Senior UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher Company: Catawiki Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands Job Type: Full-Time Category: User Experience Research Date Posted: June 17, 2025 Experience Level: 4+ Years Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive strategic UX research initiatives, defining research roadmaps and executing studies to deeply understand user needs and behaviors.
• Empower cross-functional teams (designers, PMs, developers) by democratizing research through tools, methods, and best practices.
• Employ a robust mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative (usability testing, interviews) and quantitative techniques (surveys, analytics) for comprehensive user insights.
• Act as a primary advocate for customer-centricity, ensuring user perspectives influence product decisions and business strategy.
• Own the systematic measurement and analysis of customer satisfaction across the entire user journey, defining key success metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Researcher, indicating a need for strategic leadership in research practice maturation, not just execution. The emphasis on "democratizing research" and "fostering research maturity" suggests a significant component of knowledge sharing, mentorship, and potentially building out research capabilities within the organization. The role requires a strong balance of individual research contribution and organizational influence.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the UX research strategy and roadmap for Catawiki, aligning with business objectives and product priorities.
• Conduct a range of research activities, including foundational, formative, and evaluative studies, to uncover user needs, pain points, and motivations.
• Design and lead qualitative research methods such as moderated/unmoderated usability testing, in-depth interviews, focus groups, and card sorting.
• Implement quantitative research techniques including surveys, A/B testing, behavioral analytics analysis, and statistical modeling.
• Leverage analytics tools like Mixpanel and Hotjar, and testing platforms like Maze and AB Smartly, to gather and analyze user data.
• Translate complex research findings into actionable insights, user models, personas, and compelling narratives to inform product development and business strategy.
• Champion customer-centricity across the organization, influencing stakeholders at all levels to prioritize user needs.
• Define, track, and report on key customer satisfaction metrics, collaborating with data experts to ensure accurate measurement and analysis.
• Mentor junior researchers and team members, fostering a culture of curiosity, continuous learning, and rigorous research practices.
• Present research findings and strategic recommendations to diverse audiences, including senior leadership, product teams, and engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "own and systematically measure customer satisfaction across the user journey" implies a significant analytical and strategic component. This goes beyond typical UX research, requiring collaboration with data teams to define metrics, build dashboards, and establish a continuous feedback loop for product improvement. This suggests the role will have a direct impact on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to user satisfaction and retention.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, or a closely related field. A Master's degree or PhD in a relevant discipline is a plus.

Experience: Minimum of 4 years of hands-on experience in UX research, with a proven track record of influencing product strategy and design decisions through impactful research. Experience in e-commerce or marketplace platforms is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

• Mixed-Methods Expertise: Demonstrated ability to design and execute both qualitative (interviews, usability tests, ethnography) and quantitative (surveys, A/B tests, behavioral analytics, statistical analysis) research studies.
• Research Strategy & Roadmap Development: Proven experience in defining research strategies, setting research roadmaps, and prioritizing research initiatives aligned with business goals.
• User Advocacy: Strong passion for customer-centricity and the ability to effectively champion the user perspective within an organization.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience working effectively within agile development environments alongside product managers, designers, engineers, and data analysts.
• Communication & Storytelling: Exceptional verbal, written, and visual communication skills, with the ability to present complex research findings in compelling and actionable ways to diverse audiences.
• Data Analysis & Interpretation: Proficiency in analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to extract meaningful insights and translate them into strategic recommendations.
• Tool Proficiency: Experience with common UX research tools and platforms, including usability testing software (e.g., Maze), survey tools (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), analytics platforms (e.g., Mixpanel, Google Analytics), and potentially session replay tools (e.g., Hotjar).
• Mentorship & Leadership: Ability to mentor junior team members and guide research practices.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with advanced statistical analysis techniques and tools.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools for presenting insights.
• Experience in e-commerce, marketplace dynamics, or platform businesses.
• Knowledge of experimental design and A/B testing methodologies.
• Experience in defining and tracking customer satisfaction metrics (e.g., NPS, CSAT).

