Senior UX researcher

Tripadvisor
Full-timeβ€’London, United Kingdom

πŸ“ Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher | Experiences

Company: Tripadvisor

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Insights

Date Posted: March 24, 2026

Experience Level: 6+ Years Professional Experience

Remote Status: Hybrid

πŸš€ Role Summary

  • Lead impactful UX research initiatives for Tripadvisor's B2C Product Details Page (PDP), focusing on the Viator and TripAdvisor platforms to inform product strategy and roadmap.

  • Drive a high-velocity research cadence, synthesizing qualitative findings, Voice of Customer (VoC) signals, and behavioral data to deliver actionable insights for immediate PDP optimizations and long-term product vision.

  • Champion research craft excellence by establishing best practices, rigorous standards, and acting as a force multiplier for the broader research team.

  • Operate with significant autonomy, scoping ambiguous research requests into clear, actionable plans and managing the full research lifecycle with a global-first mindset.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Researcher, implying a need for strategic thinking, leadership in research methodology, and the ability to influence product roadmaps. The emphasis on B2C PDPs for Viator and TripAdvisor highlights a focus on high-intent e-commerce environments where understanding customer decision-making is critical. The hybrid nature with minimal office days indicates a flexible, modern work environment.

πŸ“ˆ Primary Responsibilities

  • Strategic Initiative Leadership: Spearhead large-scale research projects, including international benchmarking studies and quarterly planning sessions, to proactively identify opportunities and challenges impacting the traveler experience.

  • Product Roadmap Influence: Translate complex research findings into clear, compelling recommendations that directly inform and shape the product roadmap, ensuring alignment with business KPIs and strategic objectives.

  • High-Velocity Optimization Research: Conduct rapid-response research to support immediate design iterations and A/B testing efforts for Product Details Pages, focusing on improving conversion rates and user satisfaction.

  • Insight Synthesis & Triangulation: Masterfully combine data from diverse sourcesβ€”including qualitative studies (usability tests, interviews), Voice of Customer (VoC) feedback, and quantitative behavioral metrics (e.g., Amplitude, A/B test results)β€”to provide a comprehensive understanding of user needs and pain points.

  • Quantitative Research Design & Analysis: Design, execute, and analyze large-scale surveys. Demonstrate proficiency in using tools like Excel/Google Sheets for data manipulation, formula application, and statistical interpretation to ensure research robustness.

  • Craft & Best Practice Development: Define and disseminate rigorous research standards, templates, and methodologies to elevate the quality and impact of UX research across the organization, acting as a mentor and thought leader.

  • Autonomy & Ambiguity Navigation: Independently identify, scope, and execute research projects, confidently translating vague business questions into well-defined research plans and ensuring end-to-end research execution.

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Product Managers, Designers, Data Scientists, and Engineers to ensure research insights are integrated effectively into the product development lifecycle and drive informed decision-making.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic impact and tactical agility, requiring the researcher to not only uncover deep user insights but also to translate them into actionable recommendations for a fast-paced e-commerce environment. The expectation to "own the full research lifecycle" points to a need for strong project management and operational efficiency.

πŸŽ“ Skills & Qualifications

Education: Minimum BA/BSc degree in Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Communication, Statistics, or a related field.

Experience: 6+ years of professional applied qualitative and quantitative research experience in a product development context.

Required Skills:

  • Mixed-Methods Expertise: Deep experience in designing and conducting a variety of qualitative research methods (e.g., usability testing, in-depth interviews, ethnographic studies) and quantitative research methods (e.g., surveys, A/B testing analysis).

  • Insight Triangulation: Proven ability to synthesize findings from multiple data streams (qualitative, quantitative, VoC, behavioral analytics) to provide holistic, actionable insights.

  • Quantitative Literacy: Strong understanding of statistical basics, comfort with analyzing large datasets, and the ability to ensure survey results are statistically sound. Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets for data analysis.

  • Business Acumen: Demonstrated understanding of key business metrics (e.g., Conversion Rate, Average Order Value (AOV), Retention) and the ability to connect research findings to their impact on these metrics.

  • Strategic Thinking & Influence: Proven ability to contribute to and influence product roadmaps at a leadership level, moving beyond reporting to providing strategic direction.

  • E-commerce Intuition: Expertise in high-intent B2C environments (preferably travel, marketplaces, or fintech), with an understanding of information architecture, trust signals, and customer behavior based on traffic sources.

