Sr UX Researcher I

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr UX Researcher I

Company: Remitly

Location: Dublin, Ireland

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research

Date Posted: 2026-01-16

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the UX research strategy and execution for a specific business or product line within the Submissions team, focusing on understanding user behaviors, needs, and motivations.

• Drive a user-centered research process, ensuring customer needs are met by closely collaborating with UX Designers, and indirectly coaching the team to align with these needs.

• Apply a variety of expert-level research and testing methodologies, including remote, in-person, unmoderated, and moderated approaches, to gather actionable insights.

• Mentor junior researchers in research techniques and technical skills, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development within the UX research function.

• Conduct in-depth market segmentation and competitor analysis to inform product strategy and ensure alignment with the regulatory environment and industry best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is classified as "Sr UX Researcher I," indicating a mid-to-senior level position requiring significant experience. The description emphasizes leadership in research strategy, user-centered design, and mentoring, aligning with typical expectations for a senior individual contributor or team lead in UX Research. The company's focus on publishing scientific articles and Elsevier's business context suggests a need for understanding complex workflows and user needs within academic and healthcare research communities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end user research process for the Submissions team, from planning and recruitment to execution, analysis, and reporting.

• Conduct comprehensive research, including user interviews, usability testing, surveys, diary studies, and ethnographic research, to uncover deep user insights.

• Evaluate and deeply understand customer use cases, translating complex user needs into clear, actionable requirements for product and design teams.

• Maintain strong, collaborative relationships with UX Designers, ensuring research findings directly inform and influence the design process and product iteration.

• Share research findings and strategic recommendations effectively across the organization, including with product managers, engineers, and leadership, to champion user advocacy.

• Analyze competitor products and the broader regulatory environment to identify opportunities and potential risks.

• Segment target markets and conduct detailed research into the specific needs of these sub-segments to support targeted product development.

• Mentor and guide junior UX researchers, providing technical expertise and strategic direction on research approaches and methodologies.

• Create detailed research documentation, analysis outputs, and compelling presentations to communicate insights and influence product decisions.

• Collaborate closely with UX Designers to define product structure and layout, and with Visual Designers to ensure a cohesive and effective visual identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on research execution, and team mentorship. The emphasis on understanding "customer use cases," "market segmentation," and "competitor and regulatory environment" suggests a strategic role that goes beyond basic usability testing, requiring a deep understanding of the business and user context within the academic publishing domain.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design Research, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior UX Researcher role.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in User Experience Research, with a proven track record of leading research initiatives and influencing product strategy.

Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in a wide range of UX research methodologies (e.g., usability testing, in-depth interviews, surveys, contextual inquiry, ethnography).

• Demonstrated ability to lead research strategy for a product line or business area.

• Experience conducting both moderated and unmoderated research, across remote and in-person contexts.

• Strong analytical skills to synthesize qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills to effectively share research findings with diverse stakeholders.

• Proven ability to mentor and guide junior researchers in research techniques and best practices.

• Deep understanding of user-centered design principles and product development lifecycles.

• Experience with research documentation and analysis outputs.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience researching complex workflow products, particularly within the scientific publishing or academic research domain.

• Proficiency with specific research software such as Qualtrics, Lookback, and UserTesting.com.

• Knowledge of the technology stack used within the organization.

• Experience working closely with UX Designers and Visual Designers.

• Understanding of the nuances of researching in international or diverse user segments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Technical skills & qualifications" section heavily emphasizes practical application of research methodologies and tools. The mention of specific software like Qualtrics, Lookback, and UserTesting.com indicates a preference for candidates with hands-on experience with these platforms. The requirement to understand the "tech stack of the organisation" suggests a need for a candidate who can bridge the gap between research findings and technical feasibility.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of UX research projects, demonstrating expertise across multiple methodologies (e.g., generative research, evaluative testing, ethnographic studies).

• Include case studies that clearly articulate the research problem, your approach, the methods used, key findings, and the impact of your research on product decisions and user experience improvements.

• Highlight projects where you led research strategy, managed research planning, and influenced product roadmaps.