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "democratizing research" and "fostering research maturity" implies that candidates with experience in establishing research best practices, creating research repositories, or training non-researchers on research methods will be highly valued. The requirement for a Bachelor's degree in specific fields like Psychology or Sociology highlights the importance of a strong theoretical foundation in understanding human behavior.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrable examples of end-to-end UX research projects, showcasing the full research lifecycle from problem definition to insight delivery.
• Case studies that clearly articulate the research objectives, methodologies employed (qualitative and quantitative), and the impact of the findings on product decisions and business outcomes.
• Evidence of strategic thinking in research planning, including how research was prioritized and integrated into product development cycles.
• Examples of how user insights were translated into actionable recommendations, such as user personas, journey maps, or detailed reports.
• Showcase of experience with various research tools and techniques, highlighting adaptability and technical proficiency.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to document research processes and methodologies clearly for knowledge sharing and team alignment.
• Experience in creating and maintaining research documentation, such as research plans, participant recruitment materials, discussion guides, and synthesis reports.
• Examples of how research findings were synthesized and communicated effectively to ensure insights "stick" with product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Researcher role, the portfolio should not only showcase research execution but also strategic planning and impact. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how their research influenced product roadmaps, led to measurable improvements in user experience, or directly contributed to business goals like increased conversion rates or customer satisfaction. The ability to articulate the "why" behind research choices and the "so what" of findings is critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX Researchers in Amsterdam with 4+ years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is €65,000 - €90,000. This range accounts for the cost of living in Amsterdam, the specific responsibilities of a senior role, and the highly sought-after nature of UX research expertise in the tech sector.

Benefits:

• €100 Catavoucher: A welcome voucher to kickstart your experience at Catawiki.
• €50 Birthday Catavoucher: A special treat to celebrate your birthday.
• Extra Day Off for "Pursue Your Passion": An annual day dedicated to personal pursuits.
• Recognition for Work Anniversaries: Additional time off awarded for 3, 5, 8, and 10 years of service.
• Additional Leave for Life Events: Time off for significant personal milestones such as marriage, engagements, or moving house.
• Learning & Development Initiatives: Access to programs, mentorship, and development plans to support career progression.
• Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility to balance office collaboration with remote work.
• Pension Scheme: Competitive pension plan.
• Travel Allowance: Contribution towards commuting costs.
• Health Insurance Contribution: Support for health and well-being.

Working Hours: The role is based on a 40-hour work week. The hybrid model allows for flexibility in scheduling, with 2 days per week expected in the Amsterdam office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on data from reputable salary aggregate sites for Senior UX Researchers in Amsterdam, considering factors like company size (Catawiki is a scale-up with 800+ employees) and industry (e-commerce technology).

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce Marketplace (Specialty/Collectible Goods) Catawiki operates in the unique niche of a curated online marketplace for special and extraordinary objects. This industry requires a deep understanding of both buyer and seller motivations, trust-building mechanisms, and the logistics of handling unique items. For UX research, this translates to understanding diverse user segments, from casual collectors to serious enthusiasts, and ensuring a seamless experience across complex transaction flows.

Company Size: 800+ Employees As a scale-up, Catawiki offers the dynamic environment of a growing company with established processes. This size typically means that individual contributions are visible and can have a significant impact, while also providing opportunities for professional development and access to specialized teams. For UX research, this size allows for closer collaboration with product, design, and engineering, and the potential to influence research maturity across multiple product areas.

Founded: Catawiki was founded in 2008. With over a decade of operation, Catawiki has established a significant market presence and a wealth of user data. This history suggests a solid foundation in understanding their core user base while also being agile enough to adapt to evolving market trends and technological advancements. The company's mission to become the world's most popular destination for special objects drives a culture focused on growth, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

Team Structure:

• UX Team: The Senior UX Researcher will join an existing UX team, likely comprising UX/UI designers, and potentially other researchers or UX leads. The structure likely supports a collaborative approach to product development.
• Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher will likely report to a Head of Product, a Director of Design, or a dedicated Head of UX Research, depending on the organizational hierarchy.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: This role is inherently cross-functional, requiring close partnership with Product Managers, Engineering teams, Data Analysts, Marketing, and Customer Support to gather insights and drive user-centered product decisions.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Catawiki emphasizes data analysis to understand user behavior and market trends, which the UX Researcher will leverage and contribute to.
• Agile Development: The company operates within agile environments, necessitating flexible and iterative research approaches to keep pace with development cycles.
• Customer-Centricity: A core value, ensuring that user needs and feedback are central to all product and business strategies.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "special objects" suggests a user base with unique motivations and potential for high engagement. UX research in this context will need to delve into the psychology of collecting, passion-driven purchasing, and the trust required for high-value transactions. The "flat structure" mentioned in the company description implies that ideas can be heard and implemented relatively quickly, which is beneficial for driving research initiatives.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor / Strategic Contributor This role is positioned as a Senior UX Researcher, signifying a move beyond execution-focused tasks to strategic leadership within the UX Research domain. It involves setting direction, mentoring others, and influencing broader product and business strategies. The emphasis on "maturing our research practice" and "democratizing research" indicates a leadership component focused on building capabilities within the organization.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher will likely report to a senior leader within the Product or Design function (e.g., Head of Product, Director of Design, or potentially a newly formed Head of Research if the practice is being significantly scaled). This reporting line will provide access to strategic decision-making processes and opportunities to influence the product roadmap at a high level. Collaboration with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineering leads will be constant.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Researcher's impact will be measured by their ability to:

• Drive user-centered product improvements that enhance customer satisfaction, engagement, and conversion rates.
• Influence product strategy and roadmap decisions through robust, actionable research insights.
• Contribute to the growth and overall success of Catawiki's marketplace by ensuring a user-friendly and trustworthy platform.
• Elevate the research practice within Catawiki, enabling more teams to leverage user insights effectively.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Research Practice: Opportunity to shape and grow the UX research function at Catawiki, potentially leading to a Head of UX Research role as the team expands.
• Strategic Product Influence: Deeper involvement in product strategy, roadmap planning, and executive-level decision-making.
• Mentorship and Team Development: Formal or informal mentorship of junior researchers and designers, honing leadership and coaching skills.
• Cross-functional Expertise: Broadening experience across different product areas and collaborating with diverse stakeholders, enhancing overall business acumen.
• Industry Specialization: Deepening expertise in e-commerce UX research, particularly within the unique collectibles and auction space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description emphasizes "ownership and driving impact," "being open to change," and "being passionate about our mission and our customers." These values suggest that individuals who are proactive, adaptable, and deeply motivated by customer success will find ample opportunities for growth and recognition. The "flat structure" also implies that individuals can take on new responsibilities and make their mark quickly.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid Work Model Catawiki embraces a hybrid work model, balancing in-office collaboration with remote flexibility. This approach is designed to foster both strong team connections and individual productivity. The offices are described as "vibrant" and "designed to inspire and connect."

Office Location(s):

• Amsterdam, Netherlands (Primary location for this role)
• Paris, France
• Lisbon, Portugal

