for each context.
• Actively contribute to the advancement of the user research practice within Ciklum by collaborating with the broader research team, developing best practice guidelines, facilitating knowledge-sharing sessions, and mentoring less experienced researchers.
• Provide expert consultation to presale teams on user research strategies and approaches for potential new projects, ensuring a user-centric perspective is integrated from the outset.
• Effectively translate complex research findings into compelling, evidence-led narratives that foster stakeholder understanding, build customer empathy, and directly influence product strategy and decision-making.
• Proactively identify customer segmentation opportunities and define clear user personas based on rigorous research.
• Manage participant recruitment processes efficiently and ethically to ensure high-quality data for research studies.
• Facilitate workshops, design sprints, and co-creation sessions that encourage creativity, drive alignment, and foster collaborative problem-solving.
• Maintain strong organizational skills and adaptability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and evolving project requirements in a fast-paced environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on research execution and strategic contribution. The expectation to "consult presale teams" and "enhance the practice" points towards a role that influences both client-facing activities and internal operational maturity.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Information Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• A minimum of 4 years of dedicated, hands-on experience in a standalone user researcher role, demonstrating a proven track record of successfully leading research initiatives.
• Extensive experience in defining and executing core user research methods, with a strong emphasis on independent execution and a solid understanding of their application in product development.
• Demonstrated experience in assessing and validating early-stage product concepts using a variety of research methods beyond just interviews, such as usability testing, surveys, and concept testing.
• Proven ability to define and segment customer groups, creating actionable personas and user journeys based on research data.
• Experience managing the full participant recruitment lifecycle, from identifying target demographics to screening and scheduling.
• A strong portfolio showcasing a range of research projects, methodologies, and the impact of research on product outcomes.

Required Skills:

• User Research Expertise: Deep proficiency in a wide array of qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys, field studies, card sorting, tree testing, diary studies).
• Experimental Mindset & Rigor: Ability to explore new research tools and approaches while maintaining a rigorous, data-driven methodology and understanding the importance of research guardrails.
• Workshop Facilitation: Proven ability to lead and facilitate engaging workshops, design sprints, and co-creation sessions to drive innovation and consensus.
• Communication & Storytelling: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling, evidence-based narratives that influence stakeholders and drive product decisions.
• Customer Segmentation: Skilled in defining and analyzing customer segments to inform product strategy and user targeting.
• Participant Recruitment: Proficient in recruiting appropriate participants for various research studies.
• Prioritization & Time Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks effectively, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Research Tools Proficiency: Familiarity with tools for research synthesis, data repositories, and unmoderated testing (e.g., Maze, Dovetail, UserTesting.com, Lookback).

Preferred Skills:

• Data analytics experience, including the ability to analyze quantitative data to complement qualitative findings.
• Design experience or a strong understanding of design principles and processes.
• Experience in pre-sale activities, including contributing to proposals and client presentations from a user research perspective.
• Experience with A/B testing and other experimentation frameworks to validate hypotheses.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "core user research methods" as a minimum expectation, before advanced skills, suggests a foundational strength is paramount. The explicit mention of "Maze, Dovetail or similar tools" highlights the importance of familiarity with modern research operations platforms.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 4 years of hands-on user research experience, demonstrating a clear progression of skills and responsibilities.
• Detailed case studies that illustrate your ability to independently own and execute research streams from inception to impact.
• Evidence of applying a diverse range of research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) to solve specific product challenges.
• Demonstrations of how your research insights directly influenced product strategy, design decisions, and ultimately, business outcomes, with a focus on measurable results or impact.
• Examples of your facilitation skills through documented workshops, design sprints, or co-creation sessions, highlighting your ability to drive collaboration and alignment.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your ability to define and document research processes that integrate seamlessly within agile workflows, ensuring efficiency and repeatability.
• Provide examples of how you have structured research plans, from defining objectives and hypotheses to outlining methodologies and timelines.
• Include documentation or examples of how you synthesize research findings into actionable insights and compelling narratives for diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrate how you manage participant recruitment and ethical considerations within your research processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as a "portfolio requirement," the emphasis on "owning the user research stream," "experimental yet rigorous mindset," and "connecting the dots" implies a need for a portfolio that demonstrates strategic thinking, process ownership, and the ability to synthesize complex information into actionable outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the senior level and the location in Romania, a competitive salary range for a Senior User Researcher typically falls between €35,000 - €60,000 gross per year. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for experienced professionals in tech roles within Romania, considering the skills and responsibilities outlined.

