Senior Manager - Digital UX Researcher

CVS Health
Full-time$130k-261k/year (USD)New York, United States

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Manager - Digital UX Researcher

Company: CVS Health

Location: Work At Home - New York, NY, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Digital UX Research / Product Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-18

Experience Level: 7-10 years

Remote Status: Remote (Work At Home)

🚀 Role Summary

  • Leads comprehensive digital UX research initiatives, translating complex user behaviors and needs into actionable insights for product and design teams.

  • Develops and implements industry-leading digital UX strategies that directly impact business results and long-term organizational success within the healthcare sector.

  • Drives user-centric design principles across digital product development, advocating for the user throughout the entire product lifecycle.

  • Provides expert mentorship and guidance to junior UX researchers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development within the team.

  • Collaborates closely with cross-functional stakeholders, including product management, design, engineering, and marketing, to ensure research findings are integrated effectively into product roadmaps and strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Manager - Digital UX Researcher," the core responsibilities and required experience (7-10 years) suggest this role sits at the Senior Individual Contributor or Lead level, focusing on deep expertise and strategic influence rather than direct people management, unless the "coaches other professionals" aspect implies leading a small team or project group. The "Manager" title likely reflects the seniority and strategic scope of the role within the operations framework.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Plan, design, and execute a wide range of qualitative and quantitative user research studies, including but not limited to usability testing, in-depth interviews, surveys, card sorting, and heuristic evaluations for digital products and services.

  • Analyze and synthesize complex user data, identifying key trends, pain points, and opportunities to inform product strategy and design iterations, ensuring data-driven decision-making.

  • Translate research findings into compelling, actionable insights and recommendations, presenting them effectively to diverse audiences, including senior leadership, product managers, and design teams through reports, presentations, and workshops.

  • Develop and maintain a deep understanding of target user segments, their needs, motivations, and behaviors, creating user personas and journey maps to guide product development.

  • Champion user advocacy within the organization, ensuring that user needs and perspectives are central to all digital product development and business strategy discussions.

  • Manage relationships with external research vendors and partners, ensuring the quality and efficiency of outsourced research activities and benchmarking against industry best practices.

  • Stay abreast of the latest trends, tools, and methodologies in digital UX research and product development, continuously enhancing the team's capabilities and research practices.

  • Review and validate research conducted by other team members, ensuring adherence to established research protocols, ethical guidelines, and organizational standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description emphasizes "strategic decision-making processes" and "industry-leading digital UX strategies," indicating this role is pivotal in shaping the future of CVS Health's digital offerings, moving beyond execution to strategic planning and influence within the broader GTM and product operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree preferred, or specialized training/relevant professional qualification in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design, or a related field.

Experience: 7-10 years of progressive experience in digital user experience (UX) research, with a strong focus on digital product development within a corporate or agency setting.

Required Skills:

  • Demonstrated expertise in a wide array of UX research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) and the ability to select appropriate methods for different research objectives.

  • Proven ability to translate complex theoretical concepts and textbook principles into practical, innovative solutions for enhancing digital user experiences.

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to derive actionable insights from user data and feedback.

  • Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

  • Experience in developing and executing comprehensive digital UX strategies that align with business objectives.

  • Proficiency in managing external research vendors or partners and coordinating research efforts.

  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (e.g., product management, design, engineering, marketing).

  • A strong growth mindset, demonstrating agility, a commitment to continuous learning, and the ability to develop oneself and others.

  • Proven execution and delivery skills, including effective planning, project management, and successful implementation of research initiatives.

  • Solid understanding of business intelligence principles and how to leverage data to inform strategic decisions. Preferred Skills:

  • Experience in the healthcare industry or a highly regulated sector.

  • Familiarity with A/B testing and other experimentation frameworks to validate design hypotheses.

  • Experience with advanced analytics tools and platforms for user behavior analysis.

  • Ability to mentor and coach junior researchers, fostering their professional growth.

  • Experience in accessibility research and inclusive design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "7-10 years work experience" requirement, coupled with "Adept at problem solving and decision making skills," "Adept at collaboration and teamwork," and "Adept at growth mindset," indicates a need for seasoned professionals who can operate autonomously and strategically. The emphasis on "business intelligence" suggests the role requires understanding how UX research contributes to broader business outcomes and KPIs.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • A robust portfolio showcasing a minimum of 7-10 years of impactful UX research work, with a clear emphasis on digital products and services.

  • Case studies demonstrating the end-to-end research process, from initial problem definition and research planning to data analysis, insight generation, and the ultimate impact on product design and business outcomes.

  • Examples of how research findings were translated into actionable recommendations that led to measurable improvements in user experience, engagement, or conversion rates.

  • Documentation illustrating the application of diverse research methodologies appropriate for different stages of the product development lifecycle.

