Lead UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Researcher

Company: Thomson Reuters

Location: Eagan, Minnesota, United States (Hybrid)

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Development Operations

Date Posted: August 10, 2026

Experience Level: 8+ years (with a preference for 10+ years of relevant experience)

Remote Status: Hybrid (2-3 days/week onsite)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end UX research practice for a complex, high-impact product portfolio, including agentic-focused CoCounsel migration and modernization efforts.

• Drive strategic generative and evaluative research to uncover deep user insights and shape product roadmaps.

• Partner closely with product, engineering, and design leaders to advocate for user-centered decisions and influence strategic direction.

• Provide thought leadership and mentorship to less experienced researchers, raising the bar for research quality and influence within the team.

• Focus on the business impact of UX research, connecting insights directly to product and business decisions using frameworks like Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) and Customer Experience Outcomes (CXOs).

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for operationalizing user-centricity within Thomson Reuters' digital transformation efforts. The "Lead" title signifies a senior individual contributor role focused on strategic impact and mentorship, rather than formal people management. The emphasis on AI evaluation and acceleration highlights a forward-looking approach to research operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the full UX research lifecycle: intake, scoping, planning, recruitment, facilitation, data analysis, synthesis, and reporting, with a focus on demonstrating measurable business impact.

• Develop and execute comprehensive UX research approaches, schedules, and detailed test plans for complex product portfolios.

• Lead strategic generative research to identify unmet user needs and long-horizon product opportunities, informing future product strategy.

• Conduct evaluative studies (e.g., usability testing, A/B testing) to identify and articulate potential usability issues and user needs.

• Triangulate data from multiple sources (qualitative, quantitative, market research) to form robust insights and recommendations.

• Translate research findings into prioritized, actionable recommendations, clearly communicating insights and potential solutions verbally and through compelling documentation.

• Influence product and design decisions by advocating for user-centered outcomes in roadmap prioritization and navigating trade-offs thoughtfully.

• Create persuasive presentations for diverse stakeholders, including product owners, developers, designers, and C-level executives.

• Facilitate internal meetings to triage, manage, and drive action on research findings.

• Partner with Research Operations (Research Ops) on recruitment strategies and with other customer insight functions (e.g., Product Marketing, Customer Experience) to create a holistic research roadmap.

• Evaluate AI-powered or agentic product experiences, assessing aspects like trust, transparency, error recovery, and output quality.

• Apply AI tools to accelerate research workflows, synthesis, and insight generation, while promoting responsible adoption.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on, strategic approach to research, emphasizing influence and impact. The mention of "Research Ops" suggests a structured operational support system for research execution, common in larger organizations aiming for efficiency. The focus on AI evaluation is a key differentiator for this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in a Social Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Cognitive Science, or a related field.

• Master's degree in a related field strongly preferred. Experience:

• 8+ years of experience applying UX research to high-volume, interactive B2B and B2C applications, rich web-based applications, or websites.

• Demonstrated experience with leading research projects involving complex workflows, visualization of large datasets, operating system-level tools, and both web and software environments is a plus.

• Experience researching with regulated or compliance-driven professional users (e.g., tax, audit, financial) is strongly preferred. Required Skills:

• Deep knowledge and practical experience with a wide variety of research methods, both qualitative and quantitative.

• Proficiency in qualitative analysis and reporting; advanced interviewing and group facilitation techniques.

• Expertise in contextual inquiries, remote usability testing, parallel prototyping, and persona development.

• Experience with un-moderated feedback tools (e.g., UserZoom).

• Strong ability to triangulate data from many sources to synthesize comprehensive insights.

• Proficiency in quantitative methods, specifically: statistical analysis, experimental/A/B test design, and survey methodology.

• Deep knowledge and practical experience structuring user needs through fundamental UX frameworks such as Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) and Customer Experience Outcomes (CXOs).

• Exceptional analytical problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership skills.

