Senior UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher Company: Wrike Location: Estonia - Remote Job Type: Full-Time Category: User Experience (UX) Research Date Posted: 2025-11-12T13:42:20 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the planning and execution of customer research throughout the entire product design and development lifecycle, from initial strategic direction to post-release evaluation, ensuring a user-centric approach.
• Employ a comprehensive suite of research methodologies, including generative design research, contextual inquiry, participatory design workshops, in-depth interviews, formative and summative usability studies, and quantitative methods such as surveys and data analytics, to uncover deep user insights.
• Foster strong cross-functional relationships across product management, design, engineering, and other departments to gather existing research, synthesize findings, and lead end-to-end research initiatives that span the entire customer journey.
• Lead empathy and design-thinking workshops with cross-functional teams, translating research findings and user insights into actionable product goals, strategic direction, and concrete product improvements.
• Evangelize customer insights across the broader organization through creative communication channels such as posters, immersion rooms, blog posts, and internal workshops, significantly enhancing customer empathy and understanding.
• Empower non-research colleagues by mentoring and guiding them to improve their own user research practices, fostering a culture of user-centricity throughout the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" in the title, coupled with responsibilities like leading workshops, mentoring colleagues, and impacting product strategy, indicates a need for a candidate with proven leadership and strategic thinking capabilities in UX research. The emphasis on both qualitative and quantitative methods suggests a need for a well-rounded researcher proficient in a broad spectrum of techniques.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Proactively plan and execute comprehensive customer research initiatives, encompassing generative, formative, and summative studies, to deeply understand user needs, behaviors, and pain points across the product lifecycle.
• Select and apply appropriate research methods (qualitative and quantitative) based on project goals, timeline, and available resources, ensuring rigor and strategic relevance in all research activities.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and engineers to define research questions, design study protocols, and integrate research insights directly into product strategy, problem definition, and solution validation.
• Facilitate empathy-building and design-thinking workshops with cross-functional teams to translate research findings into actionable product strategies, user personas, and detailed user journey maps.
• Communicate research findings and insights effectively to a diverse audience through compelling presentations, reports, visualizations (e.g., journey maps), and other creative formats to drive organizational empathy and inform decision-making.
• Mentor and guide product managers and designers in adopting and executing user research best practices, helping them to become more self-sufficient in conducting user-centric activities.
• Analyze user feedback, survey data, and product usage analytics to identify key trends, opportunities for improvement, and areas for further investigation, informing product roadmap decisions.
• Conduct in-depth usability testing on new features and product iterations to identify design flaws, validate solutions, and ensure a seamless and intuitive user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of individual contribution and team enablement. The requirement to "help teams test deliverables" and "ensure we bring the right solutions to the market" implies a strong focus on validation and go-to-market readiness, aligning with GTM operations. The emphasis on research operations and empowering non-research colleagues suggests a strategic role in scaling research impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior UX Researcher. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered.

Experience: Significant professional UX research experience, ideally 5-10 years, with a proven track record demonstrating impact on product strategy and development through both qualitative and quantitative research outcomes. Experience within a B2B SaaS environment and an international workplace is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience planning and executing a wide range of qualitative user research methods (e.g., in-depth interviews, contextual inquiry, ethnographic studies, usability testing).
• Proficiency in designing and conducting quantitative research, including surveys, A/B testing, and analyzing product usage data.
• Strong ability to synthesize complex research findings into clear, concise, and actionable insights that inform product strategy and design decisions.
• Demonstrated experience in leading empathy and design-thinking workshops with cross-functional teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas and research findings effectively to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with product managers, designers, engineers, and other stakeholders in a fast-paced, agile environment.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to identify research opportunities and align them with business objectives.
• Experience with stakeholder management, including building relationships, managing expectations, and influencing decision-making.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with B2B SaaS product research and understanding of enterprise software user needs.
• Familiarity with data analytics tools and techniques for supplementary quantitative analysis.
• Visualization skills for creating impactful research deliverables, such as user personas, journey maps, and service blueprints.
• Experience mentoring or guiding junior researchers or non-research team members.
• Knowledge of accessibility best practices in UX research and design.
• Experience working in a distributed or fully remote team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and the mention of a "large toolkit of research methods" coupled with knowing "when to be lean and when to be rigorous" suggest that candidates are expected to demonstrate strategic judgment in methodology selection, not just execution. The emphasis on B2B SaaS and international workplace experience points to a need for understanding complex user workflows and diverse user bases.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 comprehensive case studies demonstrating end-to-end UX research projects from initiation to impact.
• Each case study should clearly articulate the research problem, objectives, your specific role and contributions, the methodologies employed (explaining why they were chosen), key findings, and the resulting product or strategic impact.
• Quantify the impact of your research whenever possible, using metrics related to user satisfaction, task success rates, adoption, conversion, or business outcomes.
• Include examples of how you translated research insights into actionable recommendations and how these recommendations influenced product development or strategy.
• Demonstrate proficiency in presenting research findings in a clear, compelling, and audience-appropriate manner, showcasing visualization skills where applicable (e.g., journey maps, personas).