  • Evidence of strategic thinking and the ability to influence product roadmaps and design decisions based on user insights. Process Documentation:

  • Detailed descriptions of research methodologies employed, including rationale for method selection and adaptation to specific project needs.

  • Examples of user data analysis techniques and synthesis processes used to derive key insights.

  • Demonstrations of how research findings were communicated and socialized across cross-functional teams and leadership.

  • Documentation of processes for managing research projects, including timelines, resource allocation, and stakeholder communication.

  • Examples of how user feedback loops were established and maintained to ensure continuous improvement of digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio with at least 7-10 years of work experience implies a need for substantial, high-quality case studies that highlight not just execution but also strategic impact and leadership in research initiatives. The emphasis on "adapting theoretical concepts and textbook principles into practical and innovative solutions" means the portfolio should demonstrate creative problem-solving and pragmatic application of research.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $130,295 - $260,590 annually.

This pay range represents the base annual full-time salary. The actual offer will be determined by factors such as experience, education, geographic location, and other relevant considerations.

Benefits:

  • Medical Coverage

  • Dental Coverage

  • Vision Coverage

  • Paid Time Off (PTO)

  • Retirement Savings Options (e.g., 401(k))

  • Wellness Programs

  • CVS Health Bonus Program

  • Commission opportunities (if applicable to specific project/product)

  • Short-term Incentive Program

  • Equity Award Program (with an award target)

Working Hours: The role is full-time, typically involving 40 hours per week. While remote, adherence to standard business hours for collaboration and meetings is expected, with potential for flexibility depending on project needs and team coordination.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is exceptionally broad, suggesting significant variation based on candidate experience, specific location within New York (cost of living can vary), and negotiation. The inclusion of bonus, commission, short-term incentives, and equity awards indicates a total compensation package that can significantly exceed the base salary, especially for a senior role. Researching UX Researcher salaries in major New York metropolitan areas, considering the 7-10 year experience band, would be prudent for candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare, Retail Pharmacy, Insurance, and Managed Care. CVS Health operates at the intersection of these critical sectors, aiming to provide integrated health services. This industry context means a strong emphasis on compliance, patient privacy (HIPAA), and ethical considerations in all product development and research.

Company Size: CVS Health is a Fortune 10 company, employing hundreds of thousands of individuals globally. This large scale implies robust infrastructure, established processes, and significant resources, but also potentially a need for agility and clear communication to navigate a complex organization.

Founded: CVS Health was founded in 1963. Its long history reflects stability and deep market presence, combined with ongoing evolution to meet changing healthcare needs.

Team Structure:

  • The UX Research team likely operates within a larger Digital or Product organization, potentially reporting into a Head of Digital Experience or Chief Product Officer.

  • This Senior Manager role may lead a specific domain of UX research (e.g., digital health platforms, customer portals) or mentor a group of UX researchers.

  • Close collaboration is expected with Product Managers, UX/UI Designers, Engineers, Data Analysts, and potentially Marketing and Business Strategy teams. Methodology:

  • Data-driven decision-making is paramount, with a strong reliance on user research, analytics, and A/B testing to inform product strategy and design.

  • A user-centric approach is core, aiming to simplify healthcare experiences and improve customer outcomes.

  • Agile methodologies are likely employed for product development, requiring UX research to be iterative and adaptable.

  • Emphasis on innovation to address complex healthcare challenges and improve member/patient experiences.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Given CVS Health's scale and industry, the operations team likely focuses on process standardization, efficiency, and ensuring compliance. For a UX Researcher, this means understanding how research findings can be integrated into established workflows and how to communicate the value of user insights to diverse, often compliance-focused, stakeholders.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Manager, indicating a high level of expertise and strategic responsibility. It's a senior individual contributor role with leadership potential, focused on driving significant impact through research and mentorship. The scope involves influencing strategic decisions and developing industry-leading practices.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Director or VP of UX, Digital Product, or a related leadership role. The role will involve close collaboration with various departments, requiring strong stakeholder management and communication skills to navigate a large corporate structure.

Operations Impact: The primary impact is on improving the user experience of CVS Health's digital platforms, which directly influences customer engagement, retention, satisfaction, and potentially health outcomes. Strategic UX research can drive product innovation, reduce development waste, and contribute significantly to business goals such as increased digital adoption, improved customer loyalty, and enhanced operational efficiency within digital channels.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Specialization: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in specific areas of digital health UX research (e.g., telehealth, pharmacy services, loyalty programs).

  • Leadership: Potential to move into a Director or VP-level role, managing larger teams and broader strategic initiatives, or to transition into a Product Management or Strategy role leveraging deep user understanding.

  • Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities through industry conferences, workshops, and internal training to stay ahead of UX research trends and methodologies.

  • Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining deeper insights into various business functions within CVS Health, such as marketing, operations, and strategy, which can open up diverse career paths.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Manager" title, despite the role being primarily individual contributor focused, signals a trajectory towards leadership. Growth opportunities will likely involve taking on more complex projects, mentoring more individuals, and potentially managing a dedicated research function or team as the organization's digital presence expands.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a "Work At Home" (Remote) position, indicating a fully remote work environment. Candidates should be comfortable working independently and managing their time effectively from a home office.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, it is specified for "Work At Home - New York." This implies that candidates are expected to reside in or be willing to relocate to New York, or at least be based within a time zone compatible with New York operations for potential collaboration needs.

Workspace Context:

  • The individual will be part of a distributed team, requiring strong self-discipline and proactive communication.

  • Access to digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom) will be essential for connecting with colleagues, sharing work, and participating in meetings.

  • The role demands a well-equipped home office setup conducive to conducting research, analyzing data, and presenting findings.

  • Opportunities for virtual collaboration and team-building activities will be provided to foster a sense of connection within the remote workforce.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected. While remote, core working hours will likely align with Eastern Time (ET) for maximum team and stakeholder collaboration. Flexibility may be offered, but responsiveness during business hours is crucial for effective teamwork and project delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Work At Home - New York" designation suggests that while fully remote, there might be a preference for candidates within the New York region or a need to align with New York's operational framework, potentially for tax or legal reasons, or for occasional in-person meetings if required (though unlikely for a fully remote role).

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will likely review applications and conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

  • Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the hiring manager to delve deeper into experience, research methodologies, strategic thinking, and alignment with team goals.

  • Portfolio Presentation: A crucial stage where candidates present a selection of their best work, showcasing research projects, methodologies, insights, and impact. This is where candidates demonstrate their ability to translate theory into practice and influence.

  • Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders (e.g., Product Managers, Designers, Engineers) to evaluate collaboration skills, communication clarity, and the ability to integrate research into product development workflows.

  • Final Interview/Debrief: Potentially a final discussion with a senior leader or a debrief session to finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best represent your expertise, cover a range of methodologies, and demonstrate significant impact. Tailor your selection to highlight experience relevant to digital products and healthcare if possible.

  • Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the research process (methodology, challenges, adaptations), key insights, recommendations, and the resulting outcomes (quantifiable if possible).

  • Focus on Impact: Emphasize how your research influenced product decisions, improved user experience, and contributed to business objectives. Use metrics to quantify success whenever feasible.

  • Showcase Strategic Thinking: Highlight instances where you influenced strategy, advocated for users, or contributed to broader product roadmaps.

  • Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your methodology choices, how you handled difficult stakeholders, how you synthesized complex data, and how you would approach specific challenges at CVS Health.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Be prepared for a potential "take-home assignment" or a live case study simulating a real research problem. This might involve analyzing a dataset, critiquing an existing digital experience, or proposing a research plan for a given scenario.

  • Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, especially when under time constraints.

  • Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving approach, analytical skills, and ability to deliver actionable recommendations.

  • Understand CVS Health's business and digital presence to better contextualize any challenges presented.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is critical for this role. Candidates should be prepared to discuss not just what they did but why they made certain methodological choices and how their research directly led to tangible improvements or strategic shifts. Demonstrating "adapting theoretical concepts and textbook principles into practical and innovative solutions" will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • UX Research Platforms: Tools for usability testing, surveys, and participant recruitment (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Lookback, Maze).

  • Analytics & Data Analysis: Tools for analyzing user behavior data, website analytics, and A/B testing results (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, SQL).

  • Data Visualization: Tools to create compelling dashboards and reports (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker).

  • Collaboration & Project Management: Tools for team communication, project tracking, and documentation (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Miro, Figma).

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Proficiency in interpreting data from web analytics platforms to identify user pain points and areas for improvement.

  • Experience in designing and analyzing experiments (A/B tests) to validate hypotheses and measure the impact of changes.

  • Ability to generate clear, concise reports and dashboards that communicate research findings and their implications effectively to various stakeholders. CRM & Automation:

  • While not directly managing CRM systems, understanding how user data is collected and managed within CRM or customer data platforms (CDPs) can be beneficial for context.

  • Familiarity with marketing automation tools or customer journey mapping software can aid in understanding the broader customer lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires a strong command of UX research tools. Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools is also crucial for synthesizing findings and communicating them effectively. Experience with tools used in agile development environments (like Jira/Confluence) is highly probable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user's needs in all product and strategic decisions.

  • Data-Driven: Emphasizing objective data and insights from research and analytics to guide decision-making.

  • Collaboration: Fostering a team environment where cross-functional partners work together seamlessly, sharing knowledge and insights.

