Lead UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Researcher

Company: Asda

Location: Asda House, Leeds, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research & Design

Date Posted: May 26, 2026

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and develop a team of UX researchers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and best practice in user-centered design.

• Drive high-impact, mixed-method UX research initiatives across Asda's digital and e-commerce platforms, including Asda Groceries and George.com.

• Define, implement, and uphold rigorous research standards, methodologies, and operations to ensure actionable and impactful customer insights.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product, Design, CRO, Engineering, and business stakeholders, to embed research into strategic decision-making processes.

• Communicate research findings and strategic recommendations effectively to senior leadership, influencing product direction, investment, and overall customer experience strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly for a "Lead UX Researcher" and involves "line managing and developing mid-weight and senior researchers," indicating a leadership component. The focus on "complex problems, working at scale, and the opportunity to shape a growing research practice" suggests a strategic and developmental aspect beyond pure research execution. The mention of "digital and ecommerce journeys" and specific platforms like "Asda Groceries and George.com" points towards a significant focus on retail and e-commerce UX.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and lead the end-to-end delivery of UX research projects across multiple digital products and services.

• Conduct and oversee high-impact, mixed-method research (qualitative and quantitative) to inform key product and business decisions.

• Define, champion, and uphold research standards, methodologies, and best practices across the UX research function.

• Ensure research insights are translated into clear, actionable recommendations that drive meaningful improvements in user experience and business outcomes.

• Oversee research planning, prioritization, and demand management across various concurrent workstreams and product areas.

• Build, evolve, and optimize research operations, including tooling, knowledge management systems, and participant recruitment processes.

• Provide line management, mentorship, and professional development for the existing team of two researchers, and lead hiring as the team expands.

• Partner effectively with Product Managers, UX/UI Designers, CRO Specialists, Engineering teams, and broader business stakeholders to integrate research seamlessly into agile ways of working.

• Confidently communicate complex research findings, insights, and strategic direction to senior stakeholders, influencing investment priorities and strategic focus.

• Evolve research practices and champion the strategic use of customer insight across the organization, connecting digital journeys to the broader retail experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly delineate a leadership role focused on both hands-on research execution and strategic practice building. The emphasis on "owning and leading research delivery," "defining and upholding research standards," and "line managing and developing researchers" highlights the dual nature of the role. The requirement to "evolve research practices and how insight is used across the organisation" indicates a strategic mandate to mature the research function.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, Design, or a related field is typically expected for UX research leadership roles.

Experience:

• Extensive experience (likely 7+ years) in conducting end-to-end mixed-method UX research within digital product development environments.

• Proven experience in shaping or building research practices, frameworks, and operations within an organization.

• Demonstrated success in leading and developing a team of researchers, including mentorship and performance management.

Required Skills:

• Mixed-Method UX Research: Deep expertise in qualitative (e.g., usability testing, interviews, ethnography) and quantitative (e.g., surveys, analytics, A/B testing analysis) research methodologies.

• Research Operations (Research Ops): Experience in building and managing research processes, tooling, participant recruitment, and knowledge management systems to ensure efficient and scalable research delivery.

• Stakeholder Management & Influencing: Proven ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, effectively communicate research insights, and influence product and business decisions.

• Line Management & Team Development: Experience in leading, mentoring, and developing UX researchers, fostering their growth and ensuring team effectiveness.

• Agile Methodology: Familiarity and practical experience working within agile development frameworks (Scrum, Kanban) and integrating research into sprints.

• Insight Communication: Ability to synthesize complex research findings into clear, concise, and actionable insights tailored for various audiences, including senior leadership.

• Problem-Solving & Strategic Thinking: Aptitude for identifying complex user problems and translating them into strategic research plans that align with business objectives.

Preferred Skills:

• E-commerce UX Expertise: Specific experience researching and optimizing user journeys within large-scale e-commerce platforms.

• Research Tool Proficiency: Hands-on experience with industry-standard research tools such as UserTesting.com, dscout, Qualtrics, Lookback, or similar platforms.

• AI in Research: Openness to and experience with leveraging emerging technologies, including AI, to enhance research quality, impact, and efficiency.

• CRO Collaboration: Experience working alongside Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) teams to inform experimentation and testing strategies.