  • Operational Scrappiness & Autonomy: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, "no-ops" environment, managing the full research lifecycle independently, including recruitment, logistics, and data management.

  • Global Mindset: Experience or a strong desire to lead international research (FIGS - France, Italy, Germany, Spain) and understand cultural nuances within the traveler journey.

  • AI Tool Proficiency: Demonstrated ability to leverage AI tools (e.g., LLMs for synthesis, automated sentiment analysis) to enhance research efficiency, quality, and decision-making.

Preferred Skills:

  • Data Fluency: Experience partnering closely with Data Science teams to validate qualitative hypotheses through A/B testing or large-scale surveys.

  • Advanced Analytics: Experience with self-service analytics tools like Amplitude or SQL for independent extraction of behavioral signals.

  • Specific Tool Experience: Familiarity with tools such as dscout, Sprig, and Amplitude.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The requirements strongly emphasize a "business-minded researcher" who can link research to tangible business outcomes, a key differentiator for senior roles in operations-adjacent functions. The "operational scrappiness" and "AI tools proficiency" requirements highlight the need for self-sufficiency and embracing modern research efficiencies.

πŸ“Š Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Impactful Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 robust case studies demonstrating your end-to-end research process, from initial problem definition and research design to insight generation and demonstrable product impact.

  • Mixed-Methods Integration: Clearly illustrate how you've combined qualitative and quantitative data to arrive at comprehensive insights and recommendations that drove significant product improvements.

  • Business Metric Alignment: For each case study, articulate the business problem, the KPIs you aimed to influence, and the quantifiable results achieved, demonstrating a clear link between your research and business outcomes (e.g., increased conversion, reduced drop-off).

  • Autonomy & Problem Solving: Highlight instances where you independently scoped and managed complex research projects, navigated ambiguity, and proactively identified research opportunities.

  • Global Research Examples: Include at least one example of international research, detailing how you adapted methodologies to account for cultural nuances and diverse user needs.

Process Documentation:

  • Research Plan Clarity: Demonstrate the ability to create clear, concise, and actionable research plans that outline objectives, methodologies, target participants, and timelines.

  • Synthesis & Reporting Structure: Showcase examples of how you synthesize complex data into clear, compelling narratives and reports that are easily understood by cross-functional stakeholders.

  • Methodology Justification: Be prepared to articulate why specific research methodologies were chosen for particular problems and how they best addressed the research objectives.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Researcher, the portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond simply listing methods used and instead tell stories of impact, showcasing strategic thinking, analytical rigor, and the ability to drive business results. The emphasis on "operational scrappiness" suggests demonstrating resourcefulness in execution.

πŸ’΅ Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX Researchers in London with 6+ years of experience in the tech/e-commerce sector, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between Β£70,000 - Β£95,000 per annum. This range accounts for significant experience, strategic responsibility, and the London cost of living.

Benefits:

  • Competitive Compensation: Includes base salary and annual bonuses, routinely benchmarked against the latest industry data.

  • Flexible Work Environment: "Work your way" approach with hybrid flexibility, allowing for remote collaboration and optional office presence.

  • Flexible Schedule: Emphasis on work-life balance, fostering trust and accountability.

  • Charitable Giving: Donation matching for qualifying charitable donations annually.

  • Professional Development: Tuition assistance for qualified programs to support career advancement.

  • Personal Lifestyle Benefit: An annual benefit to be spent on personal interests such as travel or wellness.

  • Travel Perks: Discounts and programs designed to encourage employee travel as a form of development.

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Resources and support for navigating life's challenges.

  • Comprehensive Health Benefits: High-quality coverage with competitive premiums.

  • Referral Scheme: Generous rewards for referring successful candidates.

Working Hours: A standard 40-hour work week is typical, with flexibility built into the schedule to promote work-life balance, aligning with the "Work your way" philosophy.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research for similar Senior UX Researcher roles in London, considering the stated experience level and the tech industry context. The benefits package is extensive, reflecting Tripadvisor's commitment to employee well-being and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏒 Company Culture

Industry: Online Travel & Experiences. Tripadvisor operates in the dynamic travel technology sector, connecting travelers with accommodations, flights, restaurants, and experiences globally through its brands like Tripadvisor, Viator, and TheFork. This industry requires constant adaptation to market trends, technological advancements, and evolving consumer preferences.

Company Size: Tripadvisor Group is a large, publicly traded company. While the exact size of the immediate UX research team isn't specified, the company's overall scale implies access to significant resources and a broad impact. This size often means established processes but also requires individuals to be adept at navigating larger organizations.

