Manager of UX Research

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Manager of UX Research

Company: iManage

Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research & Operations

Date Posted: June 05, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ years of experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and scale a high-impact UX research function to inform product strategy and drive measurable business outcomes.

• Champion user needs and advocate for user-centered design principles at the executive level.

• Execute mixed-method research (qualitative and quantitative) to uncover user behaviors, needs, and pain points.

• Establish scalable research processes, tools, and templates to support a growing team and cross-functional partners.

• Partner closely with product, design, engineering, and marketing to translate research findings into actionable recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Manager of UX Research," the description emphasizes leadership, strategic influence, and operationalizing research processes. This suggests a strong need for individuals who can not only conduct research but also build and mature a research function within a growing SaaS organization. The focus on "enterprise platform" and "legal professionals" indicates a B2B context where understanding complex user workflows and business impact is crucial.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership:

  • Advocate for UX research at the executive level, influencing product and business strategy through compelling insights.
  • Align research initiatives with business goals, product roadmaps, and customer success metrics.
  • Define and evangelize a vision for research maturity across the organization.
  • Drive the strategic direction of UX research to ensure it is a key driver of product innovation and business success.

• Research Operations & Execution:

  • Design and execute mixed-method research (qualitative and quantitative) to uncover user needs, behaviors, and pain points.
  • Establish scalable research processes, tools, and templates to support a growing team and cross-functional partners.
  • Leverage the research repository and insight-sharing cadence that connects research to business outcomes.
  • Oversee the end-to-end research lifecycle, from planning and recruitment to analysis and reporting.

• Cross-functional Collaboration:

  • Facilitate workshops and storytelling sessions to socialize insights and drive alignment across departments.
  • Partner with Product Management, Design, Engineering, and Marketing to identify research opportunities and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
  • Lead, mentor, and grow a team of UX researchers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
  • Act as a key liaison between user insights and product development teams.

• Measurement & Impact:

  • Track and communicate the impact of research on product decisions, customer satisfaction, and business KPIs.

  • Develop frameworks to measure the ROI of UX research and its influence on product success.

  • Proactively identify opportunities to demonstrate the value of research through data and case studies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual role: strategic leadership in shaping the research function and hands-on execution of research. Emphasis on "research operations," "scalable processes," and "research repository" indicates a need for someone who can build infrastructure and best practices, not just execute individual studies. The expectation to "influence product and business strategy" and "measure ROI" points to a senior role with significant business impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Information Science, or a related field is typically expected for UX Research leadership roles.

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in UX research.

• At least 3 years in a leadership role managing UX researchers or a research function.

• Proven success advocating for research within executive and engineering teams.

• Experience building research functions from the ground up or scaling existing teams. Required Skills:

• Strategic Leadership & Vision: Ability to define and evangelize a research strategy, influence executive leadership, and align research with business objectives.

• Mixed-Method Research Expertise: Deep experience with both qualitative research methods (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, ethnographic studies) and quantitative research methods (e.g., surveys, analytics, A/B testing).

• Research Operations & Process Management: Ability to establish scalable research processes, tools, and frameworks; experience managing research repositories and insight sharing.

• Stakeholder Management & Communication: Excellent communication, storytelling, and presentation skills to effectively socialize insights and drive action across diverse teams (Product, Design, Engineering, Marketing, Executive Leadership).

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Experience leading, mentoring, and developing a team of UX researchers.

• Enterprise Software/Legal Tech Acumen: Strong understanding of enterprise software environments, with familiarity with legal workflows, compliance, or document management systems being a significant plus.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with user analytics platforms and data visualization tools.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

• Experience in SaaS environments.

• Ability to translate complex user needs into clear, actionable product requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "10+ years of experience" and "at least 3 years in a leadership role" clearly defines this as a senior management position. The emphasis on "advocating for research within executive and engineering teams" and "building research functions from the ground up" highlights the need for a strategic, influential, and operational leader. The specific mention of "enterprise software and/or legal tech environments" is a critical differentiator, suggesting a need for domain familiarity or the ability to quickly adapt to complex B2B workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Leadership: Showcase examples of leading research initiatives, managing research teams, and influencing product strategy at a leadership level.