• Data Analysis & Interpretation: Ability to interpret quantitative data (analytics, survey results) in conjunction with qualitative findings to provide comprehensive insights.

• Familiarity with Retail Operations: Understanding of the retail landscape, including in-store and online customer journeys, can be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "AI" keyword in the description suggests a forward-thinking approach to research methodologies, which is a valuable addition to preferred skills. The specific mention of "Asda Groceries and George.com" implies a strong preference for candidates with e-commerce and retail sector experience. The "line manage and develop mid-weight and senior researchers (current team of 2)" directly informs the experience level and leadership requirements.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: A robust portfolio showcasing 3-5 end-to-end UX research projects, demonstrating a clear research process from problem definition to actionable recommendations and impact.

• Methodology Diversity: Evidence of applying a range of mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) appropriate to different research questions and project phases.

• Problem Definition: Clear articulation of the user problem or business challenge that initiated each research project.

• Impact & Outcomes: Quantifiable results or demonstrated impact of the research on product improvements, user experience, or business metrics (e.g., conversion rates, task success, user satisfaction).

• Process Documentation: Examples of how research plans, methodologies, and findings were documented and communicated to stakeholders.

Process Documentation:

• Research Planning & Prioritization: Documentation demonstrating how research initiatives were planned, prioritized against business goals, and managed within project timelines.

• Methodology Selection Rationale: Examples of how specific research methods were chosen based on project objectives, constraints, and the type of insights needed.

• Insight Synthesis & Communication: Examples of how raw data was synthesized into clear, compelling, and actionable insights, and how these were presented to diverse audiences.

• Research Operations Improvement: Evidence of contributions to improving research processes, tooling, participant panels, or knowledge sharing mechanisms.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead UX Researcher role, a portfolio is crucial. The emphasis should be on demonstrating leadership in research strategy, process definition, and team development, alongside strong individual research execution. Explicitly asking for "impact and outcomes" is key for leadership roles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Lead UX Researcher roles in the UK, with significant experience and leadership responsibilities in a large retail organization like Asda, the estimated salary range would be between £60,000 - £85,000 per annum.

Benefits:

• Discretionary Company Bonus: Performance-related bonus potential.

• Company Pension: Up to 7% matched company pension contributions, providing long-term financial security.

• Company Car Allowance: A substantial allowance of £5,700 towards a company car, offering significant personal benefit.

• Colleague Discount: An attractive 15% discount on Asda products in-store and online, providing savings on everyday shopping.

• Comprehensive Wellbeing Services:

  • Free access to Stream and 24/7 virtual GP services for convenient healthcare access.
  • Professional counselling and mental health support.
  • Health and dental cash plans for routine and unexpected medical expenses.
  • 24/7 employee assistance helpline for confidential support.

• Lifestyle Discounts: Access to a wide range of discounts on services and activities, including airport parking, theme parks, cinemas, and more.

• Inclusion Networks: Active participation in Asda Allies Inclusion Networks, fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment.

• Generous Parental Leave: Excellent policies including maternity & adoption leave, paternity leave, shared parental leave, neonatal care leave, and support for fertility treatments.

Working Hours:

• Full-time, 37.5 hours per week.

• The role offers a hybrid working model, requiring a minimum of 3 days per week on-site at Asda House, Leeds. Additional days in the office may be required depending on team and project needs. Flexibility is also available, with potential for job share or part-time working arrangements to be discussed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary is a competitive range for a Lead UX Researcher in the UK. The benefits package is extensive and detailed, reflecting Asda's commitment to employee well-being and financial security. The hybrid working details are also clearly outlined.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail (Supermarkets & E-commerce), Fashion (George.com)

• Asda is one of the UK's leading retailers, serving millions of customers weekly across its grocery and George.com fashion brands. The company operates in a highly competitive market, emphasizing value, quality, and customer convenience. The recent modernization of digital platforms signifies a strategic push towards enhancing the digital customer experience.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Implied by Asda's market position and structure)

• As a major UK retailer, Asda operates at a significant scale. This means working on projects with broad impact, dealing with complex systems, and navigating a large organizational structure. For operations professionals, this often translates to opportunities for process standardization, large-scale implementation, and cross-functional collaboration across numerous departments.

