Senior UX Researcher & Strategist (f/m/x)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher & Strategist (f/m/x) Company: HelloFresh Location: Berlin, Germany Job Type: Limited Contract Category: User Experience (UX) / Design Operations Date Posted: December 19, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is central to transforming customer insights into actionable strategic direction for product and service development within a global organization.
• It involves leading end-to-end research initiatives using a mixed-methods approach to de-risk high-ambiguity projects and uncover new opportunity spaces.
• The Senior UX Researcher & Strategist will act as a critical liaison, partnering cross-functionally with product, design, marketing, operations, and business teams to shape user experiences across the entire customer ecosystem.
• A key aspect of this position is to champion the user's voice, build confidence in ambiguous environments, influence senior stakeholders, and foster a strong user-centric culture across HelloFresh Group.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided job title is "Senior UX Researcher & Strategist," this role has strong overlaps with "Revenue Operations," "Sales Operations," and "GTM Operations" due to its focus on customer insight, strategic direction, cross-functional collaboration with business teams, and driving business decisions based on user data. The emphasis on "shaping product and service direction," "de-risking high-ambiguity bets," and "advocating for the user's voice" directly impacts revenue generation and customer acquisition/retention strategies, making it highly relevant to operations professionals.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead strategic research initiatives: Own the full lifecycle of research and strategy work streams, from initial scoping and methodology selection through execution, synthesis, and delivering actionable insights that inform business strategy.
• Shape experiences across the ecosystem: Collaborate closely with Product Management, Design, Marketing, Operations, and other business units to deeply understand and strategically influence the end-to-end customer journey and service interactions.
• Discover new opportunity spaces: Conduct generative and future-facing research to identify unmet customer needs, systemic tensions within the user experience, and novel opportunities that extend beyond current product roadmaps.
• Apply rigorous, strategic methods: Select and deploy appropriate generative, evaluative, and concept-testing methodologies, with a strategic focus on opportunity discovery and desirability validation rather than solely late-stage usability testing.
• Synthesize & activate insight: Translate complex research findings into compelling strategic narratives, well-defined opportunity frames, and actionable future-state strategies. Drive organizational alignment and buy-in through expertly designed, insight-led workshops and co-creation sessions.
• Prototype concepts and strategies: Develop and prototype concepts, value propositions, and service scenarios to effectively evaluate desirability and provide clear direction for product and service development teams.
• Champion the user: Actively promote user-centric thinking and ensure the customer experience remains a paramount consideration in all product and service decision-making processes.
• Partner with senior stakeholders: Serve as a strategic thought partner to senior leadership, proactively challenging assumptions, reframing problem spaces, and guiding strategic priorities with robust, evidence-based insights.
• Integrate AI thoughtfully: Leverage AI tools within the research and innovation process to accelerate exploration and synthesis, while maintaining a critical perspective to ensure rigor, validity, and the preservation of nuanced human insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed are comprehensive for a senior UX strategy role. The emphasis on "shaping experiences across the ecosystem" and "partnering with product, design, marketing, operations, and business teams" highlights the critical cross-functional nature of this role, directly impacting Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies and operational efficiency by ensuring user needs are integrated into business planning.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design Research, or a related field is typically expected for senior-level UX roles. Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in UX research and strategy, with a proven track record of driving product and business strategy through user insights. Experience within a fast-paced, global, and digital-first organization is highly valued.

Required Skills:

• UX Research Expertise: Mastery of a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability testing, ethnography, diary studies, conjoint analysis).
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to connect user insights to business objectives, identify strategic opportunities, and translate research findings into actionable business strategies and roadmaps.
• Mixed-Methods Research: Proficiency in applying and synthesizing findings from both qualitative and quantitative research to provide a holistic understanding of user behavior and needs.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse teams including Product Management, Design, Engineering, Marketing, and Operations to drive alignment and execution.
• Customer Advocacy: A strong passion for and ability to champion the user's perspective, ensuring it is central to decision-making processes.
• Generative Research: Experience leading foundational and exploratory research to uncover unmet needs and identify new market opportunities.
• Insight Synthesis & Storytelling: Skill in synthesizing complex data into clear, compelling narratives that drive understanding and action among various stakeholders.
• Prototyping & Concept Testing: Ability to create and test prototypes, concepts, and value propositions to validate desirability and inform product development.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Proven experience in influencing and partnering with senior stakeholders, building consensus, and driving strategic alignment.
• User-Centric Design Principles: Deep understanding of user-centered design methodologies and their application in digital product development.
• AI Integration in Research: Familiarity and thoughtful application of AI tools to enhance research efficiency and insight generation, while maintaining critical evaluation.
• Workshop Facilitation: Experience designing and leading effective workshops and co-creation sessions to drive alignment and strategic planning.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the e-commerce, subscription, or food-tech industries.
• Familiarity with A/B testing and experimentation frameworks.
• Experience with service design principles and methodologies.
• Knowledge of research operations best practices.
• Experience with advanced analytics and data visualization tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of deep research craft, strategic business acumen, and strong interpersonal skills, typical of senior-level roles that bridge user understanding with business outcomes. The inclusion of AI integration points to a forward-thinking approach to research methodology.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Strategic Impact: Showcase instances where your research and strategic insights directly led to significant product improvements, new feature development, or shifts in business strategy. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., increased conversion, improved customer satisfaction).
• Mixed-Methods Case Studies: Present 2-3 detailed case studies that highlight your ability to select and apply a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to address complex research questions.
• End-to-End Project Ownership: Illustrate your capability to manage research projects from initiation (scoping, planning) through execution (data collection, analysis) to delivery (synthesis, recommendations, stakeholder engagement).
• Insight Activation Examples: Provide examples of how you translated research findings into tangible strategic narratives, opportunity frames, or actionable plans, and how you drove alignment through presentations, workshops, or co-creation sessions.
• Concept Validation: Include examples of how you have prototyped and tested concepts or service scenarios to evaluate desirability and gather feedback for iterative development.

Process Documentation:

• Research Planning & Scoping: Evidence of structured approaches to defining research objectives, identifying target audiences, and selecting appropriate methodologies based on strategic goals and project ambiguity.
• Data Synthesis & Analysis: Documentation of your methods for synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data, identifying key themes, and drawing robust conclusions.
• Insight Communication & Workshop Design: Examples of how you structure and deliver research findings to diverse audiences, including the design of engaging workshops and co-creation sessions for strategic alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Researcher & Strategist, the portfolio is crucial for demonstrating not just research skills but also strategic thinking, influence, and the ability to drive business impact. The emphasis on "insight activation" and "strategic narratives" is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX Researchers/Strategists in Berlin, Germany, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated annual gross salary range is €70,000 - €95,000. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, qualifications, and the final negotiation.

Benefits:

• Competitive Compensation Package: Including base salary, and potentially performance-based bonuses.
• Pension Scheme: A HelloFresh-subsidized Pension Scheme to support long-term financial planning.
• Relocation Support: Assistance for candidates relocating to Berlin to ease the transition.
• Hybrid Working Model: Flexibility to balance remote work with in-office collaboration.
• Exclusive Discounts: Significant discounts on HelloFresh meal boxes and office meals.
• Learning & Development:
  • German language learning budget.
  • Access to the HelloFresh Academy for continuous professional development.
• Well-being:
  • Mental health support.
  • Subscriptions to wellbeing platforms like Headspace and Spill.
  • 24/7 gym access.
• Other Perks:
  • Transportation perks.
  • Working-parent-friendly benefits.
  • Sabbatical leave options.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered within the hybrid working model.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on standard market rates for this role and location. The benefits package is extensive and highlights HelloFresh's commitment to employee well-being, growth, and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce/Food Technology (Meal Kit Delivery Service). HelloFresh operates in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving global market, driven by convenience, quality, and customer experience. Company Size: HelloFresh is a large, publicly traded company, employing over 17,000 people globally (as of recent reports). This size offers stability, significant resources, and opportunities for impact across a vast customer base. Founded: HelloFresh was founded in 2011. It has experienced rapid global expansion, becoming a leading player in the meal-kit industry. This history of growth suggests a dynamic, innovative, and results-oriented culture.

