Manager, UX Research

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Manager, UX Research

Company: Elekta

Location: Crawley, United Kingdom / Helsinki, Finland (Hybrid)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research Management / Product Development Operations

Date Posted: April 29, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (10+ years implied)

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in office per week)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and manage a global team of UX Researchers, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement in user-centric design methodologies.

• Drive the strategy and execution of user research and usability testing for Elekta’s complex hardware and software products, ensuring they meet stringent user needs and safety standards.

• Champion User-Centred Design (UCD) principles across the organization, working collaboratively with Product Management, Engineering, and other UX/Design disciplines to integrate user insights into the product development lifecycle.

• Oversee critical usability engineering processes for regulated medical devices, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and supporting successful submissions and approvals.

• Quantify and communicate the business impact of UX research initiatives through compelling case studies and data-driven insights, demonstrating the value of user-centricity to senior leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership position within Elekta's UX & Design department, with significant scope for global team management, strategic influence, and direct impact on product quality and regulatory compliance. The hybrid work arrangement and explicit mention of office-based work (4 days/week) indicate a structured approach to in-person collaboration and team cohesion, which is common for management roles requiring direct team oversight and cross-functional engagement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Directly line-manage a global team of UX Researchers, encompassing recruitment, performance management, professional development, and motivation to achieve exceptional team performance.

• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of Elekta’s product portfolio and their operational contexts to strategically prioritize team resources, maximizing UX/product quality and measurable business impact.

• Cultivate and manage a robust network of internal stakeholders, particularly within Product and Engineering divisions, to clearly define project scopes, manage expectations, and provide regular progress updates.

• Actively support the Head of UX & Design in evangelizing the benefits of User-Centred Design (UCD) across Elekta, by identifying, collating, and communicating compelling case studies that demonstrate measurable business impact from UCD initiatives.

• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of other UX & Design domains (UX Strategy & Design, Industrial Design, UX Development) to effectively promote the broader team's capabilities and contributions.

• Define, refine, and oversee the processes and methodologies for UX research and user/usability testing, advocating for an iterative UCD approach that integrates user needs and preferences at every product development stage.

• Champion the proactive execution of early discovery research activities (e.g., interviews, observations, contextual research) for all significant new or revised products, negotiating pragmatic compromises with Product and Engineering leads when necessary.

• Lead the Usability Engineering process for regulated medical devices, ensuring the execution and proper documentation of formative and summative usability testing, and collaborating with Product and Regulatory teams to support regulatory submissions and approvals.

• Manage the systematic collection and application of user insights derived from phased launch activities (e.g., alpha, beta, pilot, early adopter, commercial launch, post-launch) to drive continuous product UX improvements.

• Establish and implement consistent methods for measuring product UX quality across research and usability testing activities, enabling tracking of improvements over time, product comparisons, and competitive benchmarking.

• Maximize the value derived from existing secondary user research and market research studies by thoroughly analyzing insights and formulating actionable recommendations for product UX enhancements.

• Strategically determine the optimal balance between in-house UX research capabilities and the engagement of third-party agencies, maintaining a roster of qualified agencies and managing their contributions effectively.

• Stay abreast of state-of-the-art advancements and best practices in the User-Centred Design of regulated medical devices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly delineate strategic leadership (team management, UCD evangelism, stakeholder influence) from tactical execution (overseeing research processes, usability engineering for medical devices). The emphasis on "measurable business impact" and "regulatory submissions/approvals" highlights the critical operational and compliance aspects of this role within a medical technology company.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree in User Experience, Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction, Experimental Psychology, or a closely related relevant field.

Experience:

• Comprehensive knowledge base acquired from 8+ years of experience as a Senior or Lead UX Researcher within domains involving complex products and services.

• Minimum of 2+ years of direct experience in managing a UX research team, including all core people management responsibilities such as hiring, performance reviews, and career development.

Required Skills:

• Extensive expertise in designing and executing a wide range of qualitative and quantitative UX research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, contextual inquiry, usability testing, surveys, card sorting).

• Deep understanding of Usability Engineering processes and regulatory requirements for medical devices, including experience leading formative and summative usability testing and preparing documentation for regulatory submissions (e.g., FDA, MDR).