Founded: Tripadvisor was founded in 2000. Its long history in the online travel space signifies a deep understanding of the market and a mature approach to business operations, while its continuous evolution (e.g., acquisitions like Viator) shows a commitment to growth and innovation.

Team Structure:

  • Reporting: The Senior UX Researcher reports to the Director of Product Design & Research, indicating a clear leadership structure within the design and research function.

  • Collaboration: The role requires close collaboration with Product Managers, Designers, Data Scientists, and Engineers, emphasizing a cross-functional, agile product development environment.

  • Research Team: The researcher is expected to act as a "force multiplier" for the research team, suggesting an existing team environment where best practices are shared and elevated collectively.

Methodology:

  • Data-Driven Decisions: The company culture emphasizes being data-driven, with a strong reliance on KPIs, behavioral data, and quantitative analysis to inform product strategy and execution.

  • Agile Execution: The "Execution is our edge" cultural pillar highlights a focus on acting fast, experimenting, learning from failure, iterating, and improving solutions continuously. This implies a fast-paced, iterative product development cycle.

  • Collaborative Environment: "We succeed together" underscores the importance of empathetic, humble, and diverse subject matter experts working towards shared goals, promoting relentless collaboration, constructive feedback, and empowered teams.

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

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The cultural pillars provide significant insight into how teams operate. "Execution is our edge" suggests a high-performance culture where speed and iteration are valued. "We succeed together" highlights the importance of teamwork and constructive feedback, crucial for a Senior researcher influencing cross-functional teams.

πŸ“ˆ Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level individual contributor role within the UX Research discipline. It signifies a move beyond executing research tasks to strategically defining research direction, influencing product strategy, and mentoring junior team members. The role demands a blend of deep research craft, business acumen, and leadership qualities.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher reports to the Director of Product Design & Research. This position typically involves working closely with Product Managers and Design Leads on specific product initiatives, with direct interaction with senior leadership for strategic roadmap alignment.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Researcher plays a critical role in ensuring product development is grounded in a deep understanding of user needs and behaviors. Their work directly impacts key business metrics such as conversion rates, user satisfaction, engagement, and retention on high-traffic Product Details Pages, contributing significantly to Tripadvisor's revenue goals and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Leadership Progression: Potential to advance to a Lead UX Researcher or Research Manager role, overseeing a team, defining research strategy for larger product areas, and managing research operations.

  • Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like e-commerce research, international user behavior, or advanced quantitative analysis, becoming a go-to expert within the organization.

  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop skills in influencing product strategy at a higher level, potentially moving into Product Management or Design leadership roles with demonstrated success.

  • Mentorship & Best Practices: Contribute to the professional development of junior researchers and help shape the overall UX research practice at Tripadvisor through mentorship and the establishment of industry-leading standards.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The Senior level implies a significant degree of autonomy and influence. Growth opportunities are focused on both deepening research expertise and expanding into leadership or strategic product roles, leveraging the insights and connections made in this position.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid Work Environment. The role is designated as hybrid, requiring 1-2 days per month in either the London or Oxford office. This indicates a modern approach to work that balances the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): London and Oxford, England, United Kingdom. These locations are hubs for technology and business, offering access to talent and resources. The requirement for occasional office visits suggests these are established operational centers.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Hubs: When in the office, the workspace is likely designed to facilitate collaboration, with meeting rooms, common areas, and potentially hot-desking setups to encourage interaction with cross-functional teams (Product, Design, Engineering).

  • Technology Enabled: Access to necessary tools and technologies for remote and in-office work, including robust collaboration software, video conferencing, and potentially dedicated research labs or equipment if needed for specific studies.

  • Team Interaction: The hybrid model allows for intentional in-person interactions with key stakeholders and team members for brainstorming, strategic alignment, and team building, while daily work can be conducted remotely.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the "flexible schedule" and "work-life balance" emphasis suggest adaptability. Researchers may need to adjust their hours to accommodate participant availability for studies or to collaborate with global teams, but overall, the company promotes autonomy in managing one's schedule.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, emphasizing flexibility. The minimal office days suggest that remote collaboration tools and practices are highly developed and essential for daily operations.

πŸ“„ Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely conduct an initial call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

  • Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the Director of Product Design & Research to delve deeper into experience, strategic thinking, and research philosophy.