• Demonstrate ability to translate complex user needs and behaviors into actionable insights and recommendations for design and product teams.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of creating clear and concise research documentation, including research plans, discussion guides, surveys, and analysis reports.

• Examples of how research findings were synthesized and presented to stakeholders, including the use of data visualization and storytelling techniques.

• Documentation of how user feedback and testing results were integrated into the design and development process.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as a "portfolio requirement," the core responsibilities and skills section imply a strong need for candidates to demonstrate their research process and outputs. A robust portfolio is essential for a Senior UX Researcher to showcase their strategic thinking, methodological expertise, and impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior UX Researcher I in Dublin, Ireland, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated salary range is typically between €65,000 and €85,000 per annum. This can vary based on specific experience, the company's compensation structure, and market demand.

Benefits:

• Flexible working hours to promote work-life balance and productivity.

• Generous holiday allowance with the option to purchase additional days.

• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits, including health screening, eye care vouchers, and private medical insurance.

• Wellbeing programs and initiatives to support employee health and happiness.

• Life assurance coverage.

• Competitive contributory pension scheme.

• Long service awards recognizing dedication.

• Save As You Earn (SAYE) share option scheme.

• Travel season ticket loan to support commuting.

• Generous parental leave policies (maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave).

• Access to emergency care services for dependents.

• RECARES days for supporting charitable causes.

• Access to employee resource groups and dedicated volunteer time.

• Extensive learning and development resources.

• Employee discounts through Perks at Work.

Working Hours: The role specifies 40 hours per week, with the flexibility to adjust working times to optimize productivity and work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimated based on typical compensation for Senior UX Researcher roles in Dublin, Ireland, considering the provided experience level and common industry benchmarks. The extensive list of benefits provided in the job description is directly incorporated.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Information & Analytics, Technology, Healthcare, Science & Research, Media. Remitly (parent company, though the job is with Elsevier) is in FinTech, but the role is within Elsevier, a global leader in scientific publishing and information analytics. Elsevier's mission is to help researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes.

Company Size: Remitly is a large organization (likely 1,000+ employees based on typical large tech companies). Elsevier, as part of RELX, is a global enterprise with thousands of employees worldwide, indicating a substantial and established corporate environment.

Founded: Elsevier was founded in 1880, signifying a long history and deep expertise in scientific publishing and information services.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the "Submissions team," which develops tools and services supporting the academic publishing process (authors, reviewers, editors).

• This team works on a range of products, from large workflow systems to smaller services.

• The UX Researcher will work closely with UX Designers, Visual Designers, and technical teams (engineers).

• There is an expectation of informal mentoring of junior researchers, suggesting a team where knowledge sharing is valued.

Methodology:

• The team and company are committed to a user-centered approach, embedding user feedback and testing into the design and development process.

• Emphasis on understanding customer use cases, market segmentation, and competitor analysis to drive product strategy.

• Research findings are shared broadly to influence decision-making across the organization.

• The company values aligning ambitions with a passion for driving global knowledge-sharing and addressing world-scale challenges.

Company Website: https://www.relx.com/ (for RELX, the parent company) and implicitly, Elsevier's domain for specific product information.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is derived from the job description mentioning "Elsevier’s business" and "Submissions team." The industry and founding date are sourced from general knowledge about Elsevier and RELX. The team structure and methodology are inferred from the described responsibilities and team interactions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position is for a Senior UX Researcher I, placing it at a mid-to-senior individual contributor level. It requires leadership in research strategy and methodology application, along with the ability to mentor junior team members. The scope of influence extends to a specific business or product line, indicating significant responsibility.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher will report to a higher-level UX leader or potentially a Product Management lead within the Submissions team. They will work closely with UX Designers and Visual Designers, forming part of a cross-functional product development team.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Researcher's impact is critical for ensuring that the tools and services developed by the Submissions team meet the complex needs of researchers, reviewers, and editors. By deeply understanding user behaviors and motivations, their work directly influences the usability, efficiency, and adoption of products that are core to Elsevier's mission of advancing science and health. This strategic insight helps drive product development that supports scientific progress and improves outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific research methodologies or user segments within academic publishing.

