Lead UX Product Researcher - Emerging Experiences

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Product Researcher - Emerging Experiences

Company: Target

Location: 1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403-2542, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Development

Date Posted: June 12, 2026

Experience Level: 7+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead UX research strategy and execution for future-focused digital and physical guest experiences, focusing on emerging technologies and innovative service models.

• Drive deep understanding of evolving guest needs, behaviors, and expectations to inform concept incubation and long-term product vision.

• Act as a research leader, guiding methodologies, facilitating synthesis, and activating insights to influence cross-functional decision-making across product, design, and engineering.

• Foster human-centered thinking and advance the practice of UX research through mentorship, thought leadership, and collaboration within a dynamic team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is distinctly focused on forward-looking innovation within Target's "Emerging Experiences" team, requiring a strategic researcher adept at navigating ambiguity and shaping future product definitions, rather than optimizing existing user flows. The emphasis on AI-enabled interactions and new service models suggests a need for researchers who can explore uncharted territories with a robust methodological toolkit.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and lead comprehensive research strategies for emerging experience initiatives, including concept incubation, future-state visions, and new service models.

• Execute a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, such as moderated/unmoderated testing, ethnographic studies, shop-alongs, longitudinal studies, journey mapping, and exploratory generative research.

• Define and evaluate success criteria and quality standards for novel experiences, including adaptive and AI-enabled interactions.

• Lead the synthesis of complex research findings, translating ambiguity into compelling narratives, identifying strategic opportunities, and formulating actionable recommendations for product and design teams.

• Facilitate effective collaboration and communication across diverse cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, brand, and business stakeholders.

• Influence decision-making and drive user-centered outcomes by advocating for guest needs and clearly articulating the impact of research insights.

• Mentor junior researchers and cross-functional partners, elevating research capabilities and promoting a culture of human-centered design and experimentation.

• Build and maintain strong relationships across Target to identify emerging opportunities and enable future-state innovation.

• Contribute to the advancement of UX research practices, frameworks, and thought leadership within the broader Guest UX Research organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a leadership component, not just execution. The emphasis on "shaping research strategy," "guiding research process," and "mentoring researchers" indicates this is a senior role expected to contribute to the operational excellence and strategic direction of the research function within the Emerging Experiences team.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Preferred 4-year degree in Design Research, Social Science, Psychology, Human Factors, HCI, Anthropology, or a closely related field. Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of dedicated experience practicing UX research for digital products, services, or emerging technology experiences.

• Demonstrated experience working effectively with early-stage concepts, prototypes, future-state visions, and innovation-focused teams. Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in a wide array of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including remote moderated and unmoderated testing, contextual inquiry, ethnographic research, surveys, and concept testing.

• Proven ability to define and evaluate quality for emerging experiences, including adaptive, AI-enabled, and highly personalized interactions.

• Advanced strategic problem-solving and systems thinking capabilities, with the ability to navigate complex and ambiguous environments.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to effectively communicate complex concepts and influence decision-making across diverse stakeholder groups.

• Strong project leadership skills with experience managing multiple initiatives across various stages of discovery and development.

• Experience mentoring researchers and helping elevate research capabilities across teams. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with emerging AI-supported research approaches and tools (e.g., ChatGPT for research synthesis or ideation).

• Proficiency in research tools such as UserTesting, Qualtrics, Dscout, and similar platforms for remote testing, surveys, analysis, synthesis, and reporting.

• Experience building relationships and influencing without authority across large organizations.

• A strong ability to tell compelling stories from data and translate ambiguity into actionable insights and recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 7+ years of experience, coupled with the emphasis on leading strategy, influencing decision-making, and mentoring, clearly positions this as a senior individual contributor or lead role. The preference for specific degrees suggests a foundational understanding of human behavior and research methodologies is highly valued. The mention of AI-supported research tools indicates a need for forward-thinking candidates.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 comprehensive case studies demonstrating leadership in UX research for complex, ambiguous, or emerging product/experience initiatives.

• Highlight projects that involved defining research strategy from scratch, exploring novel concepts, or evaluating future-state technologies (e.g., AI, AR/VR, new service models).

• Clearly articulate your role and impact within each case study, emphasizing leadership, strategic thinking, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Demonstrate your ability to translate research findings into tangible product or experience recommendations that influenced strategic direction and decision-making.

• Include examples of how you have defined or evaluated quality and success criteria for nascent experiences. Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of your approach to defining research scope, selecting appropriate methodologies, and managing research execution in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.