• Strategic Research Planning: Include case studies demonstrating how you developed research roadmaps aligned with business objectives and product strategies.

• Mixed-Method Mastery: Present projects that illustrate your proficiency in designing and executing both qualitative and quantitative research, detailing the rationale for method selection.

• Operationalization of Research: Highlight instances where you established research processes, implemented tools, or developed systems (e.g., research repositories, insight-sharing platforms) to scale research impact.

• Impact & ROI Demonstration: Provide concrete examples of how your research insights led to measurable business outcomes, product improvements, or ROI. Quantify impact wherever possible (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved customer satisfaction scores, reduced support costs).

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design and Optimization: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their approach to designing and optimizing research workflows, ensuring efficiency and scalability.

• Implementation and Automation: Expect to discuss how you have implemented research tools, platforms, or templates to streamline research operations and automate insights delivery.

• Measurement and Performance Analysis: Be ready to explain how you track and measure the impact of research activities, demonstrating their contribution to business goals and KPIs.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Manager-level role focused on building and scaling a research function, a portfolio is crucial. It should not only showcase research execution but also strategic thinking, operational leadership, and the ability to demonstrate measurable business impact. The emphasis on "operations," "scalability," and "ROI" suggests that candidates should be prepared to present case studies that detail their approach to building and maturing a research practice, not just individual research projects.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $140,000 - $180,000 USD per year (base salary).

Benefits:

• Flexible working policy with a hybrid model (in-office Tuesdays & Thursdays).

• Market competitive salary, regularly reviewed based on industry data.

• Annual performance-based bonus.

• Comprehensive Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance.

• Life Insurance.

• 401k Retirement Savings Plan with a company match up to 4%.

• HealthJoy healthcare concierge service.

• Enhanced parental leave: 20 weeks 100% paid for primary leave, 10 weeks 100% paid for secondary leave.

• Flexible time off policy (vacation, volunteering, holidays, personal time).

• Company wellness days.

• Free access to the Healthy Minds app for mindfulness and meditation.

• Unlimited LinkedIn Learning access for skill development.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, the typical full-time engagement in the US is 40 hours per week. The company offers flexible work hours, supporting a healthy work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range ($140,000 - $180,000 USD for base salary) is for the Chicago, Illinois area. This range aligns with industry benchmarks for a Manager of UX Research with 10+ years of experience in a major metropolitan area. The extensive list of benefits, including enhanced parental leave, flexible time off, and wellness resources, indicates a strong focus on employee well-being and work-life balance, which is attractive to experienced professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / Technology, specifically SaaS for knowledge management and professional services (Legal Tech).

Company Size: iManage is a well-established company with over 1,000 employees and a significant global presence (65+ countries). This scale provides opportunities for impact and growth while still maintaining a focused team environment.

Founded: iManage has a history of innovation in document management and knowledge work solutions, suggesting a culture that values expertise, reliability, and continuous improvement.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team likely operates within the Product or Design organization, reporting to a Director or VP of Product/Design.

• This Manager will lead a team of UX Researchers, fostering collaboration and skill development within the team.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Managers, UX Designers, Engineering Leads, and potentially Marketing and Customer Success teams. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The role emphasizes influencing strategy and measuring impact, indicating a strong reliance on data and research insights.

• User-Centricity: iManage's mission "Making Knowledge WorkTM" and focus on empowering professionals underscores a commitment to understanding and serving user needs.

• Agile & Iterative Development: As a SaaS company, iManage likely operates within agile frameworks, requiring research to be integrated iteratively into the product development lifecycle.