Benefits:

• Medical Subscription: Access to Regina Maria, a comprehensive healthcare provider.
• Meal Tickets: Daily meal tickets valued at 16 RON net per worked day, contributing to daily expenses.
• Learning & Development:
  • Access to Udemy for continuous skill enhancement.
  • Opportunities for company-paid certifications to boost professional credentials.
  • Internal events, meetups, conferences, and workshops for knowledge sharing and networking.
  • Language course support.
• Career Growth:
  • Emphasis on internal mobility and exposure to diverse domains and cutting-edge technologies.
  • Opportunities to take on large-scale projects with global impact.
• Flexibility:
  • Radical flexibility in work arrangement: options to work remotely or from a Ciklum office.
• Community & Culture:
  • Work alongside top professionals in a collaborative and open-door environment.
  • Part of a "One Team" culture focused on collaboration and progress.

Working Hours:

• The role is structured around a standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility offered in terms of remote work. Efforts are made to accommodate diverse working styles within the team's collaborative framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on general market data for Romania and senior-level research roles. Actual compensation may vary based on specific experience, interview performance, and negotiation. The benefits package emphasizes professional development and flexibility, aligning with typical tech industry offerings.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Custom Product Engineering / IT Services Company Size: Over 4,000 employees globally. This large size suggests opportunities for diverse projects, cross-functional collaboration, and potential for career advancement within a structured organization. Founded: Ciklum was founded in 2002. This long history indicates stability and established expertise in the tech services sector.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of a user research team, implying a collaborative environment where researchers work together, share best practices, and support each other's growth.
• You will likely report to a Research Lead or a Head of UX/Product, with direct collaboration with product managers, designers, developers, and other stakeholders across various client projects.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone of Ciklum's approach, with researchers expected to work closely with engineering teams, product owners, and client stakeholders to integrate user insights into the product development lifecycle.

Methodology:

• Ciklum operates as a custom product engineering company, emphasizing agile workflows and client-centric solutions.
• User research is integral to their product development process, focusing on understanding user needs to engineer impactful products.
• The company encourages an experimental yet rigorous approach to research, valuing data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement of practices.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's description as a "custom product engineering company" suggests a project-based work environment where user researchers will engage with a variety of clients and product challenges. The global team size indicates a robust infrastructure and a wide network of professionals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior User Researcher. This level signifies a high degree of autonomy, strategic input, and the ability to lead research initiatives independently. It implies mentoring capabilities and a significant contribution to the practice's maturity. Reporting Structure: Typically, a Senior User Researcher would report to a UX Lead, Research Manager, or Head of Product/Design. They would work closely with product teams (Product Managers, Designers, Engineers) and potentially client stakeholders. Operations Impact: The role's impact is directly tied to shaping product strategy and ensuring the development of user-centric, impactful products. By embedding user insights into the product lifecycle, the Senior User Researcher influences customer satisfaction, product adoption, and ultimately, business success for Ciklum's clients.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in specialized research methodologies, quantitative analysis, or leadership in research practices. Opportunities for advanced training and certifications are highlighted.
• Leadership Development: Potential to lead research initiatives for larger or more complex projects, mentor junior researchers, and contribute to defining the strategic direction of user research at Ciklum.
• Domain Specialization: Gain exposure to a wide range of industries and technologies through Ciklum's diverse client base, allowing for specialization in particular domains or product types.
• Internal Mobility: Ciklum emphasizes internal mobility, providing pathways to explore different roles, projects, or even client engagements, fostering continuous learning and career diversification.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and the emphasis on "owning the research stream" and "enhancing the practice" suggest that this role offers significant opportunities for leadership development and strategic influence within the user research discipline at Ciklum.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Ciklum offers both office-based and fully remote work options, providing flexibility to choose the preferred work environment. Office Location(s): While the job is posted for Romania, specific office locations are not detailed. However, the company has a presence in Romania, likely offering modern, collaborative workspaces.