• Showcase examples of how you facilitate research synthesis, identify key insights, and develop compelling narratives to activate findings with stakeholders.

• Illustrate your experience in mentoring or guiding others (researchers or cross-functional partners) in research best practices or specific methodologies.

• Detail your process for collaborating with product, design, and engineering teams to ensure research is integrated throughout the concept and development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "Lead" role focused on "Emerging Experiences," the portfolio must go beyond standard usability testing. It needs to demonstrate strategic research leadership, comfort with ambiguity, and the ability to shape future product directions. Case studies should emphasize the "why" and "how" of research strategy, not just the "what" of findings.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $132,000 - $238,000 per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including medical, vision, and dental insurance.

• Life insurance coverage.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan.

• Employee discount on Target purchases.

• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.

• Paid sick leave.

• Paid national holidays.

• Paid vacation time.

• Access to additional well-being, financial, and educational benefits as detailed on Target's benefits portal. Working Hours:

• Standard 40 hours per week.

• This role operates under a Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement, requiring time spent both onsite at the Minneapolis HQ and virtually, based on role, team, and task requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a Lead UX Product Researcher in a major metropolitan area like Minneapolis, reflecting the senior nature of the role and its strategic focus on emerging experiences. The comprehensive benefits package is typical for a large retail organization like Target, offering robust support for employees and their families. The hybrid work arrangement necessitates a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail (with a strong focus on digital transformation and guest experience innovation).

Company Size: Large enterprise, consistently ranked among the top retailers globally.

Founded: 1902, with a long history of adapting and innovating within the retail landscape.

Team Structure:

• The Emerging Experiences team is part of the broader Target UX organization, which comprises design, content, research, and accessibility practitioners.

• Within Emerging Experiences, this role will operate within a cross-functional pod, collaborating closely with Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, Brand Specialists, and Enterprise Strategy leads.

• The UX Research team itself is a specialized group within Target UX, fostering a community of practice for researchers. Methodology:

• Target's approach emphasizes a blend of data-driven insights and human-centered design principles to create seamless and delightful guest experiences.

• The Emerging Experiences team specifically focuses on ambitious, future-forward thinking, prototyping new concepts, and exploring the potential of emerging technologies.

• Collaboration is key, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional partnership to bring innovative ideas to fruition.

Company Website: https://corporate.target.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Target's culture is known for balancing a deep understanding of its core guest base with a forward-thinking approach to innovation. For the Emerging Experiences team, this translates to an environment where exploring future possibilities is encouraged, but always grounded in guest needs and business objectives. The "Hybrid/Flex for Your Day" model suggests a culture that trusts team members to manage their time effectively between collaborative onsite work and focused remote work.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Lead Individual Contributor (IC) with significant influence and strategic responsibility. This role is a step beyond a Senior Researcher, indicating leadership in shaping research direction, mentoring others, and driving initiatives.

Reporting Structure: The Lead UX Product Researcher will likely report into a Director or Senior Manager of UX Research, with a dotted line into the leadership of the Emerging Experiences team. They will work closely with Product and Design leads within that team.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the future strategic direction of Target's guest experiences. By identifying and validating emerging opportunities, the research conducted will inform long-term investments, product roadmaps, and the overall guest journey across both digital and physical touchpoints. The insights generated will be critical for shaping how Target competes in an evolving retail landscape.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific emerging technologies (e.g., AI, generative AI, personalization engines) and their application in retail experiences.

• Leadership: Transition into management roles (e.g., Research Manager) or further advance as a principal/distinguished researcher with broader strategic influence across multiple innovation streams.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop deeper understanding of product management, engineering, and business strategy within a large retail context.

• Thought Leadership: Contribute to industry conferences, internal knowledge sharing, and the development of new research methodologies and frameworks.

• Impact: Gain experience shaping high-stakes, future-defining projects for a globally recognized brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title, combined with the focus on emerging experiences and strategic influence, suggests this role is a critical stepping stone for researchers looking to impact long-term vision and potentially move into leadership or principal-level positions. The opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and shape the future of a major retailer offers significant career development potential.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Large corporate headquarters with modern office spaces designed for collaboration and innovation. The Minneapolis HQ is a hub for many of Target's corporate functions.

Office Location(s):

• Primary location: 1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403-2542.

• The Hybrid/Flex for Your Day arrangement means work will be performed both onsite at this location and virtually. Workspace Context:

• The work environment is designed to foster collaboration, with shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and common areas.