Company Website: http://imanage.com

📝 Enhancement Note: iManage operates in the competitive Legal Tech and Enterprise SaaS space. This implies a need for researchers who understand complex enterprise workflows, B2B user needs, and the importance of security, reliability, and compliance. The company's size suggests a mature organization with established processes, but the emphasis on "scaling a high-impact UX research function" indicates there's still room for significant operational improvement and strategic influence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior management position within the UX Research discipline. It is a critical leadership role focused on building and scaling a research function that directly impacts product strategy, user experience, and ultimately, business outcomes for a global SaaS company. The scope includes strategic planning, team leadership, operational excellence, and cross-functional influence.

Reporting Structure: The Manager of UX Research will likely report to a Director or VP of Product Management, Design, or User Experience. They will lead a team of UX Researchers, providing mentorship, guidance, and performance management.

Operations Impact: The research conducted and insights generated by this role will directly influence the product roadmap, feature development, and overall user experience of iManage's enterprise platform. By ensuring the voice of the user is central to decision-making, this role will contribute to increased customer satisfaction, user adoption, product competitiveness, and ultimately, revenue growth and market leadership in the knowledge work solutions space.

Growth Opportunities:

• Team Expansion & Development: Opportunity to build out a best-in-class UX research team, recruit top talent, and establish a strong research culture.

• Strategic Influence: Grow influence within the organization by demonstrating the strategic value of research and shaping product and business strategies.

• Professional Development: Access to LinkedIn Learning and potential for industry conferences/certifications to stay abreast of the latest research methodologies and leadership practices.

• Career Progression: Potential to move into Director-level roles overseeing broader UX functions or to transition into related product leadership roles within iManage.

• Domain Expertise: Deepen expertise in Legal Tech and enterprise knowledge management, becoming a recognized leader in this specialized field.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for career growth for an experienced UX Research leader. The focus on "building and scaling a high-impact UX research function" suggests a hands-on leadership opportunity where the individual can shape the function's direction and processes. The mention of "owning my career path with our internal development framework" and "asking us more about this" indicates a company that invests in employee growth.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: iManage offers a hybrid work environment. Employees are expected to be in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays to foster collaboration, connection, and learning among peers. The remaining days offer flexibility for focused work. The description mentions a "modern open plan workspace, with a gaming area, free snacks, drinks and regular social events," suggesting a dynamic and engaging office atmosphere.

Office Location(s): Chicago, Illinois. The exact office address is not specified but is part of a major metropolitan area.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model is designed to balance individual focus with in-person collaboration, team building, and knowledge sharing.

• Tools & Technology: While specific tools aren't listed here, it's implied that a modern SaaS company will provide the necessary technology infrastructure and software for research and collaboration.

• Team Interaction: The in-office days are specifically designated for peer interaction, fostering a sense of community and facilitating spontaneous problem-solving and idea generation.

Work Schedule: The company offers "flexible work hours" that allow employees to balance personal and professional commitments. This flexibility, combined with the hybrid model, aims to support a healthy work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "hybrid" work arrangement with specific in-office days (Tuesdays & Thursdays) is a key detail for candidates. This indicates a structured approach to hybrid work, balancing flexibility with the need for in-person collaboration. The mention of a "modern open plan workspace" and "social events" suggests a company culture that values engagement and employee experience.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: Based on typical senior-level hiring processes for leadership roles, expect a multi-stage interview process:

1. Initial Screening: Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager (likely a VP or Director) focusing on leadership experience, strategic thinking, and research operationalization.

3. Team/Peer Interviews: Meetings with potential direct reports (UX Researchers) and cross-functional partners (Product Managers, Designers, Engineers) to assess collaboration style, technical expertise, and team dynamics.

4. Portfolio Presentation/Case Study: A significant portion will likely involve presenting a portfolio of past work, focusing on leadership initiatives, research strategy, operational improvements, and demonstrated business impact. This may include a prepared presentation or a live walkthrough.

5. Executive Interview: A final interview with a senior executive (e.g., CPO, CTO, or Head of Product) to evaluate strategic alignment, executive presence, and long-term vision for the research function.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Leadership & Strategy: Showcase how you've influenced product direction, built research capabilities, and driven strategic initiatives, not just individual research projects.