The Amsterdam office is the main hub for this position, offering a collaborative workspace for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and in-person interactions.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office design aims to facilitate interaction and team synergy, crucial for UX research where collaboration with designers, PMs, and engineers is key.
• Tools and Technology: Employees will have access to the necessary tools and technology to perform their roles effectively, including company-provided hardware, software licenses for research and collaboration tools, and robust network infrastructure.
• Team Interaction: The hybrid model encourages intentional in-office days for activities that benefit most from face-to-face interaction, such as workshops, design sprints, and strategic planning sessions.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement means employees are expected to be in the office for approximately 2 days per week, with the remaining time available for remote work. This offers flexibility for deep work, data analysis, and managing personal needs while ensuring regular team connection.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of "vibrant offices designed to inspire and connect" suggests a modern, well-equipped workspace that prioritizes employee well-being and collaboration. For a UX researcher, this environment should facilitate creative problem-solving and effective communication with cross-functional teams. The hybrid model is a significant factor for work-life balance and should be considered when evaluating the role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role and Catawiki.
2. Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into your experience, skills, and approach to UX research. Expect questions about your strategic thinking, mixed-methods expertise, and experience in leading research initiatives.
3. Portfolio Presentation & Deep Dive: This is a critical stage. You will present a selection of your work, highlighting 2-3 key projects. Expect to discuss your research process, the challenges you faced, the insights you uncovered, and the impact your research had on product decisions and business outcomes. This may involve presenting to the hiring manager and/or other senior members of the UX/Product team.
4. Cross-functional Team Interviews: Meet with key collaborators such as Product Managers, Designers, and potentially Engineers or Data Analysts. These interviews will focus on your ability to collaborate effectively, communicate insights clearly, and integrate research into agile workflows.
5. Final Interview/Offer: A final conversation, potentially with a senior leader, to discuss the role in detail, answer any remaining questions, and extend an offer if successful.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your Senior-level capabilities: strategic thinking, mixed-methods expertise, leadership in research, and demonstrable impact. Aim for quality over quantity.
• Tell a Story: Structure each case study as a narrative: the problem/opportunity, your approach (methodology, rationale), key findings, your specific contribution, the impact (quantified where possible), and lessons learned.
• Highlight Impact: Clearly articulate how your research influenced product decisions, led to measurable improvements (e.g., increased conversion, reduced task time, higher satisfaction), or solved significant business challenges. Use data and metrics whenever possible.
• Showcase Mixed Methods: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative research, and how you integrated them for a holistic understanding.
• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your research process, how you handle conflicting data, how you advocate for users, and how you mentor others.

Challenge Preparation:

• Potential Exercise: While not explicitly mentioned, be prepared for a take-home exercise or a live case study focused on a hypothetical UX problem relevant to Catawiki's business (e.g., improving the auction bidding experience, enhancing seller onboarding).
• Focus on Process: If given an exercise, emphasize your thinking process, how you would approach the research, what methods you would use, and how you would synthesize findings.
• Strategic Thinking: Demonstrate how you would connect research insights to business goals and product strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "democratizing research" suggests that interviewers will be keen to understand how you empower others. Be ready to discuss specific examples of training sessions, creating research templates, or facilitating research activities for non-researchers. The "Senior" title means your ability to strategize and lead will be scrutinized more than just your execution skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Research Platforms: Maze, UserTesting.com (or similar for moderated/unmoderated usability testing)
• Survey Tools: SurveyMonkey, Typeform, Google Forms (for collecting structured feedback)
• Behavioral Analytics: Mixpanel, Google Analytics, Amplitude (for tracking user interactions and funnels)
• Session Replay & Heatmaps: Hotjar, FullStory (for observing user behavior on the live site)
• A/B Testing Platforms: Optimizely, AB Smartly (or integrated platform tools for experimental design)

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI, Looker (for creating dashboards and communicating quantitative insights)
• Spreadsheet Software: Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets (for data manipulation and basic analysis)
• Statistical Software (Potential): SPSS, R, Python (for advanced statistical analysis, depending on the depth required)