• Leadership: Progress to a Lead UX Researcher or UX Research Manager role, overseeing larger teams or broader research functions.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Transition into Product Management or UX Design roles, leveraging a strong understanding of user needs and product strategy.

• Mentorship & Training: Develop leadership and coaching skills through mentoring junior researchers and potentially leading training initiatives.

• Strategic Influence: Gain opportunities to influence product vision and company-wide research practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Operations Career Level" is inferred from the "Sr UX Researcher I" title. The "Reporting Structure" and "Operations Impact" are deduced from the team context and responsibilities. "Growth Opportunities" are typical for senior roles in UX Research within large tech/information companies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site" in Dublin, Ireland. This suggests a traditional office environment where in-person collaboration and interaction are expected. The company culture emphasizes a healthy work-life balance, which may translate to a supportive and professional office atmosphere.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is "Ireland - Dublin (Rockfield Central)". This indicates a specific office within Dublin, likely equipped to support collaborative product development teams.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely foster collaboration between UX Researchers, UX Designers, Visual Designers, and engineering teams.

• Access to necessary research tools and technology (Qualtrics, Lookback, UserTesting.com are mentioned) will be available.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with cross-functional team members will be integral to the daily workflow.

• The environment supports the user-centered research process, encouraging data-driven decision-making.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered in terms of daily start and end times. This allows individuals to manage their schedules effectively while ensuring core working hours are covered for collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Work Environment" details are inferred from the "On-site" designation, the specific location mentioned, and the general emphasis on collaboration and work-life balance within the job description.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and conduct an initial screening call to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Technical Interview/Portfolio Review: Expect a deep dive into your UX research experience, often involving a presentation of your portfolio. This stage assesses your methodological expertise, strategic thinking, and ability to articulate the impact of your work. Be prepared to walk through 1-3 key projects.

• Team Interviews: You will likely meet with UX Designers, Product Managers, and potentially other researchers or engineers. These interviews will focus on collaboration style, problem-solving skills, and how you contribute to a cross-functional team.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to assess strategic alignment, leadership potential, and overall fit with the company culture and mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 projects that best showcase your senior-level experience, leadership in research strategy, and impact on product outcomes. Include a mix of generative and evaluative research.

• Structure for Impact: For each project, clearly outline: the problem/opportunity, your role and responsibilities, the research methodology and rationale, key findings, the design/product decisions influenced, and measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Mentorship: Include a project or section that demonstrates your experience in mentoring junior researchers or influencing team processes.

• Showcase Tools: Mention the specific research tools and techniques you employed (e.g., Qualtrics, Lookback, UserTesting.com).

• Tell a Story: Frame your projects as compelling narratives that highlight your problem-solving skills and user advocacy.

Challenge Preparation:

• Methodology Application: Be ready to discuss how you would approach research for a hypothetical product or feature within Elsevier's domain (e.g., improving the author submission process, designing a new feature for reviewers).

• Data Synthesis: Practice synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data under pressure, and explaining how you would derive actionable insights.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Prepare examples of how you have collaborated effectively with designers, product managers, and engineers, and how you have navigated disagreements or differing viewpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review tips are standard for senior UX roles and are tailored to the specific responsibilities and skills mentioned in the job description, emphasizing strategic leadership and collaborative impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Software: Qualtrics, Lookback, UserTesting.com (expert level proficiency expected).

• Collaboration Tools: Likely standard office productivity suites (e.g., Microsoft Office/Google Workspace) and potentially collaboration platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams.

• Design Collaboration: Tools that facilitate sharing research findings with designers, such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD, may be used indirectly or for reviewing designs.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Software: Tools for analyzing qualitative data (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and potentially quantitative data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, SPSS, R, Python) depending on the scope of research.

• Presentation Software: PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote for presenting research findings.

• Dashboarding Tools: Potentially used for visualizing user trends or product performance metrics derived from research.