Founded: 1949

Team Structure:

• Operations Team Aspect 1: The UX team is described as "small" currently, consisting of a "Lead UX Researcher" and "2 mid-weight and senior researchers." This team is expected to grow.

• Operations Team Aspect 2: The Lead UX Researcher will report to a senior leader within the digital product or user experience domain, likely a Head of UX, Director of Product, or similar. They will collaborate closely with Product, Design, CRO, and Engineering leads.

• Operations Team Aspect 3: Cross-functional collaboration is a core component, with significant interaction expected with Product Management, Design, CRO, Engineering, and other business teams to embed research insights into product development and strategic planning.

Methodology:

• Operations Process 1: Data analysis and insights methods are central, with a focus on leveraging mixed-method UX research to understand customer behavior and inform decisions.

• Operations Process 2: Workflow planning and optimization strategies are employed in agile environments, ensuring research is integrated into product development cycles.

• Operations Process 3: Automation and efficiency practices are encouraged, particularly through the exploration of new technologies like AI to improve research delivery.

Company Website: [Organization URL is not provided, but assumed to be asda.com]

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights a large, established retail organization undergoing digital transformation. This implies a challenging but rewarding environment for operations professionals, with opportunities to impact millions of users and contribute to strategic shifts. The team structure indicates a growing UX function within a larger digital organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Lead/Managerial

Reporting Structure:

Operations Impact:

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in advanced research methodologies, research operations, and leadership through hands-on experience and team development.

• Strategic Influence: Develop skills in influencing senior leadership and shaping organizational strategy related to customer-centricity and digital experience.

• Practice Building: Play a key role in building and scaling the UX research practice at Asda, defining best practices, and potentially expanding the team further.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Gain experience leading research initiatives across diverse product areas and collaborating with various departments, enhancing broader business acumen.

• Industry Exposure: Work on complex, high-impact projects within a major retail organization, providing valuable industry experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title and responsibility for managing a team clearly define the career level as managerial. The emphasis on "shaping how research is done" and "influencing where we focus effort and investment" points to significant strategic growth potential.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid (Office-Based with Remote Flexibility)

• The role requires a minimum of 3 days per week on-site at Asda House in Leeds. This indicates a modern office environment designed for collaboration, team meetings, and focused work. The remaining days offer flexibility, allowing for remote work.

Office Location(s): Asda House, Leeds, England, United Kingdom

Workspace Context:

• Workspace Aspect 1: The office environment is expected to facilitate collaboration with Product, Design, Engineering, and CRO teams, enabling co-creation and quick feedback loops essential for agile development.

• Workspace Aspect 2: Access to necessary operations tools and technology will be provided to support research delivery, team management, and communication.

• Workspace Aspect 3: Opportunities for informal and formal interaction with the UX team and other colleagues will be available, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (37.5 per week) are expected, with the hybrid model offering flexibility. The emphasis on "flexible working / job share / part-time working" suggests Asda is open to accommodating various working arrangements where feasible, which can be beneficial for managing research workloads and personal commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a key aspect of the work environment, balancing in-office collaboration with remote flexibility. Asda House being the headquarters implies a dynamic and strategically important work location.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Process Step 1 (Initial Screening): A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review applications and portfolios. Candidates with strong alignment to the requirements and compelling portfolio examples will be shortlisted. Preparation should focus on clearly articulating your UX research leadership experience and showcasing relevant case studies.

• Process Step 2 (Hiring Manager Interview): An in-depth discussion with the hiring manager (Clare Tempest) focusing on your experience in mixed-method research, team leadership, research operations, and strategic influencing. Be prepared to discuss specific examples from your portfolio and how you've driven impact.

• Process Step 3 (Team/Stakeholder Interviews): Interviews with potential team members (UX researchers) and key stakeholders (e.g., Product Managers, Designers, CRO leads). These sessions will assess your collaboration style, leadership approach, and ability to integrate research into agile workflows.

• Process Step 4 (Presentation/Task): A potential presentation of a case study from your portfolio or a practical research task/challenge. This assesses your ability to communicate insights effectively and your strategic thinking. Focus on storytelling, clear data visualization, and demonstrating actionable outcomes.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Portfolio Tip 1: Curate your portfolio to highlight leadership experiences. Showcase how you've mentored researchers, improved research processes, and influenced strategy, not just your individual research contributions.