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of developing research plans and protocols that align with product development sprints and strategic roadmaps.
• Examples of how you have documented research processes, ensuring reproducibility and knowledge sharing within the team.
• Demonstrations of how you have integrated research findings into product requirement documents, user stories, or design specifications.
• Showcase experience in establishing or refining research operations processes to enhance efficiency, scalability, and impact across the product organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Researcher, a portfolio is critical. It should not only display the breadth of research methods used but also the depth of strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and the tangible impact on product outcomes. The emphasis on "lean" vs. "rigorous" methods implies a need to showcase adaptability and efficiency in research execution within an agile context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior UX Researcher role in Estonia (Remote), the estimated annual salary range is typically between €50,000 - €75,000 (gross). This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior-level UX research positions in European tech markets, considering the cost of living in Estonia and the remote nature of the role, which often allows for competitive compensation regardless of specific local salaries.

Benefits:

• Generous paid vacation: 28 calendar days per year.
• Sick leave compensation.
• Comprehensive life insurance plan.
• Health insurance plan.
• Fitness plan: €800 per year allowance.
• Parental leave benefits.
• Two paid volunteer days per year.
• Full-remote work arrangement with on-demand access to co-working spaces.
• Utility allowance: €30 per month (subject to taxation).

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are assumed to be approximately 40 hours per week. While the role is fully remote, candidates should be prepared to align with core working hours for team collaboration and meetings, potentially spanning across European time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is derived from general knowledge of UX research compensation in comparable European tech hubs, adjusted for Estonia's cost of living and the remote nature of the position. The specific benefits listed are directly extracted from the job description.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / Technology, specializing in Work Management Platforms. Wrike operates in the competitive SaaS market, providing solutions that enhance productivity, collaboration, and project management for businesses. This industry context means a strong focus on user experience, data-driven decision-making, and continuous innovation to stay ahead of competitors.

Company Size: Wrike is part of the global enterprise software company Citrix (now owned by Vista Equity Partners), indicating a substantial organization with resources and established processes, yet maintaining a focused product team culture. The product design team itself consists of approximately 15 full-stack product designers, 3 UX researchers, a Design System Architect, 2 UX Architects, 3 Design Managers, and a Head of Product Design.

Founded: Wrike was founded in 2006. This history suggests a mature company with established product development cycles and a deep understanding of the work management space.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team is a centralized function within the broader Product Design team, which comprises 15+ designers, architects, and managers.
• Researchers are embedded within cross-functional product teams, focusing on specific product missions.
• The UX Research Manager oversees a team of 3 researchers.
• Researchers are accountable for their own studies and also guide the research practices of Product Managers (PMs) and designers.
• There is a strong emphasis on collaboration, with researchers expected to partner closely with PMs and Engineering leaders.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is fundamental, with research insights directly informing product strategy and development.
• Agile development methodologies are employed, requiring research to be adaptable and integrated into rapid iteration cycles.
• A strong emphasis on user empathy and understanding the customer journey is core to the research practice.
• The team actively works on improving its research practice and building operations to enhance research effectiveness for both researchers and non-research colleagues.
• Wrike's own work management platform is utilized to structure and execute work, alongside other specialized tools.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of Wrike's culture emphasizes "Smart," "Dedicated," and "Approachable" personas, along with core values like "Customer-Focused," "Collaborative," "Creative," and "Committed." This suggests a dynamic, user-centric, and innovative environment where teamwork and ownership are highly valued.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Senior UX Researcher, indicating a mid-to-senior level position. It requires significant professional experience (5-10 years) and the ability to work independently, lead complex research initiatives, and mentor others. The scope involves influencing product strategy, problem definition, and solution validation, going beyond tactical execution to strategic impact.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher will be part of an international UX Research team, which is a centralized function within the broader Product Design team. They will likely report to the UX Research Manager and work closely with Product Managers and Engineering leaders within their assigned cross-functional product team. Researchers are expected to lead UX in their product areas.