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a UX research tool, familiarity with how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) or customer data platforms (CDPs) can inform research is beneficial. Understanding how user feedback loops into marketing automation or customer service platforms is also a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Maze, AB Smartly, Mixpanel, and Hotjar indicates these tools are likely in active use or highly valued. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these specific platforms and how they leverage them for actionable insights. Proficiency in these tools is a strong indicator of readiness for the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Taking Ownership and Driving Impact: This value means proactively identifying opportunities, taking responsibility for research outcomes, and ensuring your work leads to tangible improvements for users and the business. You'll be expected to drive research initiatives forward without constant supervision.
• Being Open to Change and Feedback: Catawiki operates in a dynamic market. This value translates to being adaptable to evolving priorities, embracing constructive feedback on your research methods and findings, and being willing to pivot your approach when necessary.
• Being Passionate About Our Mission and Our Customers: A genuine interest in Catawiki's unique marketplace and a deep empathy for its customers are crucial. This passion should drive your research questions and your advocacy for user needs.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The culture strongly encourages collaboration across departments. The UX Researcher will work closely with Product Managers to define research questions, Designers to iterate on solutions, and Engineers to understand technical feasibility.
• Data-Informed Synergy: Collaboration extends to data analysts, where insights from behavioral analytics and research findings are combined to create a comprehensive picture.
• Knowledge Sharing: A culture of sharing insights and best practices is fostered. This includes presenting findings, contributing to documentation, and potentially mentoring others, aligning with the goal of democratizing research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are deeply embedded in their operations. For a Senior UX Researcher, demonstrating ownership means not just completing tasks but proactively identifying research gaps and proposing solutions. Openness to feedback is key for iterative design and research, and passion for customers is the bedrock of effective UX research.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Maturing Research Practice: As a Senior Researcher tasked with maturing the practice, you may face the challenge of establishing new processes, tools, or standards for research across a growing organization. This requires strong advocacy and change management skills.
• Balancing Qualitative and Quantitative: Effectively integrating and synthesizing insights from diverse research methods can be complex, requiring strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Influencing Stakeholders: Advocating for user needs and research-driven decisions in a fast-paced environment, especially with diverse stakeholders who may have differing priorities, can be challenging.
• Researching Diverse User Segments: Catawiki deals with a wide array of unique items and thus potentially diverse user groups (buyers, sellers, experts). Understanding and catering to these varied needs requires flexible research approaches.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Research Methodologies: Opportunity to explore and implement more sophisticated quantitative analysis techniques or specialized qualitative methods.
• Leadership and Mentorship: Developing leadership skills by mentoring junior team members, leading research strategy, and potentially managing research projects or a small team.
• E-commerce & Marketplace Dynamics: Deepening expertise in the nuances of online marketplaces, auction dynamics, and the psychology of collecting.
• Strategic Product Development: Gaining deeper exposure to product strategy, roadmap planning, and business goal setting within a successful scale-up.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Challenges" section highlights areas where candidates can demonstrate their problem-solving skills and resilience. For example, discussing how you've previously navigated organizational change or championed a new research methodology would be highly relevant. The "Growth Opportunities" section points to the career trajectory and learning potential within this role.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe how you would establish a UX research roadmap for Catawiki, considering our mission and core values." (Focus on strategic alignment, prioritization, and stakeholder buy-in.)
• "How would you approach democratizing research within cross-functional teams? Provide specific examples of tools or methods you'd introduce." (Highlight your experience in enablement and knowledge sharing.)
• "Walk me through a time you used mixed methods to solve a complex product problem. What were the challenges, and how did you integrate the findings?" (Demonstrate your ability to leverage both qual and quant for a holistic view.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Catawiki's mission and the types of special objects we offer?" (Show genuine interest in the company's unique proposition.)
• "How do you ensure customer-centricity influences decision-making, especially when faced with business pressures?" (Connect your advocacy skills to real-world scenarios.)
• "Describe your experience working in agile environments and collaborating with product managers and designers." (Emphasize your adaptability and teamwork.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your research objectives, the methodology used (and why), your specific contributions, key findings, actionable insights, and the measurable impact on the product or business.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your research (e.g., "Usability testing identified 3 critical issues, leading to a redesign that improved task completion rates by 25%").
• Showcase Strategic Thinking: Explain how your research informed product strategy or roadmap decisions, not just isolated design tweaks.
• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, analysis, and the rationale behind your decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior role, interviewers will be looking for strategic thinking, leadership potential, and a deep understanding of how research drives business value. Be prepared to discuss not just what you did, but why you did it, and the impact it had.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on join.com, including an English CV and cover letter.
• Tailor your CV and Cover Letter: Highlight your 4+ years of UX research experience, specifically mentioning mixed-methods expertise, strategic planning, and experience with tools like Maze, Mixpanel, and Hotjar. Emphasize your passion for customer advocacy and your ability to drive impact.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 strong case studies that showcase your strategic approach, mixed-methods proficiency, and the tangible impact of your research on product and business outcomes. Ensure it's easily accessible (e.g., a personal website, PDF, or dedicated portfolio platform).
• Research Catawiki: Familiarize yourself with Catawiki's platform, its unique selling proposition (special objects), target audience, and recent product developments. Understand their core values and how UX research can support their mission.
• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio presentation, focusing on clear storytelling, quantifying impact, and articulating your strategic thinking. Be ready to answer questions about your research process and leadership capabilities.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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