UX Researcher-CNBC, MS NOW and E! Online

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher - CNBC, MS NOW and E! Online

Company: Versant

Location: Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Operations

Date Posted: 2026-05-04

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive user-centric product development by conducting in-depth qualitative and quantitative UX research across digital media brands like CNBC, MS NOW, and E! Online.

• Synthesize complex user data into actionable insights and compelling narratives to inform product strategy, design decisions, and business objectives.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, and Data Analysts, to champion user needs throughout the product lifecycle.

• Develop and execute comprehensive research strategies that align with business goals, product roadmaps, and the specific needs of a dynamic news and entertainment media environment.

• Advocate for evidence-based decision-making and foster a deep understanding of user behaviors, motivations, and needs within a fast-paced media organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a newly created product and tech unit, indicating a significant opportunity for impact and influence in shaping the digital future of Versant's news properties. The emphasis on understanding both editorial and commercial aspects suggests a need for researchers who can bridge the gap between user needs, content strategy, and business objectives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and execute qualitative and quantitative user research studies, including usability testing, user interviews, surveys, and ethnographic research, to gather insights into user behavior and needs.

• Develop and refine research strategies that directly support product roadmaps and overarching business goals for digital media properties.

• Collaborate with Product Managers, UX Designers, and Engineers to define research questions, formulate hypotheses, and translate findings into concrete design and product recommendations.

• Analyze and synthesize research findings, integrating behavioral analytics with qualitative data to identify patterns, user pain points, and opportunities for innovation.

• Create clear, concise, and persuasive research deliverables such as reports, personas, and journey maps to effectively communicate insights to stakeholders at all levels.

• Present research findings and strategic recommendations to senior leadership and cross-functional teams, influencing product direction and fostering a user-centered design culture.

• Partner with data analytics teams to leverage behavioral data and integrate it with qualitative insights for a holistic understanding of user engagement.

• Stay abreast of emerging UX research methodologies, tools, and industry best practices, particularly within the digital media and content publishing landscape.

• Act as a strong advocate for the user, ensuring their needs and perspectives are considered at every stage of the product development process.

• Contribute to building a culture that values evidence-based decision-making and deep user empathy across the product and technology teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Partner with data analysts to integrate behavioral analytics with qualitative insights" highlights the expectation for a hybrid research approach, requiring proficiency in both qualitative methodologies and the ability to interpret quantitative data from sources like web analytics and A/B testing results.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or a related field is desired.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of dedicated UX research experience, with a strong focus on digital media products.

• Proven experience in developing and executing research plans that have directly influenced product strategy and design outcomes.

Required Skills:

• Qualitative Research: Deep expertise in conducting user interviews, focus groups, ethnographic studies, and usability testing.

• Quantitative Research: Proficiency in designing and analyzing surveys, A/B tests, and interpreting behavioral analytics data.

• Data Synthesis & Analysis: Ability to interpret complex datasets, identify actionable insights, and translate findings into clear recommendations.

• Communication & Presentation: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to present complex findings persuasively to diverse audiences, including senior executives.

• Product Lifecycle Understanding: Familiarity with the end-to-end product development lifecycle and the role of research within it.

• Digital Media Fluency: Understanding of web, mobile applications, and Over-The-Top (OTT) products, particularly in the consumer (B2C) space within media and publishing.

Preferred Skills:

• Persona & Journey Mapping: Experience creating user personas and customer journey maps to represent user needs and experiences.

• Accessibility & Inclusive Design: Knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and inclusive design principles.

• Stakeholder Management: Ability to effectively manage relationships and communicate with senior management and various stakeholders.

• Evangelizing User Needs: Proven track record of championing the customer through research, data, and user testing.

• News & Content Consumption: Passion for and deep understanding of digital or journalistic content, and a strong consumption of news and media.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Desired Qualifications" specifically mention the ability to work with senior management and present findings with a clear point of view, emphasizing the strategic impact expected from this role. The mention of evangelizing for the customer underscores the need for a proactive and persuasive researcher.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a range of UX research projects, demonstrating proficiency across both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the research problem, your approach, the methodologies used, key findings, and the resulting impact on product design or business metrics.

• Evidence of ability to translate research insights into actionable recommendations that have demonstrably improved user experience or achieved business objectives.

• Examples of how you have synthesized complex data (user feedback, analytics, market trends) into clear, compelling narratives.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate a structured approach to identifying research needs and developing comprehensive research plans aligned with product roadmaps.

• Showcase methods for synthesizing findings from diverse research methods into coherent and actionable insights.