Operations Impact: UX Research at Wrike has a direct and significant impact on product strategy and development. By understanding customer needs and validating solutions, researchers ensure that Wrike delivers valuable, user-friendly features that meet market demands and enhance customer satisfaction. This role directly contributes to the success of the product by ensuring it is designed for the right users and solves their critical problems, thereby influencing user adoption, retention, and ultimately, revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific research methodologies (e.g., advanced qualitative techniques, complex quantitative analysis, behavioral economics) or product areas.
• Leadership Development: Progress into a Lead UX Researcher role, taking on more complex strategic initiatives, managing larger research projects, or mentoring a larger group of researchers.
• Research Operations: Contribute to building and scaling research operations, developing best practices, and managing research tools and platforms.
• Cross-Functional Mobility: Potentially move into related roles such as Product Management, UX Design leadership, or Strategy, leveraging a deep understanding of user needs and market dynamics.
• Mentorship: As a senior member, actively mentor and guide junior researchers and non-research colleagues, developing leadership and coaching skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's emphasis on influencing product strategy, leading workshops, and mentoring colleagues suggests a strong growth path towards leadership within the UX research function or related product disciplines. The company's commitment to improving research practice indicates opportunities to shape the function itself.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: While Wrike promotes a hybrid model for team members near office hubs, this specific role is designated as "Full-remote." This means the primary work environment will be remote, with the option for on-demand access to co-working spaces. This offers flexibility and autonomy in managing one's work setting.

Office Location(s): The company has main hubs in Prague and Cyprus, with other office locations including San Diego, Dublin, and Tallinn. While the role is remote, understanding these hubs can provide context for potential collaboration and team dynamics, especially for hybrid team members. The role specifically states "Estonia - Remote," implying alignment with European time zones.

Workspace Context:

• Flexibility: The fully remote nature allows for significant flexibility in choosing a work environment, whether it's a home office, a local co-working space, or another suitable location.
• Collaboration Tools: Expect extensive use of digital collaboration tools (e.g., Wrike itself, Slack, Zoom, Miro) to facilitate communication and teamwork across distributed teams.
• Team Interaction: While remote, the culture fosters collaboration. Opportunities for interaction will be through virtual meetings, workshops, and asynchronous communication channels. The mention of "2-3 in-office days per week" for hybrid employees suggests a desire for in-person connection, which remote employees might seek through co-working spaces or occasional team gatherings.
• Technology: Access to necessary software and tools for research, design, and communication will be provided or supported.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, typically around 40 hours per week. Given the remote nature and international team structure, there will be a need for flexibility to accommodate meetings across different time zones, but core working hours will likely be established to ensure team synchronization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Full-remote & On-demand access to Co-working space" benefit is key. It signifies a company that supports remote work not just as a necessity but as a deliberate choice, offering resources to ensure a productive and connected remote experience. This is particularly relevant for operations roles that require focused work and seamless digital collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Interview with Talent Acquisition Manager: An initial screening to assess overall fit, experience level, and understanding of the role. Be prepared to discuss your career trajectory and key achievements.
2. Case Studies Submission: You will be asked to submit your portfolio, which will be reviewed by the hiring team. This is a crucial step where your research process, methodologies, and impact will be evaluated.
3. Panel Interview: This typically involves meeting with key stakeholders from the UX Research and Product Design teams. Expect questions about your research approach, problem-solving skills, collaboration style, and how you handle challenging situations.
4. Cultural Interview: An assessment of your fit with Wrike's core values (Smart, Dedicated, Approachable, Customer-Focused, Collaborative, Creative, Committed) and team dynamics.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, with clear sections for each case study. For each case study, include: Problem Statement, Your Role & Responsibilities, Research Questions, Methodology Chosen (and justification), Process & Execution, Key Findings, Recommendations, and Impact (quantified if possible).
• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as narratives. Explain the "why" behind your research, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. Highlight your critical thinking and decision-making processes.
• Visuals: Use visuals such as journey maps, personas, key insight summaries, and wireframes (if applicable to your role in translating insights) to make your findings more digestible and impactful.
• Impact Focus: Emphasize the business and user outcomes of your research. How did your work lead to better product decisions, improved user experience, or business growth? Quantify whenever possible.
• Tailoring: If possible, tailor your portfolio presentation to highlight experiences relevant to B2B SaaS and international workplaces.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Scenarios: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach research for a specific product feature or problem statement. Think about hypothesis generation, methodology selection, and potential challenges.
• Methodology Depth: Be ready to explain the pros and cons of different research methods and justify your choices in various scenarios.
• Collaboration & Influence: Prepare examples of how you've collaborated with PMs and engineers, managed difficult stakeholders, and influenced product decisions based on research.
• Remote Research: Discuss your experience conducting research in a remote setting and how you ensure effective participant engagement and data quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess not only research skills but also strategic thinking, collaboration, and cultural alignment. The emphasis on case studies and a panel interview suggests a need for candidates to articulate their process and impact clearly and confidently.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Work Management: Wrike (company's own platform, used for structuring and executing work).
• Collaboration & Whiteboarding: Tools like Miro, Mural, or similar for virtual workshops, brainstorming, and journey mapping.
• Prototyping & Design Tools: While not a designer, familiarity with tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD may be beneficial for understanding design outputs and collaborating on prototypes.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Tools such as Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar for analyzing user behavior and product usage data.
• Survey Tools: Platforms like SurveyMonkey, Typeform, Qualtrics, or Google Forms for designing and distributing user surveys.
• Data Visualization: Tools like Tableau, Power BI, or even advanced Excel/Google Sheets for presenting quantitative data insights.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): While not directly managing CRM, understanding how customer data is stored and accessed (e.g., Salesforce) can be beneficial for context in B2B SaaS.
• Recruiting Tools: Platforms or internal systems used for recruiting research participants.
• Video Conferencing & Recording: Zoom, Google Meet, or similar for conducting remote interviews and usability tests, often with built-in recording capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of using "Wrike to structure and execute work" is a key indicator. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience using work management platforms for research projects. Proficiency in a broad range of qualitative and quantitative research tools is expected.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Focused: A deep commitment to understanding and prioritizing customer needs and experiences in all research and product decisions. This means advocating for the user and ensuring their voice is heard throughout the development process.
• Collaborative: Working effectively as part of cross-functional teams, sharing insights openly, and contributing to a collective success. This includes partnering closely with PMs, engineers, and designers, and leveraging Wrike's platform for teamwork.
• Creative: Embracing innovation and novel approaches in research methodologies and communication of insights to drive continuous improvement and break new ground in understanding users.
• Committed: Taking ownership of research initiatives from start to finish, ensuring high-quality execution and driving research-informed outcomes. This also extends to personal growth and contributing to the team's collective success.