• Strong people management and leadership skills, with a demonstrated ability to build, motivate, and develop a high-performing global research team.

• Excellent stakeholder management capabilities, with a proven track record of influencing senior leaders and achieving cross-functional agreement on user-centred design initiatives.

• Skilled storyteller with the ability to translate complex research findings into clear, concise, and actionable insights for diverse audiences, from individual contributors to executive leadership.

• Strategic thinking and the ability to prioritize research efforts based on business impact, product criticality, and regulatory requirements.

• Proficiency in synthesizing insights from secondary research, market research, and competitive analysis to inform product strategy and UX improvements.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with agile development methodologies and integrating UX research seamlessly into sprint cycles.

• Familiarity with advanced statistical analysis techniques for quantitative UX data.

• Knowledge of UX design principles and methodologies to foster deeper collaboration with UX designers.

• Experience in product lifecycle management within the medical technology sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 8+ years in UX research and 2+ years in management positions this role firmly in a senior leadership bracket. The specific mention of "regulated medical devices" and "regulatory submissions/approvals" is a critical differentiator, requiring specialized knowledge beyond general UX research. The "skilled storyteller" requirement emphasizes the importance of effective communication for driving change and demonstrating value.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated ability to lead and execute comprehensive UX research programs for complex products, showcasing a strategic approach to user understanding throughout the product lifecycle.

• Evidence of successful usability engineering initiatives for regulated products, including documentation of formative and summative testing, risk mitigation strategies, and contribution to regulatory submissions.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the process of identifying user needs, translating them into design requirements, and validating solutions through rigorous user testing.

• Examples of how user insights have directly influenced product strategy, design decisions, and led to measurable improvements in product quality, user satisfaction, or business outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase understanding of the iterative UCD process, from early discovery research (ethnography, interviews) through concept validation, design iteration, and post-launch analysis.

• Provide examples of how research plans were developed, executed, and how findings were synthesized and communicated to cross-functional teams and leadership.

• Demonstrate experience in establishing and refining research methodologies to ensure consistency, rigor, and alignment with business objectives and regulatory standards.

• Illustrate approaches to managing research budgets, timelines, and external vendor relationships effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a management role, the portfolio should emphasize leadership, strategic impact, and process oversight rather than solely individual research contributions. The focus on "measurable business impact" and "regulatory compliance" is paramount, requiring portfolio pieces that clearly link research activities to tangible results and adherence to strict industry standards.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for a Manager-level UX Research role with global team management responsibilities in the UK and considering the specialized requirements for medical device regulations, an estimated annual salary range would be between £75,000 - £105,000 GBP. This estimate is derived from research of comparable roles in the UK technology and medical device sectors, factoring in the seniority, scope of responsibility, and the hybrid work model. Actual compensation will be determined by the candidate's specific experience, qualifications, and the final negotiation.

Benefits:

• Generous Paid Vacation Days: Up to 25 days per year, plus bank holidays.

• Holiday Purchase Scheme: Option to purchase additional vacation days.

• Private Medical Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for healthcare needs.

• Attractive Employer Pension Contribution Package: Significant employer contributions to retirement savings.

• Cycle to Work Scheme: Tax-efficient program for purchasing bicycles.

• Life Assurance: Financial protection for beneficiaries.

• Onsite Subsidized Restaurant: Budget-friendly dining options available at the office.

Working Hours:

The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. This role operates on a hybrid model, requiring 4 days per week in the Crawley Hub office, with one day available for remote work. This structure allows for focused individual work while maintaining essential in-person collaboration and team engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on UK market data for similar senior UX research management roles in regulated industries. The provided benefits are comprehensive and typical for a large, established organization like Elekta. The hybrid arrangement is clearly defined.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Medical Technology / Healthcare Solutions. Elekta is a global leader in developing and providing advanced cancer treatment solutions, including radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and related software. This industry demands a high degree of precision, reliability, and adherence to stringent regulatory standards.

Company Size: Elekta is a large, established global organization, likely employing several thousand individuals worldwide. This size implies a structured environment with established processes, cross-functional departments, and opportunities for career development within a multinational framework.