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the business problem, your research approach, the key insights, the actions taken based on those insights, and the measurable results (e.g., KPIs improved, revenue impact, cost savings).

• Demonstrate Operationalization: Highlight your experience in building research processes, implementing tools, or establishing research repositories that scale insights and improve efficiency.

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentations like compelling narratives, clearly articulating the challenge, your role, the solution, and the outcome.

• Tailor to iManage: Research iManage's products, target users (legal professionals/knowledge workers), and industry challenges. Frame your experience and case studies to show how you can address their specific needs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Research Vision: Be prepared to discuss your vision for scaling UX research in a growing enterprise SaaS company, including how you'd prioritize initiatives and measure success.

• Operationalizing Research: Anticipate questions about how you would build and manage a research repository, establish researcher onboarding, and integrate research insights into product development workflows.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Practice articulating how you would partner with Product Management and Engineering to ensure research is embedded effectively and its impact is understood and acted upon.

• Team Management: Prepare to discuss your leadership philosophy, how you mentor researchers, and how you foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be rigorous, emphasizing strategic leadership, operational capability, and business impact. Candidates should prepare to present a portfolio that goes beyond individual research studies to demonstrate their ability to build and lead a research function. The emphasis on "storytelling" and "ROI" suggests a need for candidates who can effectively communicate the value of research to business stakeholders.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools: While not explicitly listed, a Manager of UX Research in a SaaS company would typically be proficient in or manage the use of:

• Qualitative Research Tools: User interview platforms (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet), usability testing software (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze), affinity mapping tools (e.g., Miro, Mural).

• Quantitative Research Tools: Survey platforms (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, Google Forms), analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel).

• Research Repository/Knowledge Management: Tools for organizing and sharing research findings (e.g., Dovetail, Airtable, Confluence, dedicated internal solutions).

• Collaboration Tools: Miro, Mural, Jira, Confluence, Slack, Microsoft Teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Experience with product analytics tools to complement qualitative findings.

• Proficiency in creating reports and dashboards to communicate research insights and their impact to various stakeholders. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing CRM, understanding how user feedback and insights can inform CRM strategies or customer success initiatives is beneficial.

• Familiarity with workflow automation within research operations (e.g., participant recruitment, scheduling).

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific tools are not detailed, which is common for senior roles where the focus is on methodology and strategy rather than specific software proficiency. However, candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with a broad range of research tools and their ability to select and implement appropriate technologies for a growing research function. The emphasis on "research repository" and "insight sharing cadence" suggests a need for experience with systems that centralize and disseminate research findings.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user, ensuring their needs are at the forefront of product development.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A belief in using research insights and data to inform strategy and drive impactful decisions.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an environment where research findings are shared openly and insights are co-created with cross-functional teams.

• Continuous Improvement: A dedication to refining research processes, methodologies, and the overall research function to maximize effectiveness and efficiency.

• Impact & Accountability: Focusing on delivering research that has a measurable impact on business goals and accepting accountability for the outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively partnering with Product, Design, Engineering, and Marketing to ensure research is integrated seamlessly into the product development lifecycle.

• Insight Evangelism: Proactively sharing research findings and insights through compelling storytelling and various communication channels to drive understanding and action.

• Feedback Loops: Establishing clear feedback mechanisms to ensure research is addressing the most critical questions and that insights are actionable for stakeholders.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: Cultivating a team culture where researchers support each other, share best practices, and grow their skills collectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company description emphasizes "Making Knowledge WorkTM" and solving complex challenges, suggesting a culture that values expertise, innovation, and problem-solving. The emphasis on "inclusive, encouraging, and vibrant culture" and "creating an inclusive environment where I can help shape the culture" indicates a desire for leaders who contribute positively to the organizational atmosphere.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling a Maturing Research Function: Transitioning from an ad-hoc research approach to a scalable, strategic function requires significant process definition, tool implementation, and buy-in across departments.