• Smart: Applying deep domain knowledge and analytical skills to conduct rigorous and relevant research, generating impactful insights.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Researchers are expected to be deeply integrated within their product teams, acting as a partner to PMs and Engineering leaders. This involves proactive engagement, shared ownership of research goals, and open communication.
• Process Improvement Culture: A continuous drive to refine research practices and build operations to make research more effective and efficient for the entire organization. This implies a willingness to experiment, learn, and adapt.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of research findings and best practices across the broader design and product organization, particularly through mentoring non-research colleagues.
• User Advocacy: Consistently championing the user's perspective in discussions and decision-making processes, ensuring that product development remains user-centric.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated personas (Smart, Dedicated, Approachable) and core values (Customer-Focused, Collaborative, Creative, Committed) directly shape the team culture. For operations professionals, this means a culture that values data-driven insights, teamwork, innovation, and a strong sense of ownership.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Rigor and Speed: In a fast-paced agile environment, a key challenge is conducting thorough, high-quality research while meeting tight deadlines. This requires strategic methodological choices and efficient execution.
• Scaling Research Impact: As a centralized function supporting multiple product teams, ensuring that research insights reach and influence decision-makers across the organization is a constant challenge. This involves effective communication and enablement strategies.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Aligning diverse stakeholder priorities (Product, Engineering, Design, Marketing) around user needs and research findings can be complex. Effective stakeholder management and clear communication are crucial.
• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion and effective research collaboration in a fully remote setting requires intentional effort and robust communication practices.
• Measuring Research Impact: Quantifying the direct impact of UX research on product success and business outcomes can be challenging but is essential for demonstrating value and securing resources.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunities to explore and master advanced research techniques, both qualitative and quantitative, to deepen expertise.
• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending relevant UX research conferences and pursuing professional certifications to stay abreast of industry trends and best practices.
• Mentorship & Leadership: As a senior researcher, opportunities to mentor junior team members, lead research initiatives, and develop leadership skills within the UX function.
• Product Strategy Influence: Gaining deeper experience in shaping product strategy through research, working closely with senior product leaders.
• Research Operations Development: Contributing to the evolution of Wrike's research operations, potentially leading initiatives to improve tooling, processes, and participant recruitment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges listed are typical for senior roles in dynamic tech environments. The growth opportunities are geared towards deepening expertise, expanding influence, and developing leadership capabilities, aligning with a senior-level career path.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach researching a new feature for our work management platform, considering our B2B SaaS context and a global user base?" (Focus on methodology selection, user segmentation, and strategic alignment.)
• "Describe a time you had to influence a product roadmap or design decision based on your research findings. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight impact, persuasion skills, and data-driven advocacy.)
• "How do you balance the need for rigorous research with the demands of a fast-paced agile development cycle?" (Demonstrate understanding of lean UX principles and agile integration.)
• "Imagine you need to explain a complex user behavior pattern to a group of non-researchers. How would you do it effectively?" (Focus on communication clarity, storytelling, and using visuals.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Wrike and our product? How do you see UX research contributing to our mission?" (Showcase your research on the company and product.)
• "Our values include Customer-Focused, Collaborative, Creative, and Committed. Can you provide examples of how you embody these values in your work?" (Prepare specific anecdotes.)
• "How do you approach mentoring or guiding colleagues who are less experienced in research?" (Demonstrate your ability to enable others.)
• "Describe your ideal collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers." (Highlight your partnership approach.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Concise Storytelling: For each case study, have a 2-3 minute summary ready that hits the key points: the problem, your approach, key findings, and impact.
• Deep Dive Readiness: Be prepared to go into detail on any aspect of your case studies – methodology choices, data analysis, challenges, and how you handled them.
• Visual Aids: If presenting virtually, have your portfolio readily accessible and know how to share your screen effectively. Use visuals within your portfolio to guide the conversation.
• Focus on Impact: Continuously tie your work back to user needs and business outcomes. Be ready to discuss ROI or how your research contributed to product success metrics.
• Ask Insightful Questions: Prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewers about the team, current research challenges, and strategic priorities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice emphasizes demonstrating strategic thinking, impactful research, strong collaboration skills, and a good cultural fit. Preparing specific examples tied to Wrike's domain (work management, B2B SaaS) will be highly advantageous.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Greenhouse job board.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio highlights projects demonstrating end-to-end UX research, strong qualitative and quantitative skills, and quantifiable impact, particularly in a B2B SaaS or complex product environment. Select case studies that best align with Wrike's product and mission.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to include keywords from the job description such as "UX Research," "Customer Research," "Qualitative," "Quantitative," "Usability Studies," "Product Strategy," "Stakeholder Management," "Design Thinking," and "Agile." Quantify achievements and responsibilities wherever possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your research process, methodologies, and the impact of your work. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and influencing decisions. Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Wrike, its product, its mission, and its company culture. Understand the competitive landscape for work management platforms and how UX research contributes to innovation and customer satisfaction in this space.

⚠️ 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.

---