• Provide examples of how research insights have been integrated into design iterations and product development workflows.

• Illustrate experience in collaborating with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers to define research questions and implement research findings.

• Evidence of process for communicating research outcomes effectively to various stakeholders, including executive leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on informing product strategy and influencing senior leadership, a portfolio that emphasizes strategic impact and clear communication of research findings will be critical. Highlighting projects where research directly led to measurable improvements in user engagement, conversion, or satisfaction will be highly advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $100,000 - $130,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance plans.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy.

• Access to a free onsite fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment and daily group classes.

• Onsite gourmet cafeteria with daily specials and soup/salad bars.

• Convenient onsite services including dry cleaning.

Working Hours:

• This is a full-time position, typically requiring 40 hours per week. While specific hours may vary based on project needs and team collaboration, the role is expected to be based on-site, facilitating direct interaction and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is based on the explicit information in the job posting. The benefits package is extensive, with particular emphasis on onsite amenities that contribute to employee well-being and convenience, reflecting a strong company investment in its workforce. The inclusion of free shuttle services is a significant perk for employees commuting from the NYC metropolitan area.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Entertainment, News, Digital Content Publishing. Versant operates at the intersection of traditional media powerhouses and cutting-edge digital platforms, aiming to deliver exceptional experiences across all screens. The company is actively building a new product and technology unit to support ambitious digital growth.

Company Size: Versant is a significant player in the media landscape, encompassing multiple well-known cable networks and digital brands. While the exact employee count isn't specified, its portfolio of brands suggests a large, established organization with a growing digital focus. This size implies opportunities for impactful projects and career advancement, alongside the potential for navigating a complex organizational structure.

Founded: The founding date of Versant itself is not provided, but its constituent brands like CNBC have a long history, indicating a company with deep roots in media, now actively innovating for the digital age. This blend of established presence and forward-looking strategy creates a dynamic environment for operations professionals.

Team Structure:

• The UX Researcher will be part of a newly created product and tech unit, suggesting a dynamic, potentially agile, and growth-oriented team.

• This role reports to the Director of Product Design and will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers.

Methodology:

• The team emphasizes an evidence-based decision-making approach, heavily relying on user research and data analytics to inform product strategy and design.

• Workflow optimization and iterative design processes are implied, as the researcher will guide design and product decisions throughout the product lifecycle.

• Automation and efficiency practices are likely to be important as the new product unit scales to support multiple brands and ambitious digital goals.

Company Website: https://www.versantmedia.com/ (Inferred from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on a "newly created product and tech unit" suggests an environment that values innovation and agility. For a UX Researcher, this means a chance to establish processes and make a significant mark, but also requires adaptability and a proactive approach to defining best practices. The mention of being "equally fluent in the editorial, technical, and commercial worlds" is a crucial cue for candidates.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as Mid-Level, typically requiring 2-5 years of experience. It offers a significant opportunity for a UX Researcher to deepen their expertise in digital media and contribute to the strategic direction of major news and entertainment brands. The role involves both hands-on research execution and strategic influence.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will report to the Director of Product Design. This position offers direct exposure to design leadership and provides a clear reporting line for guidance and career development within the product design function.

Operations Impact: The UX Researcher will have a direct impact on the user experience and success of digital products for prominent brands like CNBC, MS NOW, and E! Online. By uncovering user needs and behaviors, their insights will shape product strategy, inform feature development, and ultimately influence user engagement, audience growth, and potentially revenue streams through subscriptions or advertising.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in UX research for digital media, news, and content publishing, deepening expertise in specific methodologies or product types (e.g., news consumption patterns, OTT user journeys).

• Leadership Development: Potential to lead research initiatives, mentor junior researchers as the team grows, and contribute to defining the UX research practice within the new product unit.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Develop strong collaboration skills and gain a deep understanding of product management, engineering, and editorial processes, opening doors to broader product strategy roles or GTM involvement.

• Career Advancement: Progression to Senior UX Researcher, Lead UX Researcher, or potentially roles in Product Management or User Experience Strategy as the product organization matures.

📝 Enhancement Note: The creation of a new product and tech unit suggests a period of rapid growth and evolution. This presents an excellent opportunity for a mid-level researcher to gain significant experience in shaping a research function from its early stages, potentially leading to faster career progression than in more established, static teams.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," requiring the UX Researcher to work from the Versant office located at 900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. This environment is designed to foster collaboration and direct interaction among team members.

Office Location(s): The primary office is in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The company offers free shuttle transportation from multiple locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Hoboken, and Jersey City, making it accessible for a wider talent pool within the New York metropolitan area.