• In-depth understanding of user-centered design (UCD) principles and tools.

• Clear, compelling, and self-contained communication of research findings, both written and verbal.

• Ability to keep pace with agile testing while maintaining a strategic, long-term perspective. Preferred Skills:

• Experience evaluating AI-powered or agentic product experiences with real users and production data.

• Experience building, using, or experimenting with AI tools (e.g., Claude, other AI platforms).

• Practical experience applying AI to accelerate research workflows, synthesis, and insight generation.

• Familiarity with SharePoint and project management tools such as ADO (Azure DevOps), Linear.

• Familiarity performing studies in a virtual lab environment.

• Familiarity with data-logging tools and systems such as Tableau, Qualtrics, Pendo, V0, or other BI analytic programs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on both qualitative and quantitative methods, coupled with frameworks like JTBD and CXOs, indicates a need for a researcher who can bridge tactical execution with strategic business impact. The preference for B2B/professional user research and AI experience are key differentiators.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a portfolio showcasing the end-to-end research lifecycle, from problem definition to actionable recommendations and demonstrated impact.

• Include case studies that highlight strategic generative research identifying unmet needs and long-horizon product opportunities.

• Present examples of evaluative research that directly informed product design decisions and improved user experience metrics.

• Showcase the ability to triangulate data from diverse qualitative and quantitative sources to build a compelling narrative.

• Include examples where research insights were directly translated into product roadmap prioritization and influenced stakeholder decisions. Process Documentation:

• Detail your process for defining research scope, developing research plans, and collaborating with Product, Design, and Engineering.

• Illustrate your methodology for synthesizing complex data into clear, concise, and actionable recommendations.

• Provide examples of how you communicate research findings to various stakeholders, including C-level executives, through persuasive presentations.

• Showcase your approach to measuring and demonstrating the business impact of UX research, using before/after framing or behavioral outcomes.

• Include examples of how you have mentored or coached less experienced researchers, improving overall team research quality and influence.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is crucial for this role, especially for demonstrating leadership and strategic influence. Candidates should focus on showcasing their ability to connect research to business outcomes and their experience mentoring others.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• United States (Eligible Locations): $127,400 USD - $236,600 USD per year.

• Ontario, Canada: $132,800 CAD - $182,800 CAD per year.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Work Model: Flexible hybrid working environment with 2-3 days/week onsite expectation.

• Work-Life Balance: Flex My Way policies, including up to 8 weeks of "work from anywhere" per year.

• Career Development: Continuous learning culture, Grow My Way programming, skills-first approach, and AI-enabled future focus.

• Comprehensive Benefits:

  • Flexible vacation and competitive paid time off (including sick and safe days, and two company-wide Mental Health Days off).
  • Retirement savings plan (401k) with company match.
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Disability and life insurance.
  • Access to the Headspace app for mental wellbeing.
  • Fitness reimbursement.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
  • Tuition reimbursement.
  • Employee incentive programs.
  • Parental leave and sabbatical leave.
  • Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance.
  • Optional hospital, accident, and sickness insurance (employee-paid).
  • Optional life and AD&D insurance (employee-paid).
  • Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts (FSAs/HSAs).
  • Group Legal Identity Theft Protection (employee-paid).
  • Access to 529 Plan.
  • Commuter benefits.
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

• Social Impact: Two paid volunteer days off annually, opportunities for pro-bono consulting and ESG initiatives.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time role, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through hybrid and remote work policies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Thomson Reuters offers a robust compensation and benefits package, reflecting a commitment to employee wellbeing and professional growth. The salary ranges provided are broad, indicating that final compensation will be determined by factors such as candidate experience, skills, and location. The hybrid model with specific onsite expectations is clearly defined.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Information Services, Software, and Technology (Legal, Tax, Accounting, Compliance, Government, Media).

Company Size: 26,000+ employees globally.

Founded: Thomson Reuters has a long history, with roots tracing back to the 19th century, evolving through mergers and acquisitions into its current form.