Founded: Elekta was founded in 1972. This long history indicates a stable company with deep expertise in its field, a strong market presence, and a wealth of experience in navigating the complexities of the medical technology industry.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team is global, suggesting a distributed structure with potential for local leads or senior researchers reporting into this Manager. This role will likely oversee multiple individual contributors.

• The Manager, UX Research reports to the Head of UX & Design (UX&D), indicating a clear reporting line within a larger design and user experience function.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is paramount, with a strong emphasis on user insights derived from rigorous research and testing.

• A User-Centred Design (UCD) methodology is central to Elekta's product development philosophy, requiring a proactive and iterative approach to incorporating user feedback.

• Process optimization is key, especially concerning the Usability Engineering for regulated medical devices, ensuring efficiency and compliance.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential for integrating UX research findings into product strategy and engineering execution.

Company Website: https://www.elekta.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Elekta's positioning in the medical technology sector, specifically cancer care, implies a mission-driven culture. The company's long history and global scale suggest a need for robust processes and a structured approach to operations and product development. The emphasis on UCD and regulatory compliance is critical for understanding the operational context.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a significant step into senior leadership within the UX Operations and Product Development domain. As a Manager, the individual is responsible for a global team, strategic direction of UX research, and direct influence on product quality and regulatory compliance. This level requires not only deep technical expertise in UX research but also strong people management, stakeholder influence, and business acumen.

Reporting Structure: The Manager, UX Research reports to the Head of UX & Design. This positions them as a key leader within the UX&D function, with direct reports and significant responsibility for operationalizing UX research across Elekta's product lines globally. They will work closely with peers in other UX&D disciplines and collaborate extensively with Product Management and Engineering leadership.

Operations Impact: The UX Research Manager has a direct and critical impact on Elekta's revenue and business decisions through:

• Product Quality & Safety: Ensuring products are easy and safe to use directly impacts user adoption, reduces support costs, and mitigates risks associated with medical device usage.

• Regulatory Compliance: Leading usability engineering for regulated medical devices is essential for product approval and market access, directly impacting Elekta's ability to sell its products globally.

• Market Competitiveness: High-quality, user-friendly products enhance Elekta's competitive position and brand reputation within the healthcare sector.

• Product Strategy: User insights gathered by the team inform product roadmaps, feature prioritization, and investment decisions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to progress to Head of UX Research or a more senior leadership role within UX&D, overseeing larger teams or broader strategic initiatives.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in regulated medical device usability engineering and compliance, becoming a subject matter expert within the industry.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Opportunities to lead broader product development initiatives or transition into Product Management or Design Strategy roles.

• Global Impact: Continue to expand influence across Elekta's international operations and product portfolio.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to best practices in UX research for medical devices through speaking engagements, publications, or industry forums.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis highlights the strategic importance of the role beyond typical UX research, emphasizing its direct contribution to compliance and business success within the highly regulated medical device industry. Growth opportunities are framed within leadership progression and specialized expertise.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an office-based role with a hybrid arrangement. Elekta maintains a "Crawley Hub" which serves as a central point for collaboration and in-person work. The environment is likely professional, with modern office facilities designed to support team collaboration and individual focus.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is Crawley, United Kingdom (Cornerstone). While Helsinki is also listed, the description specifies "4 days a week from our Crawley Hub," indicating Crawley is the designated primary office for this role.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and the presence of a dedicated "Hub" emphasize the importance of face-to-face interaction for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional alignment with Product and Engineering teams.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to standard office technology, project management tools, and potentially specialized UX research software and hardware relevant to medical device development.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with direct reports (global UX researchers), peers in other UX&D disciplines, and key stakeholders in Product Management and Engineering.

Work Schedule: A hybrid schedule of 4 days in the Crawley office and 1 day remote is standard for this role. The typical working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, allowing for flexibility within the workday to manage research activities, team communications, and stakeholder engagements across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Crawley Hub" designation suggests a modern office setup intended to facilitate collaboration and serve as a central point for hybrid workers. The emphasis on 4 days in-office underscores the value placed on in-person interaction for this management role in a complex, regulated industry.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial screening call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth discussion with the Head of UX & Design focusing on leadership experience, strategic vision for UX research, and understanding of the medical device industry.