Team Structure:

• Insight & Experience Innovation (IXI) Practice: This team is a core part of the broader UX organization at HelloFresh Group. It's described as multidisciplinary, comprising UX Research Strategists and Research Operations Specialists.
• UX Organization: The IXI practice sits within a larger UX organization that also includes UX Writers and UX Designers, fostering a collaborative environment for holistic experience design.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role explicitly requires partnering with Product, Design, Marketing, Operations, and Business teams, indicating a matrixed structure where collaboration is key to success.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The company culture likely emphasizes using data and insights (both quantitative and qualitative) to inform strategic decisions and product development.
• User-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and prioritizing customer needs and experiences is fundamental, driven by the UX organization and reinforced by this role.
• Agility & Responsiveness: Operating in a fast-growing tech environment necessitates agility in responding to customer needs and market shifts, supported by the IXI team's role in providing timely insights.
• Innovation & Experimentation: The mention of "Innovation team" and "de-risking high-ambiguity bets" suggests a culture that encourages exploration and calculated risk-taking.

Company Website: https://www.hellofresh.com/ (Corporate Information: https://careers.hellofresh.com/global/en)

📝 Enhancement Note: HelloFresh's scale and industry position mean this role operates within a structured yet dynamic environment. Understanding the interplay between centralized UX strategy and decentralized product teams will be key for success. The emphasis on "making HelloFresh better" suggests a culture that values proactive contribution and continuous improvement.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position is clearly at a Senior/Lead level within the UX and Strategy domain. It implies a significant degree of autonomy, responsibility for complex projects, and the expectation to mentor or guide junior team members implicitly or explicitly. The role bridges research expertise with strategic business input, a highly valued combination in operations and product development.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher & Strategist will likely report into a Lead UX Researcher, a Head of UX Research, or a Director within the UX organization. They will work closely with senior stakeholders across various departments, including Product, Marketing, and Operations, forming a matrixed reporting and collaboration structure.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is substantial and directly tied to business outcomes. By translating customer insights into strategic direction, de-risking new initiatives, and shaping product/service development, this role directly influences:

• Customer Acquisition & Retention: Understanding user needs helps in designing experiences that attract new customers and retain existing ones.
• Product-Market Fit: Ensuring products and services align with genuine customer needs.
• Revenue Growth: By identifying and validating new opportunities, the role contributes to expanding market share and revenue streams.
• Operational Efficiency: Insights can highlight friction points in the customer journey that, if addressed, can reduce support costs and improve overall operational flow.
• Brand Loyalty: A superior customer experience driven by user insights fosters stronger brand loyalty.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in UX Strategy: Potential to grow into a Principal UX Researcher, Head of UX Research, or a similar leadership role, managing teams and setting the strategic vision for user experience research.
• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific research methodologies, strategic frameworks, or emerging areas like AI-driven insights.
• Cross-Functional Transition: Leverage strategic experience to move into Product Management, GTM Strategy, or even specialized Operations roles that require deep customer understanding.
• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior researchers and contribute to the development of the UX practice within HelloFresh.
• Impact Amplification: Lead larger, more complex, and higher-stakes strategic initiatives that have a broader organizational impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The strategic nature of this role positions it as a potential pipeline for leadership in operations-adjacent fields, as it requires a deep understanding of customer behavior and its impact on business strategy and execution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: HelloFresh operates with a hybrid work model, meaning the role involves a combination of remote work and in-office presence. The Berlin office is likely a modern, collaborative workspace designed to facilitate team interaction, brainstorming, and cross-functional alignment. Office Location(s): The primary office location is Berlin, Germany. This location is a major tech hub, offering a vibrant professional community. Specific office address details would be available upon inquiry or during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional teams suggest a workspace designed for collaboration, with meeting rooms, brainstorming areas, and shared desks.
• Tools & Technology: Access to standard office technology, high-speed internet, and potentially specialized UX research software and hardware. The company's tech stack will support data analysis, communication, and design prototyping.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with UX researchers, designers, product managers, and other key stakeholders, both formally in meetings and informally in the office.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time schedule (approx. 40 hours/week) is expected, with the flexibility inherent in a hybrid model allowing for a balance between focused remote work and collaborative in-office days. This flexibility is beneficial for managing research timelines and integrating with various team schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the work environment is a key aspect for candidates to consider, balancing personal work style preferences with the collaborative needs of a strategic role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will typically review your application and resume, focusing on alignment with the core requirements and experience level.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to assess your strategic thinking, research approach, and fit with the team's objectives.
• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A critical stage where you will be asked to present 1-2 detailed case studies from your portfolio, demonstrating your end-to-end research process, strategic thinking, collaboration, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your methodologies, insights, and how you influenced decisions.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from Product, Design, Marketing, or Operations to evaluate your collaboration skills, ability to influence, and understanding of business context.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a more senior leader (e.g., Head of UX, VP) to discuss broader strategic vision and cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Select Impactful Projects: Choose case studies that clearly demonstrate your ability to drive strategic impact and business outcomes, not just execute research tasks.
• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate: The Business Problem/Opportunity, Your Role & Approach, The Research Methods Used, Key Insights Discovered, Strategic Recommendations, The Actions Taken (and by whom), and The Measurable Impact/Outcome.
• Quantify When Possible: Use metrics (e.g., conversion rate improvements, NPS scores, cost savings, revenue impact) to demonstrate the tangible value of your work.
• Highlight Strategic Thinking: Emphasize how you moved beyond just reporting findings to shaping strategy, identifying opportunities, and influencing decision-makers.
• Showcase Collaboration: Describe how you partnered with other teams and managed stakeholder expectations.
• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your methodological choices, how you handled challenges, and what you would do differently.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Problem Solving: Be ready for hypothetical scenarios asking how you would approach a broad strategic question or ambiguous problem space using research and strategic frameworks.
• Methodology Justification: Be prepared to defend your choice of research methods for specific scenarios, explaining why they are appropriate for the strategic goals.
• Insight Activation Scenarios: You might be asked to outline how you would present complex findings to a non-research audience or design a workshop to drive alignment on a strategic direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is likely a high-stakes component of the interview process for this role, as it directly showcases the candidate's ability to connect research to strategy and business impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools (Likely Used):

• Research Platforms: Tools for survey creation, participant recruitment, and data collection (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, UserTesting.com, Respondent.io).
• Collaboration & Whiteboarding: Digital tools for workshops, co-creation, and synthesis (e.g., Miro, Mural, Figma).
• Prototyping Tools: For creating and testing concepts (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).
• Data Analysis Software: For qualitative data analysis (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and quantitative analysis (e.g., Excel, SPSS, R, Python).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Tools to understand user behavior on digital platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics).
• BI Tools: For data visualization and dashboard creation to communicate insights to stakeholders (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker).

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not a direct CRM role, understanding CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) and customer journey mapping is crucial for context.
• Project Management Tools: For managing research workflows (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello).

