Senior User Researcher II

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior User Researcher II

Company: Jobgether (Partner Company)

Location: United States

Job Type: Full-time, Temporary (12-month maternity leave coverage)

Category: User Research / Product Research

Date Posted: September 01, 2026

Experience Level: 6+ Years Professional Experience

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end user research strategy and execution for a core product area, driving product direction with data-backed insights.

• Employ a diverse range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies across the entire product lifecycle, from discovery to post-launch evaluation.

• Synthesize complex research findings with product analytics and behavioral data to inform strategic product decisions and challenge assumptions.

• Collaborate closely with Product, Design, Engineering, and Data teams to ensure customer needs are central to product development.

• Contribute to scaling research capabilities through reusable workflows, accessible insights, and the responsible application of AI-supported research methods.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a 12-month maternity leave coverage, indicating a need for an experienced researcher who can quickly integrate and deliver impact without extensive ramp-up time. The emphasis on AI-supported research suggests a forward-thinking organization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and execute the research strategy and roadmap for a designated core product area, aligning with customer needs, product vision, and business objectives.

• Translate ambiguous business and customer questions into well-defined research plans, selecting appropriate qualitative, quantitative, generative, or evaluative methods based on decision-making needs, timelines, and risk tolerance.

• Conduct mixed-method research studies, including but not limited to discovery interviews, concept testing, usability evaluations, field research, surveys, and post-launch impact assessments.

• Synthesize research findings from various sources, including qualitative data, quantitative metrics, product analytics, and customer feedback, into clear, actionable, and defensible recommendations.

• Integrate research insights with product analytics, behavioral signals, and existing knowledge bases to create a holistic understanding of user needs, pain points, and behaviors.

• Define and measure success metrics for product initiatives upfront, evaluating outcomes based on efficiency, comprehension, confidence, error reduction, speed, and customer satisfaction.

• Proactively identify unmet user needs, surface potential risks, and challenge assumptions early in the product development process to ensure customer-centricity.

• Leverage AI responsibly to enhance research planning, data analysis, synthesis, and knowledge management, while upholding research rigor, participant privacy, and data security standards.

• Develop and document reusable research workflows, templates, and best practices to improve team learning efficiency and amplify the impact of research activities.

• Maintain organized and accessible research repositories, effectively communicating key insights, decisions, risks, and open questions to cross-functional partners and leadership.

• Mentor and coach cross-functional partners, including designers and product managers, on effective research practices, fostering stronger research capabilities across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic and leadership-oriented research role. The emphasis on "influencing product direction," "challenging assumptions," and "building a connected understanding" signifies a high level of autonomy and impact, typical of senior-level operations-adjacent roles focused on user-centric GTM strategies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for this level of role.

Experience: 6+ years of professional experience conducting user research, product research, or a closely related discipline, with a proven track record of influencing product strategy and delivering measurable customer or business value.

Required Skills:

• User Research Expertise: Deep understanding and practical application of a wide array of qualitative (e.g., interviews, ethnography, usability testing) and quantitative (e.g., surveys, A/B testing, analytics analysis) research methodologies.

• Research Strategy & Planning: Ability to define research roadmaps, frame ambiguous problems, and select appropriate methods to address specific business and product questions.

• End-to-End Research Ownership: Proven capability to manage research projects from inception (problem framing) through execution (study design, participant recruitment, data collection) to synthesis and delivery of actionable recommendations.

• Data Synthesis & Insight Generation: Strong analytical skills to synthesize findings from diverse data sources (qualitative, quantitative, product analytics, behavioral data) into clear, compelling, and actionable insights.

• Cross-functional Collaboration & Influence: Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with and influence Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, Data Analysts, and business stakeholders.

• Ambiguity & Pace Navigation: Demonstrated ability to thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments, effectively prioritizing multiple research initiatives and stakeholder demands.

• Pragmatic Research Approach: A balanced perspective that prioritizes methodological rigor while adapting to business needs, timelines, and risk factors without compromising research integrity.

• AI in Research: Familiarity and comfort with AI-supported research workflows for planning, analysis, synthesis, and knowledge management, coupled with sound judgment regarding ethical considerations, privacy, and AI limitations.

• Customer Empathy & Curiosity: High degree of empathy for users, intellectual curiosity, and the confidence to challenge existing assumptions based on research evidence.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in complex operational domains such as entertainment, payroll, fintech, or accounting.

• Proficiency in developing and maintaining research repositories and knowledge management systems.

• Experience coaching and mentoring junior researchers or cross-functional team members on research best practices.

• Familiarity with advanced statistical analysis or data visualization tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "6+ years" requirement, coupled with the emphasis on "influencing product direction," "owning strategy," and "challenging assumptions," firmly places this role in the senior to lead researcher category, demanding a strategic mindset rather than just execution. The mention of specific domains as an advantage suggests the partner company operates in one of these sectors.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate end-to-end ownership of research projects, showcasing the entire research lifecycle from problem definition to impactful recommendations.

• Provide examples of mixed-method research studies, illustrating the strategic selection and integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches to answer complex questions.