• Team & Peer Interviews: Meetings with other UX&D managers and potentially senior UX researchers or key Product/Engineering stakeholders. This stage assesses collaborative capabilities and domain knowledge.

• Portfolio Presentation/Case Study: Candidates will be expected to present a portfolio showcasing their leadership in UX research, team management, and impact on product development, with a strong emphasis on medical device usability and business outcomes.

• Final Interview/Executive Review: Potentially a final interview with a senior executive to confirm alignment with company values and strategic direction.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Leadership: Showcase your experience in managing, mentoring, and developing a UX research team. Highlight your strategic contributions to the team's direction and processes.

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the business problem, your team's research approach, the key insights generated, and the measurable impact on product quality, user experience, regulatory compliance, or business metrics (e.g., reduced errors, improved adoption rates, successful regulatory submissions).

• Medical Device Expertise: Emphasize your experience with regulated medical devices, including your understanding of usability engineering, formative/summative testing, and documentation for regulatory bodies.

• Stakeholder Management: Provide examples of how you've successfully influenced senior stakeholders and driven cross-functional agreement on user-centred design initiatives.

• Storytelling: Present your work as compelling narratives that highlight challenges, solutions, and outcomes, making it easy for interviewers to grasp your contributions and strategic thinking.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss hypothetical scenarios related to managing a global UX research team, prioritizing research efforts for a diverse product portfolio, and navigating challenges in regulated environments.

• Consider how you would evangelize UCD within an organization and measure its impact.

• Prepare to articulate your philosophy on managing UX researchers, fostering their growth, and ensuring high-quality output.

• Think about how you would integrate user feedback from various launch phases into product improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize leadership capabilities, strategic thinking, and specialized knowledge in medical device UX. The portfolio presentation is a critical component, requiring candidates to demonstrate tangible impact and regulatory acumen.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Research Platforms: Proficiency with tools for survey creation, participant recruitment, remote usability testing, and data analysis (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Lookback, Maze).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Experience with tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello for workflow management, documentation, and cross-functional team collaboration.

• Design & Prototyping Tools (for review): Familiarity with Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD to understand design deliverables and facilitate feedback loops with design teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Software: Ability to leverage tools for qualitative data analysis (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and quantitative data analysis (e.g., Excel, SPSS, R, Python for statistical analysis).

• Business Intelligence Tools: Familiarity with BI platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) for creating dashboards and reports that visualize UX metrics and their business impact.

• Metrics Tracking: Understanding of how to define, track, and report on key UX metrics (e.g., SUS, SEQ, task success rates, error rates, time on task) and their correlation with business objectives.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems (for context): While not a direct CRM role, understanding how CRM data can inform user segmentation and research participant targeting (e.g., Salesforce).

• Workflow Automation: Awareness of how automation can streamline research operations, such as automated participant scheduling or data collection processes.

• Integration Tools (awareness): Understanding how UX research tools might integrate with broader product development ecosystems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is on tools that support research operations, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration. While direct management of CRM or automation tools might not be required, an understanding of how these systems interact with user data and product development is beneficial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user in all aspects of product development, ensuring solutions are effective, efficient, and satisfying.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Valuing empirical evidence and rigorous analysis to inform strategic decisions and validate design hypotheses.

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to delivering high-quality research, actionable insights, and contributing to products that meet the highest standards of safety and usability, particularly within the medical device context.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an open environment where team members share knowledge, provide constructive feedback, and work collaboratively across departments to achieve common goals.

• Continuous Improvement: A proactive approach to refining research methodologies, processes, and team skills to stay at the forefront of UX practice and adapt to evolving industry needs.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively partnering with Product Management, Engineering, Regulatory Affairs, and other UX/Design disciplines to ensure user insights are foundational to product strategy, design, and development.

• Process-Oriented: A structured approach to collaboration, utilizing defined workflows for research planning, execution, and reporting, with clear communication channels.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: Encouraging open dialogue and constructive feedback loops within the UX team and with cross-functional partners to drive iterative improvements and shared understanding.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting a culture where research findings, best practices, and learnings are shared broadly to elevate the UX maturity of the entire organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are strongly tied to its mission in healthcare and the demands of a regulated industry. Collaboration is framed around integration with critical functions like Product, Engineering, and Regulatory Affairs, underscoring the operational importance of the UX research function.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Global Team Management: Effectively leading and motivating a geographically dispersed team, managing diverse working styles, and ensuring consistent research quality across different regions.