• Portfolio Tip 2: Structure your case studies to clearly articulate the business problem, your research approach (methodologies used and why), key findings, actionable recommendations, and the measurable impact or outcomes achieved. Use visuals where appropriate.

• Portfolio Tip 3: When presenting metrics, focus on the "so what?" – how did the data translate into meaningful improvements or decisions? Demonstrate your understanding of how research contributes to business objectives like conversion, satisfaction, and engagement.

• Portfolio Tip 4: Tailor your portfolio presentation to Asda's context. Research their digital platforms (Asda Groceries, George.com) and consider how your experience in e-commerce, retail, or large-scale digital transformation aligns with their current needs and strategic goals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Challenge Preparation 1: Be prepared for scenarios related to managing research demand, prioritizing projects, dealing with conflicting stakeholder needs, or improving research efficiency. Think about how you would apply your leadership and research operations skills.

• Challenge Preparation 2: If given a research task, focus on outlining a clear, pragmatic research plan. Consider the constraints (time, resources) and how you would deliver actionable insights within those limitations. Practice articulating your plan concisely.

• Challenge Preparation 3: Demonstrate your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively. Practice explaining your research rationale and findings in a way that resonates with both technical and non-technical audiences, highlighting the business value.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess leadership, research expertise, and collaborative skills. The portfolio review and challenge preparation tips are tailored to a Lead UX Researcher role, emphasizing strategic thinking, impact demonstration, and tailored communication.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UserTesting.com: A leading platform for remote usability testing, unmoderated testing, and participant recruitment. Essential for gathering qualitative feedback on digital products.

• dscout: A platform often used for in-depth qualitative research, including diary studies, user interviews, and mobile ethnography, allowing for rich, contextual user insights.

• Qualitative Research Tools: Potentially other tools for interview transcription, analysis, and synthesis (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo).

• Quantitative Research Tools: Survey platforms (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics) and potentially analytics platforms for data interpretation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar to understand user behavior patterns, track conversion funnels, and measure the impact of UX improvements.

• BI & Dashboard Tools: Platforms such as Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for visualizing research data, key performance indicators (KPIs), and user insights for stakeholders.

• A/B Testing Platforms: Experience or collaboration with teams using tools like Optimizely, VWO, or Google Optimize to run experiments informed by research.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user feedback and insights can be logged or integrated into CRM or product management systems (e.g., Jira, Confluence) for tracking and actioning is beneficial.

• Research Knowledge Management: Systems for organizing and sharing research findings across the organization, such as internal wikis, dedicated platforms, or shared drives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific mention of UserTesting and dscout in the job description is crucial for highlighting in-demand tools. The broader categories of analytics, BI, and knowledge management are standard for operations roles and should be included.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the customer in all design and product decisions. This means prioritizing user needs and ensuring insights directly translate into better experiences.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Relying on evidence from user research and analytics to inform strategy, prioritize initiatives, and measure success, rather than solely on intuition.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Working effectively across teams (Product, Design, Engineering, Business) to achieve shared goals, fostering an environment of mutual respect and shared ownership.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset of constantly seeking ways to enhance research practices, product experiences, and operational efficiency, embracing feedback and learning.

• Impact & Outcome Focus: Driving research efforts towards tangible business results and measurable improvements in user satisfaction and engagement.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively embedding UX research within product development sprints and strategic planning cycles, ensuring research is a proactive partner, not an afterthought.

• Open Feedback Exchange: Fostering an environment where constructive feedback on research methods, insights, and product ideas is welcomed and acted upon by all team members and stakeholders.

• Knowledge Sharing Culture: Proactively sharing research findings, best practices, and learnings across the UX team and wider organization to build collective understanding and capability.

• Agile Adaptability: Embracing flexibility and iterative approaches, adapting research plans and methodologies as project needs evolve and new insights emerge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values and collaboration style are inferred from the job description's emphasis on customer insight, cross-functional work, and building a research practice. These are common in modern, progressive UX teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Research Demand: Managing a high volume of research requests from multiple product teams while maintaining high quality and timely delivery. This requires strong prioritization and potentially scaling the research team.

• Influencing Senior Stakeholders: Effectively communicating complex research findings and advocating for user needs to senior leaders who may have different priorities or perspectives.