• Demonstrating ROI in Enterprise SaaS: Quantifying the direct business impact of UX research in a complex B2B enterprise software environment can be challenging, requiring sophisticated measurement frameworks.

• Balancing Strategic Leadership with Hands-on Execution: As a manager, finding the right balance between leading the team and strategy, and still being hands-on with critical research studies, is key.

• Influencing Executive Stakeholders: Effectively advocating for user needs and research insights at the executive level requires strong communication, strategic alignment, and data-backed arguments.

• Domain Complexity: Deeply understanding the intricate workflows, needs, and pain points of legal professionals and knowledge workers within the context of document management and knowledge work.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Building a Research Center of Excellence: Opportunity to define and implement best practices for UX research operations, tooling, and methodology across the organization.

• Strategic Product Influence: Gaining experience in shaping product strategy at a senior leadership level within a leading SaaS company.

• Mentorship & Leadership Development: Growing leadership skills by managing and developing a team of UX researchers and potentially contributing to broader leadership development programs.

• Industry Expertise: Deepening knowledge of the Legal Tech and enterprise knowledge management sectors.

• Access to Learning Resources: Utilizing unlimited LinkedIn Learning subscriptions for continuous skill enhancement in research, leadership, and business strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a leadership role focused on building and scaling a function within an established company. They highlight areas where a candidate can demonstrate strategic thinking, operational expertise, and strong influencing skills. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to shape a critical function and advance one's career in a growing industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your vision for a mature UX research function within an enterprise SaaS company like iManage. What are the key pillars of that vision, and how would you operationalize it?"

• "How would you prioritize research initiatives when faced with competing product roadmap demands and limited resources? Walk us through your prioritization framework."

• "Imagine we have a significant user adoption challenge with a new feature. How would you approach researching this problem, and what kind of insights would you aim to uncover to drive product improvements?"

• "How do you measure and communicate the ROI of UX research to executive stakeholders? Provide an example of a time you successfully demonstrated the business impact of your research." Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about iManage and our mission to 'Make Knowledge Work'?"

• "How do you foster an inclusive and collaborative culture within your research team and with cross-functional partners?"

• "Describe your leadership philosophy. How do you mentor and develop researchers, and how do you handle performance management?"

• "Given our hybrid work model, how do you ensure effective collaboration and team cohesion?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with an executive summary of your leadership accomplishments. Then, present 2-3 detailed case studies focusing on strategic initiatives, research operationalization, and measurable business outcomes.

• Highlight Leadership & Strategy: Emphasize your role in defining research strategy, building teams, and influencing product direction, rather than just detailing individual research tasks.

• Quantify Results: For each case study, clearly articulate the business problem, your approach, the key insights, the actions taken, and the quantifiable impact (e.g., % increase in user satisfaction, reduction in churn, revenue impact).

• Demonstrate Operationalization: Showcase examples of how you've implemented processes, tools, or repositories to scale research and share insights effectively.

• Tailor to iManage: Connect your experience and case studies to iManage's specific industry, products, and user base (legal professionals).

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic leadership, operational expertise, and the ability to drive measurable business impact. Candidates should be ready to discuss their vision for scaling research, quantify the value of their work, and articulate how they would foster collaboration and build a high-performing team within iManage's specific context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Manager of UX Research position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on iManage's careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Prepare a portfolio that highlights leadership in scaling UX research functions, strategic planning, mixed-method research execution, and demonstrable business impact. Focus on case studies that showcase your ability to operationalize research and influence product strategy.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize leadership experience, strategic contributions, operational improvements you've implemented, and quantifiable achievements relevant to enterprise SaaS and legal tech. Ensure keywords related to UX Research leadership, operations, and strategy are prominently featured.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your vision for UX research, your approach to operational challenges, and your leadership philosophy. Prepare to present your portfolio with a clear narrative that demonstrates how your skills align with iManage's needs.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research iManage, its products (e.g., iManage Cloud, iManage Work 10), target users (legal professionals), and recent company news. Understand their mission, values, and the competitive landscape of legal tech and knowledge management.

⚠️ 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.