• Access to a robust technology stack supporting UX research, design, and development, including tools for remote collaboration and prototyping.

• Opportunities for regular interaction with a diverse range of colleagues across product, design, engineering, and business functions within the Emerging Experiences pod and the wider UX organization. Work Schedule:

• The Hybrid/Flex for Your Day arrangement allows for flexibility in balancing onsite and remote work days. Specific days onsite will depend on team needs, project phases, and collaborative requirements.

• Standard 40-hour work week is expected, with potential for occasional extended hours during critical project phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Hybrid/Flex arrangement implies a need for strong self-management and communication skills. While onsite days are expected for collaboration and team cohesion, the "flex for your day" aspect suggests a degree of autonomy in managing the onsite/remote balance, contingent on project needs.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will review your application and resume to assess alignment with the core requirements, particularly experience with emerging technologies and research leadership.

• Hiring Manager/Team Lead Interview: This stage will likely focus on your experience, research philosophy, approach to ambiguity, and leadership capabilities. Expect behavioral questions and discussions about your past projects.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: You will be asked to present 2-3 key case studies from your portfolio that best demonstrate your expertise in leading research for emerging or complex experiences. This is a critical step where your ability to articulate strategy, methodology, insights, and impact will be evaluated.

• Cross-Functional Team Interviews: You may meet with key partners from Product, Design, and Engineering within the Emerging Experiences team. These interviews will assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to integrate research into product development processes.

• Final Interview/Debrief: A final conversation, potentially with a senior leader, to discuss overall fit, strategic thinking, and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Emerging/Ambiguous: Select case studies that explicitly showcase your work on novel concepts, future-state visions, or technologies that were not yet fully defined. Highlight how you navigated uncertainty.

• Emphasize Leadership & Strategy: Clearly define your role as a leader in shaping research strategy, not just executing tasks. Explain the strategic decisions you made regarding methodology and scope.

• Showcase Impact: Quantify your impact whenever possible. How did your research influence product direction, identify significant opportunities, or mitigate risks? Use metrics or clear qualitative outcomes.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies with a clear narrative: the problem/opportunity, your approach, the insights, the recommendations, and the outcome/impact.

• Demonstrate Methodological Breadth: Include examples of both qualitative and quantitative approaches, and how you selected and adapted them for unique challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for questions about how you would approach research for a hypothetical emerging experience (e.g., personalized in-store navigation, AI-driven shopping assistant).

• Practice articulating your thought process for defining research questions, selecting methods, and synthesizing findings in a complex, undefined space.

• Consider how you would measure the success of "emerging" experiences, which may not have established benchmarks.

• Think about how you would influence stakeholders who may be hesitant about investing in unproven concepts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount for this role. Candidates must demonstrate not just research skills, but strategic leadership in navigating ambiguity and shaping future product directions. Expect questions that probe your ability to define problems, not just solve them.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Remote Research Platforms: UserTesting, Lookback, Maze, or similar for moderated and unmoderated usability testing and concept evaluation.

• Survey Tools: Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, or Google Forms for quantitative data collection and feedback surveys.

• Qualitative Data Analysis: Tools like Dovetail, NVivo, or even advanced spreadsheet/presentation software for synthesizing qualitative data.

• AI & Generative Tools: Proficiency or familiarity with tools like ChatGPT, Bard, or similar for exploring AI-enabled interactions, ideation, or research synthesis support.

• Collaboration & Prototyping Tools: Figma, Mural, Miro for collaborative synthesis, journey mapping, and ideation sessions.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior data that might inform research questions.

• Tools for creating compelling data visualizations and reports to communicate findings effectively. CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how user data is managed and how insights feed into product roadmaps is crucial. Familiarity with systems that track user feedback and product development cycles.

• Experience with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana) for tracking research initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of UserTesting, Qualtrics, Dscout, and ChatGPT indicates a need for candidates to be proficient with these specific platforms or demonstrate equivalent experience. The inclusion of AI tools like ChatGPT highlights the role's focus on cutting-edge technologies.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Human-Centered: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the guest's needs, perspectives, and experiences.

• Curiosity & Exploration: A drive to explore the unknown, ask challenging questions, and uncover novel insights about future possibilities.

• Collaboration & Partnership: A belief that the best outcomes are achieved through strong partnerships across diverse teams and disciplines.