Workspace Context:

• The Englewood Cliffs headquarters is equipped with significant amenities, including a free onsite fitness center, gourmet cafeteria, and dry cleaning services, suggesting a focus on employee well-being and convenience.

• The environment within the new product and tech unit is likely to be dynamic and collaborative, with close proximity to Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers to facilitate real-time feedback and iterative development.

• Access to state-of-the-art equipment and a supportive work environment are implied by the company's investment in its facilities.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is likely 40 hours per week. As an on-site role, flexibility may be offered within typical business hours, but consistent presence is expected to support team collaboration and project timelines. The emphasis on news brands suggests that responsiveness to current events and breaking news may occasionally influence work demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive onsite amenities and shuttle services indicate a strong company commitment to employee experience and convenience for those working from the Englewood Cliffs location. This suggests a culture that values employee well-being and aims to reduce commuting friction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: Candidates will be expected to present their UX research portfolio, detailing specific projects, methodologies, findings, and impact. This is a critical stage to evaluate research skills, communication abilities, and strategic thinking. Be prepared to discuss your process and the rationale behind your decisions.

• Skills-Based Interview: This may involve discussing specific research scenarios, problem-solving exercises, or a take-home assignment designed to assess your approach to a realistic research challenge.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Designers, and potentially Engineers to assess collaboration style, understanding of product development, and ability to integrate research into practical product decisions.

• Executive Interview: An interview with senior leadership (potentially the Director of Product Design or a higher-level executive) to evaluate strategic thinking, communication clarity, and alignment with company goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your most impactful UX research projects that best showcase your skills relevant to digital media, B2C products, and both qualitative and quantitative methods.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role and responsibilities, the research questions, methodologies used, the key insights derived, and the tangible outcomes or impact of your research (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced user errors, enhanced engagement).

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your research. For example, "Usability testing identified key friction points in the checkout process, leading to design changes that reduced cart abandonment by 15%."

• Showcase Your Process: Explain your thought process, decision-making, and how you adapted your approach based on project constraints or evolving needs.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects related to content consumption, news platforms, or consumer-facing digital products. Highlight your ability to understand editorial, technical, and commercial aspects.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Scenarios: Prepare for hypothetical research problems related to understanding user engagement with news content, optimizing subscription funnels, or identifying needs for new digital features within media properties.

• Methodology Justification: Be ready to explain why you would choose specific research methods for a given problem and how you would mitigate potential biases.

• Data Integration: Practice discussing how you would combine qualitative findings with quantitative data (e.g., analytics, A/B test results) to build a comprehensive understanding.

• Stakeholder Communication: Prepare to articulate how you would present research findings and recommendations to different audiences (e.g., designers, product managers, executives) and handle potential pushback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "equally fluent in the editorial, technical, and commercial worlds" means your portfolio and interview answers should demonstrate an understanding of how user needs intersect with content strategy, technical feasibility, and business objectives. Be ready to speak to how research can support these diverse goals.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Qualitative Research Tools: Platforms for conducting remote moderated and unmoderated usability tests, user interviews, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Zoom, Google Forms).

• Quantitative Analysis Tools: Statistical software or platforms for survey analysis and data interpretation (e.g., SPSS, R, Python libraries for data analysis, survey platforms with advanced analytics like SurveyMonkey Enterprise or Qualtrics).

• Collaboration & Documentation Tools: Tools for team collaboration, sharing findings, and creating documentation (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Google Workspace, Miro, Figma for design collaboration).

• Prototyping & Design Tools (Familiarity): While not a designer, understanding how to interact with and provide feedback on prototypes created in tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD is beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms to understand user behavior on websites and apps.

• Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Familiarity with dashboarding tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for visualizing and interpreting behavioral data.

• A/B Testing Platforms: Understanding of how to work with or interpret results from A/B testing tools (e.g., Optimizely, Google Optimize).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing CRM systems, understanding how user data within CRMs or marketing automation platforms (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) can inform research or be influenced by product changes is valuable.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job description specifically mentions partnering with "data analysts to integrate behavioral analytics with qualitative insights." This implies a need for the UX Researcher to be comfortable with data sources beyond direct user interviews and usability tests, and to understand how to connect these different data streams for a holistic view.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Empathy: A deep-seated commitment to understanding and advocating for the user's needs, motivations, and pain points in all product decisions.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A reliance on research findings, user feedback, and behavioral analytics to guide strategy and validate hypotheses, rather than solely relying on intuition.

• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Partnership: A strong emphasis on working effectively with Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, Data Analysts, and editorial teams to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Adaptability: A willingness to embrace new research methodologies, tools, and approaches, especially within the fast-evolving digital media landscape.

• Impact & Accountability: A focus on delivering research that leads to tangible improvements in user experience and measurable business outcomes, taking ownership of research initiatives.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Expect to work closely within agile product teams, with research integrated into the product development lifecycle from discovery to iteration.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages open dialogue, constructive feedback, and the sharing of insights across disciplines.

• Knowledge Sharing: Opportunities to share research findings broadly and contribute to a collective understanding of the user across the organization.

• Experimentation: A willingness to test ideas, gather feedback, and iterate based on user input and data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of "fostering a culture of evidence-based decision-making and empathy for users" highlights that Versant is actively building a culture that values data and user-centricity. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they contribute to and reinforce these values in their daily work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Multiple Brands: Effectively managing research needs and priorities across diverse brands like CNBC, MS NOW, and E! Online, each with unique audiences and content strategies.

• Integrating Editorial & Commercial Needs: Navigating the complexities of supporting both journalistic integrity/editorial goals and commercial objectives (e.g., subscriptions, advertising revenue) through user research.

• Rapidly Evolving Media Landscape: Staying ahead of trends in digital consumption, news delivery, and entertainment preferences to ensure research remains relevant and impactful.

• Establishing Research Practice: As part of a newly created unit, there may be an opportunity to help shape the UX research processes, tools, and best practices from the ground up.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Effectively communicating research insights and advocating for user needs to diverse stakeholders, including those with strong opinions or different priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Digital Media Expertise: Gain specialized knowledge in user behavior within news, entertainment, and subscription-based digital products.

• Master Hybrid Research: Enhance skills in integrating qualitative and quantitative data analysis for comprehensive insights.

• Strategic Influence: Develop stronger skills in presenting to executives and influencing product strategy at a senior level.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Learn from Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, and Data Analysts, understanding their perspectives and workflows.

• Potential for Leadership: As the product unit grows, opportunities to lead research initiatives or mentor emerging talent may arise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenge of "balancing multiple brands" and "integrating editorial & commercial needs" requires a researcher who can think strategically and understand the nuanced business objectives of different media properties. This is a key area to prepare for in interviews.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a research strategy for a new digital product initiative across multiple brands." (Focus on how you'd prioritize, align with business goals, and manage stakeholder input across diverse platforms.)

• "How would you balance the needs of editorial content delivery with the commercial goals (e.g., subscriptions, advertising) of a news brand like CNBC through your research?" (Highlight your understanding of media business models and how user research can bridge these objectives.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Versant, and specifically about supporting the digital products of CNBC, MS NOW, and E! Online?" (Showcase your passion for news/entertainment media and understanding of these brands.)

• "How do you foster a culture of user empathy within a product team, especially when faced with tight deadlines or competing priorities?" (Discuss practical methods for sharing user stories, data, and insights.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• "The Story of Impact": For each case study, frame it as a narrative: What was the problem? How did you uncover the truth? What did you learn? How did your insights lead to a better product or business outcome?

• Data Visualization: Use clear, compelling visuals (charts, graphs, personas, journey maps) to illustrate your findings and recommendations. Avoid text-heavy slides; let the data and visuals speak.

• Focus on "So What?": For every insight, clearly articulate the implication for product design, strategy, or business decisions. Don't just present data; interpret it.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Highlight instances where you collaborated effectively with designers, PMs, and engineers, and how that collaboration led to better outcomes.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your methodology choices, sample sizes, data limitations, and how you would address potential biases.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "equally fluent in the editorial, technical, and commercial worlds," be prepared to discuss how your research can inform content strategy, feature development, and monetization models. Your portfolio should ideally include examples that touch upon these areas.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.smartrecruiters.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience in digital media, B2C products, and your proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative UX research methodologies. Ensure your portfolio is readily accessible (e.g., via a link on your resume or in your application) and showcases projects relevant to news, entertainment, or content publishing.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your years of experience and specific contributions to product development and strategy. Use keywords from the job description, such as "qualitative research," "quantitative research," "usability testing," "behavioral analytics," "digital media," and "B2C." Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., "improved user satisfaction by X%," "reduced task completion time by Y%").

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on the impact and strategic contribution of your research. Prepare to discuss your process for integrating research into product roadmaps and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Be ready to answer scenario-based questions related to news media UX.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Versant, CNBC, MS NOW, and E! Online. Understand their current digital offerings, target audiences, and any recent product launches or strategic initiatives. Familiarize yourself with their content and user experience to better tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.