• Scaling Research Operations: Building robust and efficient research operations processes (recruitment, tooling, knowledge management) to support a growing research practice and larger organization.

• Measuring Research Impact: Demonstrating the tangible business value and ROI of UX research in a way that resonates with business stakeholders, often requiring correlation with business metrics.

• Integrating Digital and Physical Experiences: Connecting insights from digital platforms (Groceries, George.com) to the broader Asda retail experience, a complex challenge in a multi-channel environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Research Methodologies: Opportunity to explore and implement cutting-edge research techniques, including AI-driven insights, generative research, and advanced quantitative analysis.

• Leadership Development: Formal and informal opportunities to hone leadership skills, including team management, strategic planning, and stakeholder influence.

• Industry Best Practices: Staying abreast of evolving UX research trends, tools, and operational models within the retail and e-commerce sectors.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Expanding knowledge in product management, design, CRO, and business strategy through close collaboration with these departments.

• Mentorship: Potential to receive mentorship from senior leaders within Asda and mentor junior researchers, fostering professional growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are derived from the role's scope, industry, and leadership responsibilities. Growth opportunities focus on developing leadership, strategic thinking, and specialized research skills within a large retail context.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Operations Question 1: "How would you approach building out our research operations function to support a growing team and increasing research demand?" (Preparation: Focus on scalable processes, tooling strategy, knowledge management, and participant recruitment frameworks).

• Operations Question 2: "Describe a time you had to influence a senior stakeholder who was resistant to user insights. What was your strategy, and what was the outcome?" (Preparation: Use the STAR method, highlight influencing tactics, data communication, and focus on business impact).

• Operations Question 3: "How do you balance the need for rigorous, in-depth research with the fast-paced demands of an agile product development environment?" (Preparation: Discuss agile research integration, iterative approaches, lean methodologies, and stakeholder communication).

Company & Culture Questions:

• Operations Question 4: "What interests you most about Asda's digital transformation and the role of UX research within it?" (Preparation: Research Asda's recent digital initiatives, their stated mission, and articulate how UX research is critical to achieving those goals).

• Operations Question 5: "How do you foster a collaborative and inclusive environment within a UX research team and with cross-functional partners?" (Preparation: Discuss team development strategies, feedback mechanisms, conflict resolution, and experience with diverse teams).

• Operations Question 6: "How do you measure the success and impact of your UX research initiatives?" (Preparation: Discuss key metrics, ROI demonstration, linking research to business outcomes, and providing concrete examples from your portfolio).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Presentation Strategy 1: Structure your chosen case study with a clear narrative: Problem -> Research Approach -> Key Findings -> Actionable Recommendations -> Impact/Outcome. Use visuals sparingly but effectively to illustrate findings.

• Presentation Strategy 2: Be ready to deep-dive into specific metrics. Explain how you selected them, how you analyzed them, and how they informed your recommendations. Clearly articulate the ROI or business value generated by your research.

• Presentation Strategy 3: Be prepared to discuss your leadership approach and how you would mentor and develop junior researchers. Be interactive, ask clarifying questions, and demonstrate enthusiasm for Asda's mission.

📝 Enhancement Note: These questions and preparation tips are designed to probe the candidate's leadership capabilities, strategic thinking, and ability to integrate into Asda's specific operational context. The emphasis is on practical application and demonstrable impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://asda.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/AsdaJobs/job/Asda-House/Lead-UX-Researcher_R-095923

• Concrete Preparation Step 1: Tailor your resume to highlight leadership experience, team management, research operations development, and specific accomplishments in mixed-method UX research within e-commerce or large-scale digital environments. Use keywords from the job description.

• Concrete Preparation Step 2: Select 2-3 key UX research projects from your career that best showcase your leadership, strategic impact, and mixed-method expertise. Prepare detailed case studies for these projects, focusing on problem definition, methodology, insights, actionable recommendations, and measurable outcomes.

• Concrete Preparation Step 3: Research Asda's current digital presence, particularly Asda Groceries and George.com. Identify potential UX challenges or opportunities where your skills could add value. Prepare thoughtful questions about their current research practices, team structure, and strategic priorities.

• Concrete Preparation Step 4: Practice articulating your research process and findings clearly and concisely. Be ready to present one of your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, demonstrating impact, and answering questions about your approach and leadership style.

⚠️ 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.