Workspace Context:

• Collaboration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where you'll work closely with product managers, designers, developers, and other cross-functional teams to integrate user insights.
• Tools & Technology: Access to modern research tools (Maze, Dovetail, etc.) and other relevant technologies to facilitate efficient research execution and synthesis.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with the broader user research team for knowledge sharing, mentorship, and collaborative practice enhancement.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work week is 40 hours. The company offers flexibility in terms of remote work, allowing individuals to tailor their daily environment. The agile nature of projects may require adaptability to project timelines and client needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "radical flexibility" regarding remote work is a key aspect of the work environment, catering to modern employee preferences and offering autonomy in choosing a work setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess foundational skills and experience.
• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Discussion about your experience, research methodologies, and approach to user research challenges. This stage will likely focus on your ability to "own the research stream" and your "experimental yet rigorous mindset."
• Practical Exercise/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a research-focused exercise or present a case study from your portfolio, demonstrating your process, insights, and impact. This is where you'll showcase your facilitation skills and ability to craft compelling narratives.
• Stakeholder/Team Fit Interview: An opportunity to meet with potential colleagues (designers, product managers) to assess collaboration style, communication effectiveness, and cultural alignment with Ciklum's "One Team" value.
• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic contributions and overall fit for the company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Ownership: Highlight projects where you independently led the research process from start to finish, demonstrating your proactive nature and ability to work with minimal direction.
• Methodological Diversity: Present a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods used, explaining why each was chosen and how it addressed specific project goals.
• Impact & Insights: Clearly articulate the key insights derived from your research and, critically, how these insights translated into tangible product improvements or strategic shifts. Quantify impact where possible.
• Process & Synthesis: Detail your research process, including planning, participant recruitment, and synthesis methods. Show how you connect the dots to create compelling, evidence-led narratives.
• Facilitation Examples: Include examples or descriptions of workshops, design sprints, or co-creation sessions you've facilitated, showcasing your ability to drive collaboration and creativity.
• Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention or demonstrate your familiarity with relevant research tools (Maze, Dovetail, etc.) within your case studies.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Strategy: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach research for a new product concept or a feature requiring validation. Think about defining research questions, choosing methodologies, and planning recruitment.
• Problem-Solving: Anticipate questions about how you handle challenges in research, such as participant recruitment issues, unexpected findings, or stakeholder disagreements.
• Communication: Practice articulating your research process and findings clearly and concisely, as if presenting to a diverse audience of technical and non-technical stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "owning the stream," "minimal direction," and "connecting the dots" suggests that the interview process will heavily scrutinize your autonomy, strategic thinking, and ability to translate research into business impact. A well-curated portfolio is crucial for demonstrating these capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: Maze, Dovetail, UserTesting.com, Lookback, Optimal Workshop (or similar tools for synthesis, repositories, unmoderated testing, and usability testing). Proficiency in these tools is a key requirement.
• Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence for team communication and project management.
• Prototyping & Design Tools: Understanding of tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD may be beneficial for collaborating with designers and understanding prototypes.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Experience with tools that can help analyze quantitative research data (e.g., Excel, SPSS, R, Python for statistical analysis) would be advantageous.
• Survey Tools: Tools such as SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, or Google Forms for quantitative data collection.
• Visualization Tools: Ability to create clear and impactful data visualizations to present research findings.

CRM & Automation:

• While not core to the user researcher role, an understanding of how user insights feed into CRM strategies or product automation features can be beneficial. Familiarity with CRM systems like Salesforce or HubSpot might be a plus for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Specific mention of "Maze, Dovetail or similar tools" indicates a strong preference for candidates familiar with modern, efficient research operations platforms that streamline the research lifecycle.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user throughout the product development process.
• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and partnership with cross-functional teams (Product, Design, Engineering).
• Impact & Ownership: A drive to make a tangible impact on products and business outcomes, taking ownership of research initiatives and driving them to completion.
• Continuous Improvement: A dedication to refining research practices, sharing knowledge, and embracing new methods and tools.
• Agility & Adaptability: The ability to thrive in a dynamic, project-based environment, adapting research approaches to meet evolving client needs and project timelines.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Partnership: Actively engaging with product managers, designers, and developers to identify research needs and integrate insights seamlessly.
• Knowledge Sharing: Regularly contributing to team discussions, sharing learnings, and mentoring colleagues to elevate the collective research capability.
• Feedback Integration: Open to receiving and providing constructive feedback to continuously improve research processes and outcomes.
• Stakeholder Management: Effectively communicating research plans, findings, and recommendations to a variety of stakeholders, including those with technical and non-technical backgrounds.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "One Team" culture mentioned by Ciklum underscores the importance of collaborative working relationships and a shared sense of responsibility for project success, which is crucial for operations and product development teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Rigor and Speed: Effectively conducting high-quality research within the fast-paced timelines often required in agile development and client project cycles.
• Stakeholder Management: Navigating diverse stakeholder expectations and ensuring buy-in for user research recommendations, especially when they challenge existing assumptions.
• Integrating Insights: Ensuring that research findings are not just delivered but are actively understood, adopted, and embedded into product roadmaps and design decisions.
• Research Practice Enhancement: Contributing to the continuous improvement and standardization of user research practices across a global organization.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies: Deepen expertise in specialized research techniques, mixed-methods research, or quantitative analysis.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Opportunities to lead research streams, mentor junior researchers, and contribute to strategic research planning.
• Industry Exposure: Gain broad experience across various industries and technology stacks through Ciklum's diverse client portfolio.
• Professional Development: Access to Udemy, certifications, and internal training programs to expand skill sets and stay current with industry trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's "senior" designation implies that challenges will include strategic decision-making, influencing stakeholders, and potentially mentoring, offering significant growth opportunities beyond core research execution.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Research Strategy & Execution: "Describe a complex product problem you tackled with user research. Walk me through your process from defining the problem to delivering actionable insights. How did you ensure your research integrated seamlessly into the agile workflow?"
  • Preparation: Be ready to detail your end-to-end research process, highlighting your ability to adapt methodologies and manage research streams autonomously. Emphasize how you connected research findings to product decisions.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: "How do you effectively communicate research findings to stakeholders with different levels of understanding of user research? Describe a time you had to influence a stakeholder who was initially resistant to your recommendations."
  • Preparation: Prepare examples that showcase your storytelling skills, ability to tailor communication to different audiences, and your approach to negotiation and consensus-building.
• Problem-Solving & Prioritization: "Imagine you're given a new product concept with minimal direction. How would you approach assessing its viability with users? How do you prioritize research activities when faced with multiple urgent requests?"
  • Preparation: Demonstrate your proactive approach, your ability to define research objectives with limited information, and your strategies for managing workload and competing priorities.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Company Operations & Culture: "What interests you about Ciklum's approach to custom product engineering? How do you see your user research skills contributing to our 'One Team' culture and our mission to 'engineer technology that redefines industries'?"
  • Preparation: Research Ciklum's mission, values, and recent projects. Connect your experience and working style to their emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and client impact.
• Team Dynamics: "How do you contribute to enhancing a user research practice? Describe your experience mentoring or sharing knowledge with other researchers."
  • Preparation: Highlight instances where you've proactively improved processes, shared best practices, or supported colleagues, demonstrating your commitment to team growth.
• Impact Measurement: "How do you measure the success of your user research initiatives? What metrics do you use to demonstrate the impact of your work on product outcomes?"
  • Preparation: Be ready to discuss how you track the adoption of your insights, their influence on product decisions, and any resulting improvements in user satisfaction or business metrics.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your case studies with a clear beginning (problem/context), middle (process/methods), and end (insights/impact).
• Focus on Impact: Quantify your impact whenever possible. Did your research lead to a reduction in bugs, an increase in conversion rates, or improved user satisfaction scores?
• Showcase Autonomy: Highlight projects where you independently drove the research agenda and demonstrated minimal direction.
• Visual Clarity: Use visuals (screenshots, journey maps, personas) to support your findings and make your presentation engaging.
• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your key findings and impact concisely, leaving time for discussion and questions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice focuses on demonstrating the key qualities Ciklum is seeking: autonomy, strategic thinking, strong communication, and a proven ability to drive impact through user research, aligning with the "senior" designation and the "own the stream" expectation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link: https://ciklum.taleo.net/careersection/ciklum_career/jobdetail.ftl?job=250008JQ&lang=en
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to specifically highlight your experience in owning end-to-end user research streams, your proficiency with core research methods, and your ability to integrate insights into agile workflows. Showcase examples that demonstrate your experimental yet rigorous mindset.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 4+ years of hands-on experience, emphasizing key skills like participant recruitment, customer segmentation, facilitation, and the use of research tools like Maze or Dovetail. Quantify achievements and impact where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your thought process for research strategy, stakeholder communication, and problem-solving. Prepare specific examples from your experience that align with the responsibilities and requirements outlined in this description. Rehearse presenting a key case study from your portfolio.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Ciklum's services, client success stories, and company culture. Understand their commitment to custom product engineering and how user research is valued within their client engagements.

⚠️ 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.