• Showcase case studies where research insights directly influenced product strategy, design decisions, or business outcomes, with measurable impact highlighted.

• Include examples of how you synthesized diverse data sources (qualitative findings, quantitative data, product analytics) to build a comprehensive understanding and drive decision-making.

• Present examples of how you have effectively communicated research findings and recommendations to various stakeholders, including leadership, to drive alignment and action. Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to developing research strategies and roadmaps, including methods for prioritization and alignment with business objectives.

• Showcase your process for translating ambiguous questions into clear research plans, including study design documentation and method selection rationale.

• Illustrate your methods for synthesizing research data, identifying themes, and generating actionable insights, potentially including examples of synthesis frameworks or tools used.

• Provide examples of how you have contributed to or developed reusable research workflows, templates, or knowledge management systems to improve team efficiency.

• Describe your process for defining and measuring success metrics for product initiatives and evaluating post-launch outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior User Researcher role, a portfolio is critical. It should not just present studies but demonstrate strategic thinking, methodological breadth, and tangible impact. The emphasis on AI and complex domains suggests candidates should highlight any experience in these areas within their portfolio.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The provided range is approximately CA$149,000–CA$205,000 annually. This range will vary based on the candidate's geographic zone within Canada or the US, their experience level, skills, and other relevant factors.

Benefits:

• Health and Dental Benefits: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage.

• Retirement Savings: Up to 2% matching contribution for RRSP (Canada) or 401(k) (US).

• Remote Work Opportunity: The role is available remotely across Canada and potentially the US (though the primary mention is Canada).

• Meaningful Work: Opportunity to work on complex product challenges in a technology-driven environment.

• Collaborative Environment: Work with creative, multidisciplinary teams.

• Professional Development: Opportunities to utilize and develop AI-supported research practices and modern research workflows.

• Inclusive Culture: Commitment to equal opportunity and a harassment-free workplace.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are implied, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility potentially offered due to the remote work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided in CAD, suggesting a primary focus on Canadian operations or a standardized global compensation band. The mention of both RRSP and 401(k) indicates the partner company may operate in both Canada and the US, or has benefits that accommodate both. The "Remote work opportunity available across Canada" is a key detail, with a note about potential US remote work. The salary range is competitive for a senior-level research role, especially considering the remote flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The partner company operates within the technology sector, with potential specialization in areas like entertainment, payroll, fintech, or accounting, as indicated by preferred qualifications. This suggests a focus on digital products and services that cater to specific industries or consumer needs.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the mention of a "core product area" and a need to "scale research practices" suggests a mid-to-large-sized organization, likely a well-established tech company or a rapidly growing startup. The existence of a dedicated User Research function with senior-level needs points towards a mature product development organization.

Founded: The founding date is not provided. However, the emphasis on modern research workflows and AI suggests a company that is either relatively new or actively investing in evolving its operational and product development practices.

Team Structure:

• The User Research team likely consists of multiple researchers, possibly with varying specializations or covering different product domains. This Senior role will likely lead research for a specific domain.

• The reporting structure would typically place the Senior User Researcher under a Head of Research, Director of Product, or a similar senior leadership role within the Product or Design organization.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Managers, UX Designers, Engineering Leads, and Data Scientists/Analysts, forming agile, cross-functional product teams. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: A strong emphasis on leveraging both qualitative and quantitative data to derive actionable insights and inform strategic decisions. This includes integrating research findings with product analytics and behavioral data.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: Focus on developing and refining research processes, creating reusable workflows, and improving the efficiency and impact of research activities.

• Automation & Efficiency: A forward-looking approach that includes exploring and responsibly implementing AI-supported tools and methods to accelerate research cycles and enhance output.

Company Website: https://jobgether.com/how-jobgether-works (This is for Jobgether, the platform facilitating the application, not necessarily the partner company's direct website.)

📝 Enhancement Note: The partner company appears to be a sophisticated technology organization that values data-driven decision-making and invests in its product development processes. The mention of specific industries suggests they might be targeting B2B or B2C markets within those complex operational domains.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior User Researcher II position, indicating a mid-to-senior level role. It requires significant autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead research initiatives independently, influencing product direction. It's a step beyond a standard "Senior" role, suggesting leadership potential or a high degree of specialized expertise.

Reporting Structure: The Senior User Researcher will likely report to a Director or Head of User Research, or potentially a VP of Product/Design, depending on the company's organizational structure. They will work closely with Product Managers, UX Designers, and Engineering teams within their assigned product area.

Operations Impact: The role's primary impact is on shaping product strategy and user experience by providing evidence-based insights. This directly influences Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies by ensuring products meet genuine user needs, reducing product-market fit risks, and optimizing user adoption and satisfaction. By challenging assumptions and identifying unmet needs, this role plays a critical part in de-risking product development and ensuring successful market entry and sustained growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Research: Potential to grow into a Lead User Researcher or Research Manager role, overseeing a team, defining research strategy for broader product portfolios, and mentoring other researchers.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific research methodologies, AI-driven research, or complex industry domains (e.g., fintech, payroll).