  • Portfolio Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present 2-3 detailed case studies from their portfolio, showcasing their process, impact, and ability to articulate research findings and recommendations. This often involves a presentation to a panel of stakeholders (e.g., PMs, Designers, other Researchers).

  • Skills-Based Exercise (Potential): Candidates might be given a take-home assignment or a live exercise to assess specific research skills, problem-solving abilities, or analytical rigor.

  • Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with potential collaborators (e.g., Product Managers, Senior Designers) to evaluate teamwork, communication style, and ability to integrate research into the product development lifecycle.

  • Final Round/Leadership Interview: Potentially a final interview with a more senior leader to confirm strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Focus on Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the insights derived, the recommendations made, and most importantly, the measurable impact on product metrics or user experience. Quantify results wherever possible.

  • Showcase Your Process: Detail your methodology, including how you selected participants, designed research instruments, analyzed data, and synthesized findings. Highlight your ability to adapt methods to project needs.

  • Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: Explain how your research informed strategic decisions, influenced the product roadmap, or identified new opportunities. Showcase your ability to connect research to business goals.

  • Highlight Autonomy & Leadership: Present examples where you independently owned research projects, managed ambiguity, and proactively drove research initiatives. If applicable, mention any mentorship or guidance provided to others.

  • Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, data analysis, and the rationale behind your recommendations. Be ready to discuss trade-offs and alternative approaches.

  • Tailor to Tripadvisor: Research Tripadvisor's products (Viator, TheFork) and current challenges. Frame your examples in a way that demonstrates understanding of their business context.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Anticipate Research Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical research problem relevant to Tripadvisor's PDPs or broader travel experience.

  • Practice Articulating Insights: Develop concise ways to communicate complex findings and their implications for product strategy and design.

  • Prepare for Data Interpretation Questions: If quantitative skills are a focus, be ready to discuss how you would interpret survey data, A/B test results, or behavioral analytics.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is likely the most crucial part of the interview process for a Senior UX Researcher. Candidates should be prepared to deeply articulate their work and its impact, demonstrating not just research skills but strategic influence and business acumen.

πŸ›  Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Research Platforms: dscout, Sprig (for qualitative data collection, participant management, and in-the-moment feedback).

  • Analytics & Behavioral Tools: Amplitude (for user behavior analysis, product analytics, and A/B test result interpretation).

  • Data Analysis & Manipulation: Excel/Google Sheets (for survey data analysis, statistical calculations, and template building).

  • AI/ML Tools: LLMs (Large Language Models) for synthesis, automated sentiment analysis, and potentially other efficiency gains in the research lifecycle.

Reporting & Visualization:

CRM & Automation (Indirect Relevance):

Integration:

  • Familiarity with how research insights inform product development workflows and potentially integrate with project management tools (e.g., Jira) is valuable.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of dscout, Sprig, and Amplitude indicates a strong preference for candidates familiar with these modern UX research and analytics tools. Proficiency in leveraging AI for research efficiency is also a key differentiator.

πŸ‘₯ Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Traveler First: All efforts should prioritize creating value for the traveler. This means understanding their needs, pain points, and motivations deeply, ensuring research directly contributes to improving their travel planning and booking experience.

  • Execution is Our Edge: Embrace a fast-paced, iterative approach. Be proactive, take ownership, learn from failures, and continuously improve. Research should be timely, actionable, and integrated into rapid development cycles.

  • We Succeed Together: Foster collaborative relationships across Product, Design, Engineering, and Data Science. Be an empathetic, humble, and diverse contributor who challenges assumptions constructively, provides actionable feedback, and empowers teams towards shared goals. Transparency and shared ownership are key.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Partnership: Work closely and proactively with Product Managers and Designers to identify research needs, co-create research plans, and ensure insights are integrated into design and product decisions.

  • Data-Informed Agility: Collaborate with Data Scientists to triangulate qualitative findings with quantitative behavioral data, validate hypotheses, and leverage A/B testing effectively.

  • Knowledge Sharing: Actively share research findings, methodologies, and best practices across the UX research team and with broader product development teams to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The company's cultural pillars are explicitly defined and are crucial for understanding how to succeed at Tripadvisor. A candidate's ability to embody "Traveler first," "Execution is our edge," and "We succeed together" will be assessed throughout the interview process.

⚑ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Balancing Strategic & Tactical Research: Effectively managing time and resources to conduct deep strategic research while also supporting a high-velocity stream of tactical optimizations for PDPs.