Team Structure:

• The UX Team is part of a broader digital transformation initiative at Thomson Reuters.

• The UX Research Team operates within an agile, collaborative, and supportive environment, encouraging diverse thinking and experimentation.

• Researchers are embedded within product teams, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Designers.

• This role specifically supports a portfolio focused on agentic AI, guided assurance, and modernization efforts. Methodology:

• Emphasizes a user-centric approach to product development, transforming business processes through technology.

• Leverages agile methodologies for iterative development and testing.

• Focuses on data-driven decision-making, integrating insights from UX research, market analysis, and customer feedback.

• Prioritizes collaboration across functions to ensure holistic product strategy and execution.

• Actively explores and integrates AI tools to enhance research efficiency and product capabilities.

Company Website: https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en

📝 Enhancement Note: Thomson Reuters is a large, established information services company undergoing significant digital transformation. The UX team plays a pivotal role in this shift, focusing on user needs to reimagine business processes. The culture values collaboration, continuous learning, and making a tangible impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Lead UX Researcher position, signifying a senior individual contributor role. It requires deep expertise in UX research methodologies, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence product direction. The role is expected to mentor and guide less experienced researchers.

Reporting Structure:

• While not explicitly stated, a Lead UX Researcher typically reports to a Director or Senior Manager of UX Research or Product Design.

• The role involves close collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, and Design leads within the assigned product portfolio. Operations Impact:

• The UX Research team's work directly impacts the usability, adoption, and effectiveness of Thomson Reuters' digital products, which are critical for professionals in legal, tax, and accounting.

• By ensuring products meet user needs and are intuitive to use, the team contributes to customer satisfaction, retention, and ultimately, revenue growth.

• The focus on AI product evaluation is strategically important for Thomson Reuters' future competitiveness and innovation. Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like AI product evaluation, quantitative research methods, or specific domains relevant to Thomson Reuters' customer base (e.g., tax, legal compliance).

• Leadership Development: Transition into a formal management role (e.g., UX Research Manager) or a principal/staff researcher track focused on driving large-scale strategic initiatives.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain broader experience by contributing to different product portfolios or collaborating on cross-functional strategic projects.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to the advancement of UX research practices, potentially through internal best practice development or external presentations.

• AI Expertise: Become a recognized expert in evaluating and leveraging AI in product development and research operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for senior UX researchers to make a significant strategic impact, mentor others, and develop expertise in cutting-edge areas like AI research, aligning with Thomson Reuters' digital transformation goals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, requiring 2-3 days per week onsite in one of the specified office locations (Eagan, MN; Frisco, TX; Ann Arbor, MI; Toronto, ON). This indicates a blend of focused individual work and collaborative team interaction.

Office Location(s):

• Eagan, Minnesota, United States

• Frisco, Texas, United States

• Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

• Toronto, Ontario, Canada Workspace Context:

• The environment is described as agile, collaborative, and supportive, fostering innovation and experimentation.

• Access to relevant tools and technology is implied, necessary for conducting sophisticated UX research.

• Opportunities for close collaboration with Product, Design, and Engineering teams are integral to the role.

• The company emphasizes a culture of continuous learning and skill development. Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours/week) with flexibility offered through the hybrid model and the "Flex My Way" policies, including up to 8 weeks of remote work annually. This allows operations professionals to balance project demands with personal needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, balancing the need for in-person collaboration and strategic alignment with the desire for flexibility. Candidates should be prepared for regular office presence in one of the specified locations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter review of application and resume for basic qualifications.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on experience, leadership approach, strategic thinking, and fit with the team's mission.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: Candidates will likely present a curated portfolio showcasing key research projects, methodologies, insights, and impact. This is a critical stage to assess practical skills and strategic application.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with peers (other UX researchers, designers) and stakeholders (Product Managers, Engineers) to assess collaboration style, technical depth, and ability to influence.