CRM & Automation: While not directly a CRM role, understanding how research insights feed into product roadmaps that interact with CRM or business systems might be beneficial. The company likely uses internal systems for managing research projects and participant recruitment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Primary Tools" section directly incorporates the software explicitly mentioned in the job description (Qualtrics, Lookback, UserTesting.com). Other tools are inferred based on standard UX research practices and the need for collaboration within a tech organization.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for user needs as the primary driver of product development.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Valuing research insights and evidence to inform strategy and design, moving beyond assumptions.

• Collaboration: Fostering strong partnerships with design, product, and engineering teams to achieve shared goals.

• Continuous Improvement: An ethos of ongoing learning, iteration, and refinement based on user feedback and market dynamics.

• Impact & Progress: A focus on contributing to the advancement of science and health through innovative information and analytics solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires seamless collaboration with UX Designers, Visual Designers, Product Managers, and Engineering teams, ensuring research insights are integrated early and often.

• Proactive Communication: Regularly sharing findings and engaging in discussions to ensure alignment and gather diverse perspectives.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages senior members to guide and develop junior talent, fostering a collective growth mindset.

• Constructive Feedback: Openness to providing and receiving feedback to continuously improve research processes and product outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values and collaboration styles are inferred from the company's mission, the role's responsibilities emphasizing collaboration and mentoring, and the general culture of user-centered design organizations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of User Needs: The academic publishing process is intricate, involving diverse user groups (authors, reviewers, editors) with potentially conflicting needs and complex workflows. Understanding and effectively researching these can be challenging.

• Balancing Research Rigor with Speed: In a fast-paced product development environment, there can be pressure to deliver insights quickly. Balancing methodological rigor with the need for timely results will be a key challenge.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Effectively translating research findings into actionable changes and gaining buy-in from various stakeholders across different departments can be challenging.

• Researching Niche Audiences: Identifying and recruiting participants from specific scientific communities or niche research fields might present recruitment challenges.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunities to explore and implement more advanced or specialized research techniques relevant to scientific publishing or complex workflows.

• Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge of the scientific publishing lifecycle, research trends, and the needs of the academic and healthcare communities.

• Leadership Development: Gain experience in leading research initiatives, mentoring teams, and influencing strategic product decisions.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend industry conferences, publish research findings, or contribute to the UX research community.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are derived from the nature of the role (Senior UX Researcher), the industry (academic publishing), and the company's mission.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence a product decision with research findings that contradicted stakeholder assumptions. How did you approach it?" (Focus on data-driven persuasion and stakeholder management.)

• "How would you approach user research for a new feature aimed at streamlining the peer-review process for scientific journals?" (Assess your ability to apply research methods to a specific, complex problem.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for Elsevier, and what excites you about our mission to advance science and health?" (Demonstrate genuine interest and alignment with the company's purpose.)

• "How do you ensure your research is inclusive and considers diverse user populations?" (Assess your understanding of ethical research practices and inclusivity.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly articulate the business problem or user need that drove each research project.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, mockups, personas, key quotes) to illustrate your findings and process.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the positive impact of your research, such as improvements in task success rates, user satisfaction scores, or adoption metrics.

• Focus on Your Role: Clearly define your specific contributions, especially in projects involving collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to the seniority of the role, the specific responsibilities outlined, and the industry context of Elsevier, focusing on strategic thinking, research leadership, and impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher I position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Remitly/Elsevier careers portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in leading UX research strategy, mentoring junior researchers, and applying diverse research methodologies. Use keywords from the job description such as "user-centered design," "research methodologies," "customer needs analysis," and specific tool names (Qualtrics, Lookback, UserTesting.com).

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 3-4 impactful case studies that showcase your senior-level research expertise, strategic thinking, and ability to drive product decisions. Ensure each project clearly outlines the problem, your approach, findings, and measurable impact.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, clarity of your role, and the outcomes of your research. Be prepared to discuss your methodology and rationale for each project.

• Research Elsevier: Understand Elsevier's mission, products, and target audience. Familiarize yourself with the Submissions team's role and the broader academic publishing landscape.

⚠️ 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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