  • Innovation: Encouraging creative problem-solving and the development of novel solutions to improve healthcare experiences.

  • Accountability: Taking ownership of research outcomes and their impact on business results, with a focus on execution and delivery.

  • Growth Mindset: A commitment to continuous learning, self-improvement, and developing oneself and others.

Collaboration Style:

  • Proactive and transparent communication is key, especially in a remote setting.

  • Collaborative approach involves actively seeking input from and providing insights to product managers, designers, engineers, and other stakeholders.

  • Openness to feedback and iterative refinement of research plans and findings.

  • A willingness to educate and evangelize the value of UX research across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given CVS Health's emphasis on "caring deeply," "innovate with purpose," and "prioritize safety and quality," the UX research team's culture will likely reflect these values. This means research should not only aim for usability but also for empathy, ethical considerations, and contributing to positive health outcomes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Navigating a Large Organization: Understanding and effectively engaging with numerous stakeholders across different departments within a Fortune 10 company can be complex.

  • Balancing Research Rigor with Speed: Delivering high-quality, actionable insights within fast-paced product development cycles requires efficient planning and execution.

  • Demonstrating ROI: Clearly articulating the business value and return on investment of UX research initiatives to secure continued support and resources.

  • Evolving Healthcare Landscape: Keeping pace with rapid changes in healthcare technology, regulations, and consumer expectations requires continuous learning and adaptation.

  • Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion and effective communication in a fully remote work environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Advanced Methodologies: Opportunities to explore and implement cutting-edge UX research techniques and technologies.

  • Industry Certifications: Pursuing certifications in UX research, product management, or related fields.

  • Mentorship Programs: Access to senior leaders and experienced professionals for guidance and career development.

  • Conferences and Workshops: Participation in industry events to stay current with trends and network with peers.

  • Cross-functional Projects: Involvement in projects that offer exposure to different areas of the business, broadening skills and understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenge of "balancing research rigor with speed" is particularly relevant for operations roles. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they prioritize research efforts, adapt methodologies for faster turnarounds, and communicate limitations effectively.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you used user research to significantly influence a product's strategic direction. What was the outcome?" (Prepare a detailed case study focusing on strategic impact and measurable results.)

  • "How would you approach researching user needs for a new digital health service, considering regulatory constraints like HIPAA?" (Demonstrate understanding of industry-specific challenges and ethical considerations.)

  • "Imagine a product team is resistant to incorporating UX research findings. How would you build consensus and advocate for user-centricity?" (Focus on communication, influence, and stakeholder management strategies.) Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What interests you about CVS Health and its mission to simplify healthcare?" (Research CVS Health's current initiatives, values, and recent news.)

  • "How do you see your UX research expertise contributing to our digital transformation goals?" (Connect your skills to the company's strategic objectives.)

  • "Describe your experience mentoring or coaching junior team members. What is your philosophy on developing talent?" (Showcase leadership potential and a growth mindset.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem/Opportunity -> Your Role & Objectives -> Methodology (Why these methods?) -> Key Findings & Insights -> Recommendations -> Impact & Outcomes (Quantified if possible) -> Learnings.

  • Visuals: Use clear, concise visuals (screenshots, charts, personas) to illustrate your points. Ensure they are professional and easy to understand.

  • Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice presenting your key projects within the allotted timeframe, focusing on the most impactful aspects.

  • Engagement: Be prepared to answer in-depth questions about your process, decisions, and the impact of your work. Engage with interviewers and show enthusiasm for the role and the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, interviewers will likely probe into how candidates "adapt theoretical concepts and textbook principles into practical and innovative solutions." Be ready with examples that showcase creative problem-solving and pragmatic application of research in real-world scenarios, especially within a large, complex organization.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Manager - Digital UX Researcher position:

  • Submit your application through the CVS Health Careers portal using the provided URL.

  • Tailor your resume: Highlight 7-10 years of relevant UX research experience, emphasizing achievements in digital product development, strategic influence, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description like "digital UX research," "user-centric design," "actionable insights," and "strategic decision-making."

  • Prepare your portfolio: Curate 3-5 impactful case studies that demonstrate your research process, analytical skills, strategic thinking, and the measurable outcomes of your work. Ensure it aligns with the requirements outlined above.

  • Research CVS Health: Familiarize yourself with CVS Health's digital offerings, mission, values, and any recent news or strategic initiatives related to digital health and customer experience.

  • Practice your presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and demonstrating the impact of your research. Be ready to articulate your thought process and answer detailed questions.

⚠️ 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.

Application Requirements

Requires 7-10 years of work experience with strong skills in problem solving, collaboration, and business intelligence. A bachelor's degree or relevant professional qualification is preferred.