• Potential Skills Assessment: May include a take-home assignment or a live problem-solving exercise related to UX research challenges.

• Final Interview: Often with a senior leader to confirm overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 impactful projects that demonstrate the breadth and depth of your experience, especially those involving complex B2B/professional users, strategic generative research, and measurable business impact.

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, your role and methodology, the insights uncovered, the actions taken based on those insights, and the resulting business outcomes (e.g., increased conversion, reduced support tickets, improved user satisfaction). Quantify impact wherever possible.

• Highlight Leadership & Mentorship: Showcase instances where you influenced product strategy, partnered effectively with cross-functional teams, or mentored junior researchers.

• Address AI Experience: If applicable, include a project demonstrating your experience evaluating AI-powered features or using AI to accelerate research workflows.

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentation logically, guiding the interviewers through the research journey and emphasizing your critical contributions and strategic thinking. Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Research Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you would approach research for a new feature or product, especially those involving AI or complex professional workflows.

• Methodology Justification: Be prepared to defend your choice of research methods based on research objectives, timelines, and available resources.

• Stakeholder Management: Practice articulating how you would gain buy-in for research initiatives and communicate findings effectively to diverse audiences.

• Problem-Solving: Think about common UX research challenges (e.g., recruitment difficulties, conflicting stakeholder priorities, tight deadlines) and how you would navigate them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh the candidate's ability to demonstrate strategic impact and leadership through their portfolio. Candidates should prepare to articulate not just what they did, but why and how it drove business value.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Research Platforms: UserZoom (for un-moderated testing and feedback), Qualtrics (for surveys and analysis), Pendo (for product analytics and user journey mapping), potentially others like Hotjar or FullStory for behavioral analytics.

• Collaboration & Project Management: SharePoint (for documentation and knowledge sharing), ADO (Azure DevOps) or Linear (for agile project tracking and workflow management).

• Data Analysis & Visualization: Tableau (for data visualization and dashboarding), statistical software (e.g., R, SPSS, Python libraries) for quantitative analysis.

• AI Tools: Experience with or evaluation of AI platforms (e.g., Claude, other LLMs) for research acceleration and product evaluation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Proficiency in analyzing data from product analytics tools (e.g., Pendo) and reporting dashboards (e.g., Tableau) to identify user behavior patterns and opportunities.

• Ability to design and interpret results from A/B tests and other experimental designs. CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary CRM role, understanding how UX research integrates with customer data managed in CRMs (like Salesforce, though not explicitly mentioned) can be beneficial for B2B insights.

• Familiarity with automation concepts within research workflows (e.g., automated reporting, AI-assisted synthesis) is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with a range of qualitative and quantitative research tools is expected. The emphasis on AI tools and data visualization/analytics platforms highlights the data-driven nature of the role and the company's investment in modern research operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A core value at Thomson Reuters, meaning a deep focus on understanding and meeting the needs of professional users.

• Compete to Win: Driving innovation and excellence to maintain a competitive edge in the market.

• Challenge (Y)our Thinking: Encouraging critical evaluation, experimentation, and continuous improvement in processes and products.

• Act Fast / Learn Fast: Embracing agility, iterative development, and rapid learning cycles.

• Stronger Together: Fostering collaboration, inclusivity, and mutual support across teams and functions.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded Model: Researchers work closely and continuously with Product, Design, and Engineering, fostering a deeply integrated and iterative approach.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Active collaboration with other insight functions like Product Marketing and Customer Experience to build a holistic view of the customer.

• Mentorship & Peer Review: A culture of supporting and developing team members, with an emphasis on raising the collective standard of research quality and influence.

• Data-Driven Advocacy: Presenting research findings persuasively to influence decisions, grounded in robust data and clear articulation of user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are directly applicable to the UX Research team's work, emphasizing a user-centric, agile, and collaborative approach. The "Stronger Together" value underpins the importance of cross-functional teamwork and mentorship.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of B2B/Professional Tools: Researching for complex, regulated professional users requires deep domain understanding and sophisticated methodologies to uncover nuanced needs and workflows.