  • Global Nuances: Navigating the complexities of international markets (FIGS), ensuring research accounts for diverse cultural contexts, languages, and traveler behaviors without oversimplification.

  • Data Integration Complexity: Triangulating insights from disparate data sources (qualitative studies, VoC, behavioral analytics, A/B tests) into a cohesive and actionable narrative can be challenging.

  • Influencing Roadmaps in a Fast-Paced Environment: Ensuring research insights gain traction and influence product decisions within a culture that prioritizes rapid execution and iteration.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Deep Dive into E-commerce UX: Gain extensive experience optimizing the user journey in a high-intent B2C e-commerce environment, particularly within the travel sector.

  • Advanced Mixed-Methods Application: Enhance skills in designing and executing complex mixed-methods research, including advanced survey design and quantitative analysis.

  • AI-Augmented Research: Further develop expertise in leveraging AI tools to streamline research processes, synthesize large datasets, and extract deeper insights.

  • Leadership & Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior researchers, lead research initiatives, and contribute to the strategic direction of the UX research practice.

  • Industry Exposure: Work with leading brands in the travel and experiences space, gaining insights into global market dynamics and consumer behavior.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for a researcher who is adaptable, efficient, and adept at synthesizing complex information. The growth opportunities emphasize continuous learning and career progression within a well-established company.

πŸ’‘ Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you influenced a product roadmap with your research. What was the situation, your approach, and the outcome?" (Focus on strategic impact, business metrics, and stakeholder influence.)

  • "How would you approach researching user pain points on a Product Details Page for a flight booking experience, considering both qualitative and quantitative data?" (Assess mixed-methods approach, understanding of e-commerce context, and strategy formulation.)

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "How do Tripadvisor's cultural pillars ('Traveler first,' 'Execution is our edge,' 'We succeed together') align with your working style and research philosophy?" (Prepare specific examples demonstrating each pillar.)

  • "Describe your experience working in a fast-paced, 'no-ops' environment. How do you manage research projects autonomously?" (Highlight operational scrappiness, self-management, and proactive ownership.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure for Impact: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem/Opportunity -> Your Role & Approach -> Methodology -> Key Insights -> Recommendations -> Impact (Quantifiable Results).

  • Highlight Autonomy & Business Acumen: Emphasize instances where you drove research independently and how your findings directly tied to business KPIs (conversion, AOV, retention).

  • Demonstrate Mixed-Methods: Clearly show how you integrated qualitative and quantitative data to build a robust understanding and justify your recommendations.

  • Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate deep dives into your methodology, data analysis, and the rationale behind your conclusions. Be ready to discuss trade-offs, limitations, and alternative approaches.

  • Tailor to Tripadvisor: Frame your experience and examples in the context of Tripadvisor's products (travel, experiences, PDPs) and their stated cultural values.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should strongly focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, business impact, and the ability to operate autonomously within a dynamic, collaborative environment, using specific examples from the candidate's portfolio.

πŸ“Œ Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on the Tripadvisor careers page.

  • Portfolio Customization: Select 2-3 of your most impactful UX research case studies that best showcase your mixed-methods expertise, strategic influence, business acumen, and ability to drive measurable results, particularly in e-commerce or marketplace environments. Tailor the presentation to highlight your experience with concepts like conversion optimization and international user behavior.

  • Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 6+ years of experience, specific research methodologies used, proficiency with relevant tools (Amplitude, dscout, Sprig, AI tools), and quantifiable achievements linked to business outcomes. Use keywords from the job description such as "mixed-methods," "quantitative analysis," "strategic roadmap influence," and "e-commerce intuition."

  • Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your case studies with a focus on the "why," "how," and "what was the impact." Be ready to discuss your approach to ambiguous problems, your understanding of business metrics, and how you collaborate cross-functionally, aligning your responses with Tripadvisor's cultural pillars.

  • Company & Product Research: Familiarize yourself thoroughly with Tripadvisor, Viator, and TheFork products, especially their Product Details Pages. Understand their target audience, key business objectives, and recent market activities to better frame your experience and ask insightful questions.

⚠️ 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.

Application Requirements

Candidates must possess a minimum of 6+ years of applied qualitative and quantitative research experience, preferably with a BA/BSc degree in a related field, and demonstrate strong business acumen related to e-commerce metrics like Conversion and AOV. Essential requirements include deep mixed-methods expertise, comfort with statistical basics, the ability to operate autonomously in a fast-moving environment, and experience leading international research.