• Impact & Innovation: A focus on driving meaningful change and creating innovative solutions that delight guests and advance Target's business.

• Growth Mindset: A continuous pursuit of learning, skill development, and embracing new challenges and technologies.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working within cross-functional pods where research is integrated early and often in the product development lifecycle.

• Emphasis on open communication, constructive feedback, and shared ownership of outcomes.

• Researchers are expected to be proactive in sharing insights and engaging with stakeholders to ensure research informs strategy.

• A culture of experimentation and learning, where both successes and failures are viewed as opportunities for growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a proactive, collaborative, and forward-thinking approach. For this role, it means being comfortable with ambiguity, eager to explore new frontiers, and skilled at building consensus and driving alignment across different departments.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: The primary challenge will be conducting research and defining product direction in areas where guest needs and technological possibilities are not yet clearly understood.

• Defining "Emerging": Establishing clear research objectives and success metrics for entirely new types of experiences that lack established benchmarks.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Gaining buy-in and alignment from diverse stakeholders (product, engineering, brand, strategy) on future-focused concepts that may involve significant investment.

• Rapid Prototyping & Iteration: Keeping pace with fast-moving innovation cycles and adapting research methodologies to support rapid concept testing and iteration.

• Translating Vision to Action: Bridging the gap between visionary concepts and concrete, actionable product definitions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Emerging Tech: Gain hands-on experience researching the application of AI, machine learning, personalization, and other advanced technologies in a retail context.

• Strategic Influence: Develop advanced skills in influencing senior leadership and driving strategic product decisions based on research insights.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Formal opportunities to mentor other researchers and contribute to the strategic development of the UX Research practice at Target.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend industry conferences or workshops focused on future trends in UX and retail innovation.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Deepen understanding of product management, engineering, and business strategy within a large, complex organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working in an innovation-focused role. Candidates should view these not as obstacles, but as opportunities to develop advanced strategic thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills. The growth opportunities are substantial for a researcher looking to make a significant impact on a major brand's future.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Imagine we want to explore how AI could personalize the in-store shopping experience. What would be your research approach, and what are the biggest unknowns you'd want to tackle first?" (Focus on your process for defining problems, selecting methods, and identifying key risks/opportunities.)

• "Describe a time you had to conduct research in a highly ambiguous environment with unclear objectives. How did you define the problem space, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight your comfort with uncertainty and your ability to create clarity.)

• "How do you balance the need for long-term strategic vision with near-term learning requirements when researching emerging experiences?" (Demonstrate your understanding of phased research and iterative development.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Target's Emerging Experiences team and the future of retail innovation?" (Show you've researched the team's mission and can articulate your passion.)

• "How would you foster a human-centered approach within a team that might be heavily focused on technological capabilities?" (Assess your ability to advocate for the user and integrate research effectively.)

• "Describe your experience mentoring junior researchers or influencing cross-functional partners without direct authority." (Focus on your leadership and collaboration style.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate: The strategic challenge/opportunity, your role and leadership, the research questions, the methodologies chosen (and why), key insights, actionable recommendations, and the impact on the product/business.

• Focus on Ambiguity & Strategy: Emphasize how you shaped research strategy, navigated uncertainty, and influenced long-term vision, rather than just reporting usability findings.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics or data to demonstrate the impact of your research, even if it's an estimate or projected outcome for future-focused work.

• Be Prepared for "What Ifs": Anticipate follow-up questions about alternative methodologies, how you'd approach different scenarios, or how you'd conduct further research.

• Showcase Collaboration: Highlight how you worked with product, design, and engineering partners throughout the process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize your ability to think strategically, lead research initiatives independently, and effectively communicate complex findings to diverse audiences. Preparing specific examples that demonstrate these capabilities is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX Product Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link, ensuring your resume and any optional attachments are up-to-date and tailored to the role.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that specifically highlight your experience leading research for emerging technologies, ambiguous concepts, or future-state visions. Ensure each case study clearly articulates your strategic contribution, methodological choices, key insights, and tangible impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize your 7+ years of UX research experience, your expertise in diverse qualitative and quantitative methods, your leadership in strategy development, and any experience with AI or emerging technologies. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice delivering your portfolio presentations, focusing on clear storytelling, strategic rationale, and demonstrating your ability to influence decision-making. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your process and impact.

• Research Target & the Team: Gain an understanding of Target's innovation initiatives, its approach to guest experience, and the specific focus of the Emerging Experiences team. This will help you 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.