• Balancing Strategic vs. Tactical Research: Maintaining a strategic long-term vision while delivering timely insights for agile development cycles.

• Demonstrating ROI of Research: Quantifying and communicating the business impact of UX research to stakeholders, especially in a large enterprise environment.

• Evaluating Novel AI Products: Developing and applying effective methods to assess the user experience of emerging AI-powered features, focusing on trust, transparency, and reliability.

• Navigating Organizational Dynamics: Influencing product roadmaps and decisions within a large, matrixed organization.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Research Specialization: Becoming a leader in evaluating AI-driven products and leveraging AI for research acceleration.

• Domain Expertise: Developing deep knowledge in legal, tax, or accounting domains relevant to Thomson Reuters' core offerings.

• Quantitative Skills Enhancement: Further developing expertise in statistical analysis, experimental design, and survey methodology.

• Mentorship and Coaching: Honing leadership skills by guiding and developing junior researchers.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of the latest advancements in UX research methodologies, tools, and AI applications through conferences, training, and internal knowledge sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant opportunities for growth, particularly in the burgeoning field of AI product evaluation and in developing expertise within critical professional domains. Overcoming the challenges will require strong strategic thinking and influence.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used strategic generative research to identify a significant unmet user need that influenced a product roadmap." (Focus on JTBD/CXO application, impact, and influence.)

• "How would you approach evaluating the user experience of an AI-powered feature that provides legal advice, considering trust, transparency, and potential errors?" (Prepare to discuss specific evaluation methods for AI.)

• "Walk us through your process for synthesizing research findings from multiple sources (e.g., interviews, surveys, analytics) into actionable recommendations for a cross-functional team." (Emphasize data triangulation and communication.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Thomson Reuters' digital transformation and how do you see UX research contributing to it?" (Research company initiatives, especially around AI and digital products.)

• "How do you foster collaboration with Product, Design, and Engineering teams in an embedded, agile environment?" (Highlight your collaborative style and experience with cross-functional partnerships.)

• "Describe your experience mentoring or coaching less experienced researchers. What is your philosophy on raising the bar for research quality?" (Focus on your leadership and team development approach.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with the business objective and user problem, detail your approach, present key insights clearly, explain the resulting recommendations/actions, and conclude with measurable business impact.

• Quantify Everything Possible: Use metrics to demonstrate the value of your research (e.g., "identified issues affecting X% of users," "recommendations led to a Y% increase in task completion").

• Showcase Strategic Thinking: Highlight how your research informed long-term product strategy, not just immediate design tweaks. Discuss trade-offs you navigated.

• Tailor to Thomson Reuters: If possible, frame your examples with an understanding of B2B professional software challenges.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, data analysis, and decision-making process for each project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not only their research skills but also their strategic thinking, leadership potential, and ability to drive business impact within a large, complex organization. The AI component is a significant differentiator that candidates must be ready to address.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the Thomson Reuters careers portal via the provided URL.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your experience in B2B/professional user research, strategic generative research, quantitative methods, and AI product evaluation. Select 3-4 projects that best showcase your impact and leadership.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your years of experience, specific methodologies used, tools proficiency, and quantifiable achievements. Use keywords from the job description such as "UX research," "qualitative analysis," "quantitative analysis," "Jobs to Be Done," "AI evaluation," and "stakeholder management."

• Interview Preparation: Practice your portfolio presentation, focusing on storytelling, impact demonstration, and articulating your strategic approach. Prepare answers for common UX research leadership and AI-specific questions. Research Thomson Reuters' digital transformation efforts and recent AI initiatives.

• Company Research: Understand Thomson Reuters' mission, values, and the industries it serves. Familiarize yourself with their product offerings and the challenges faced by their professional users.

⚠️ 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.