• Balancing Research Needs with Business Demands: Navigating competing priorities and resource constraints to ensure timely and impactful research for a complex product portfolio, especially within tight regulatory timelines.

• Evangelizing UCD in a Matrixed Organization: Influencing stakeholders across various departments who may have different priorities or levels of understanding regarding user-centred design principles.

• Staying Current in a Rapidly Evolving Field: Keeping pace with advancements in UX research methodologies, tools, and regulatory requirements for medical devices.

• Demonstrating ROI: Quantifying the precise business impact of UX research initiatives in a way that resonates with financial stakeholders.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UCD for Regulated Industries: Deepen expertise in specific regulatory frameworks (e.g., IEC 62366) and advanced usability engineering techniques for medical devices.

• Leadership and Management Training: Access to Elekta's internal leadership development programs, focusing on strategic management, change leadership, and cross-cultural team building.

• Industry Conferences and Certifications: Opportunities to attend leading UX research and human factors conferences (e.g., HFES, CHI) and pursue relevant certifications.

• Mentorship Programs: Potential to be mentored by senior leaders within Elekta or to mentor emerging UX researchers, fostering personal and professional growth.

• Strategic Product Influence: Gaining deeper insights into Elekta's product strategy and contributing to the long-term vision for user experience across their portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are specific to managing a global team in a regulated industry, requiring a blend of people management, strategic planning, and domain expertise. Growth opportunities are geared towards leadership progression and specialized knowledge development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to building and managing a high-performing global UX research team. What are your key strategies for fostering collaboration and ensuring consistent quality across different regions?" (Focus on people management, process standardization, and cross-cultural communication.)

• "How would you prioritize UX research efforts for a complex product portfolio with varying regulatory requirements and business impacts? Walk us through your decision-making framework." (Highlight strategic prioritization, risk assessment, and alignment with business goals.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Elekta's mission to improve cancer care, and how do you see your role as UX Research Manager contributing to that mission?" (Demonstrate alignment with the company's purpose and understanding of its impact.)

• "How do you stay informed about the latest advancements in UX research, particularly within the medical device industry and its regulatory landscape?" (Showcase commitment to continuous learning and domain expertise.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your team's role and methodology, the key findings, the actions taken based on those findings, and the measurable business or product impact.

• Highlight Leadership & Process: Emphasize your role in managing the research process, leading the team, and collaborating with stakeholders, not just the research activities themselves.

• Quantify Results: Use data and metrics wherever possible to demonstrate the impact of your team's work (e.g., "reduced task completion time by 15%", "contributed to a successful FDA submission by identifying and mitigating X critical usability issues").

• Focus on Medical Device Nuances: If possible, include examples that specifically address usability engineering for regulated products, demonstrating your understanding of compliance requirements.

• Engage Your Audience: Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your process, decisions, and the outcomes. Make it interactive and demonstrate your passion for user-centred design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions will probe leadership capabilities, strategic thinking, problem-solving in a regulated context, and the ability to communicate complex UX concepts and their business value. Portfolio preparation should focus on demonstrating leadership and measurable impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Manager, UX Research position:

• Submit Your Application: Click the "Apply" button on the Elekta careers portal and submit your resume and cover letter in English. Ensure your application is complete and submitted through the official channel, as applications by email are not accepted.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in managing UX research teams, your expertise in usability engineering for regulated medical devices, and your track record of driving measurable business impact through user-centred design. Use keywords from the job description and operations industry standards.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a selection of your strongest work that showcases leadership in UX research, team management, and successful navigation of complex product development cycles, particularly in regulated environments. Focus on case studies with quantifiable results and clear articulation of your team's impact.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio and answering potential interview questions. Be ready to discuss your leadership philosophy, strategic approach to UX research, and how you would contribute to Elekta's mission.

• Research Elekta: Gain a deep understanding of Elekta's products, its mission in cancer care, and its position in the medical technology market. Familiarize yourself with their approach to UCD and regulatory compliance.

⚠️ 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.