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with a range of UX research tools is expected, but the emphasis will be on how these tools are leveraged for strategic insight generation and business impact, rather than just technical mastery.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A deep-seated belief in understanding and prioritizing the customer's needs, driving all strategic and product decisions.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Commitment to using evidence, both qualitative and quantitative, to inform strategy and de-risk investments.
• Collaboration & Transparency: A culture that encourages open communication, knowledge sharing, and partnership across teams to achieve shared goals.
• Impact & Ownership: A focus on driving tangible business outcomes and taking ownership of initiatives from conception to execution and impact measurement.
• Innovation & Agility: Embracing new ideas, experimentation, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing market dynamics and customer expectations.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Actively seeks to build strong working relationships with Product, Design, Marketing, and Operations teams, acting as a strategic partner rather than just a service provider.
• Insight-Led Facilitation: Uses well-designed workshops and co-creation sessions to guide teams toward consensus and strategic alignment based on user evidence.
• Proactive Communication: Regularly shares insights and perspectives to inform ongoing decision-making and foster a shared understanding of the customer.
• Feedback Integration: Open to receiving and integrating feedback on research approaches and strategic recommendations to refine outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at HelloFresh, particularly within UX and strategy teams, likely values proactive contribution, intellectual curiosity, and a strong bias for action grounded in user understanding.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Ambiguity with Rigor: Navigating highly ambiguous strategic questions while maintaining research integrity and delivering actionable, evidence-based insights.
• Influencing Senior Stakeholders: Effectively communicating complex findings and strategic recommendations to influence decision-makers with competing priorities.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent application of user insights across diverse teams and departments with varying objectives.
• Pace of a Global Tech Company: Adapting to rapid product development cycles and evolving business priorities while conducting thorough research.
• Integrating AI Responsibly: Leveraging AI tools effectively for efficiency and deeper insights while critically evaluating their output and ensuring human oversight.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone strategic thinking, business acumen, and leadership skills through high-impact projects.
• Advanced Methodologies: Exposure to and application of cutting-edge research and strategy techniques, including AI-driven insights.
• Industry Exposure: Gaining deep experience in the fast-paced food tech and e-commerce sector.
• Cross-Functional Expertise: Developing a broad understanding of different business functions (product, marketing, operations) through close collaboration.
• Mentorship: Potential to learn from and mentor within a global UX organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges that are directly tied to substantial growth opportunities, particularly for those looking to bridge research expertise with strategic business influence.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to de-risk a high-ambiguity strategic bet. What was your approach, what methods did you use, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process for framing problems, choosing methods, and translating insights into strategic recommendations.)
• "How do you approach identifying new opportunity spaces for a product or service that goes beyond the current roadmap?" (Prepare to discuss generative research techniques, unmet needs analysis, and future-casting.)
• "Walk me through a complex research project where you had to synthesize findings from multiple sources (qualitative and quantitative) into a cohesive strategic narrative." (Highlight your synthesis process, storytelling ability, and how you ensured clarity and impact.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How would you foster a stronger user-centric culture within a cross-functional team that includes product, engineering, and marketing?" (Discuss specific tactics for advocacy, education, and embedding user feedback.)
• "How do you see AI tools enhancing the UX research and strategy process, and what are the potential pitfalls to watch out for?" (Demonstrate a balanced, critical perspective on AI's role.)
• "This role requires significant collaboration with senior stakeholders. Describe your approach to building rapport, managing expectations, and influencing decision-makers." (Focus on communication, empathy, and evidence-based persuasion.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Use a clear, consistent framework for each case study (Problem, Role, Methods, Insights, Recommendations, Impact).
• Focus on "So What?": For every insight, clearly articulate its strategic implication and recommended action.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, diagrams, anonymized data snippets) where appropriate to illustrate your process and findings.
• Be Ready for Q&A: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, decision-making process, and the outcomes.
• Tailor to HelloFresh: If possible, subtly weave in how your approach aligns with HelloFresh's business and customer base. Research their current offerings and market position.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just research execution, but strategic thinking, influencing skills, and the ability to drive business impact through user insights.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher & Strategist position:

• Submit your application through the HelloFresh Careers portal using the provided link.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience with mixed-methods research, strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, and driving business impact. Use keywords from the job description naturally.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful projects that best showcase your end-to-end research process, strategic thinking, and ability to influence outcomes. Ensure clear case study structures with quantifiable results where possible.
• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice delivering your portfolio case studies concisely and engagingly, focusing on the strategic narrative and impact. Be ready to discuss your methodology and decision-making process in detail.
• Research HelloFresh: Understand their mission, products, target audience, and recent company news. Consider how your skills and experience can directly address their strategic challenges and opportunities.

⚠️ 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.

---