• Cross-functional Leadership: Transition into Product Management or UX Strategy roles, leveraging deep user understanding and strategic influence.

• Impact Amplification: Develop organizational capabilities by creating scalable research frameworks, training programs, and knowledge management systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "II" in "Senior User Researcher II" suggests this is a higher tier within the senior researcher band, possibly equivalent to a Staff or Principal Researcher in other organizations, emphasizing strategic leadership and broad influence.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role offers a remote work opportunity, primarily across Canada and potentially the United States. This indicates a distributed or hybrid work model, where physical office presence is not mandatory for this position.

Office Location(s): Specific office locations are not detailed, but remote work is explicitly mentioned for Canada. The partner company may have offices in major tech hubs within Canada and/or the US, but the role is not tied to a single physical location.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Despite being remote, the role emphasizes close collaboration with Product, Design, Engineering, and Data teams, likely facilitated through virtual collaboration tools and regular video conferencing.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern research tools, collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Miro), and potentially specialized software for data analysis, AI integration, and knowledge management.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular team syncs, brainstorming sessions, and knowledge-sharing forums, even in a remote setting.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time work hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected. While remote, maintaining consistent availability for collaboration with teams across different time zones will be important. Some flexibility may exist, but core working hours for team interaction will likely be required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role is a significant aspect, requiring strong self-management and communication skills. The mention of "AI-supported research workflows" suggests the company is equipped with modern digital tools to support this distributed team.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review by Jobgether's AI matching process, followed by a recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications and fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager (likely a Research Lead or Director) to delve deeper into research experience, strategic thinking, and approach to complex problems.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where the candidate presents 1-2 key research projects from their portfolio, demonstrating their process, impact, and ability to communicate findings. This is a critical stage for evaluating senior-level candidates.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders (e.g., Product Manager, UX Designer, Engineering Lead) to assess collaboration, influence, and ability to integrate research into product development.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a more senior leader (e.g., VP of Product/Design) for final assessment of strategic alignment and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentations to tell a compelling story about each project: the problem, your approach, the insights, and the impact.

• Methodological Breadth: Showcase your ability to apply a range of qualitative and quantitative methods appropriately. Explain why you chose specific methods.

• Impact & Influence: Clearly articulate how your research drove decisions, improved products, or delivered business value. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "led to a 15% increase in feature adoption").

• Process & Rigor: Demonstrate a thoughtful and rigorous research process, including how you handled ambiguity, synthesized complex data, and managed stakeholders.

• AI Integration: If applicable, highlight any projects where you leveraged AI tools for research planning, analysis, or synthesis, explaining the benefits and your approach to responsible use.

• Conciseness: For a portfolio review, be prepared to present key highlights efficiently. Focus on the most impactful aspects of your work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Hypothetical Research Scenario: Be prepared for a hypothetical problem or ambiguous business question where you need to outline a research plan, including objectives, methodologies, and expected outcomes.

• Data Interpretation: You might be presented with a dataset or research findings and asked to interpret them and propose next steps.

• Stakeholder Alignment Exercise: Practice articulating research findings and recommendations in a way that addresses potential stakeholder concerns and builds consensus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application and strategic thinking, with the portfolio review being a cornerstone. Candidates should prepare to articulate their research philosophy and demonstrate how they drive product outcomes through user understanding. The mention of AI integration suggests interviewers may probe this area specifically.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Familiarity with tools for remote usability testing, survey creation, and participant recruitment (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Typeform, SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics).

• Collaboration & Whiteboarding: Proficiency in tools like Miro, Mural, Figma, or similar for collaborative brainstorming, journey mapping, and synthesis.

• AI-Assisted Research Tools: Exposure to or proficiency with AI tools that aid in research planning, transcription analysis, thematic coding, and insight generation (specific tools not mentioned, but a willingness to learn and adapt is key).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar to complement qualitative insights with behavioral data.

• Data Visualization: Ability to interpret and potentially create dashboards using tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker to communicate quantitative findings.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, familiarity with how user research integrates with CRM data (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) to understand customer segments and behavior is beneficial.

• Understanding of workflow automation principles to contribute to developing more efficient research processes.

• Experience with tools for managing research projects and knowledge repositories.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "AI-supported research workflows" is a significant indicator of the technology stack. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with or eagerness to learn AI tools for research efficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A core value is grounding product decisions in evidence, with a strong emphasis on user insights derived from rigorous research.

• Customer Empathy: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the customer, ensuring their needs and perspectives are central to product development.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an environment where cross-functional teams work together openly, sharing insights, challenges, and progress.

• Continuous Improvement: A dedication to refining processes, learning from outcomes, and evolving research practices to maximize impact and efficiency.

• Pragmatism & Impact: Balancing methodological rigor with practical business needs to deliver actionable insights that drive tangible results.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively embedding research within product teams, working closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers throughout the development lifecycle.

• Proactive Communication: Regularly sharing insights, research plans, and key learnings with stakeholders to ensure alignment and inform decision-making.

• Feedback Exchange: Open to constructive feedback on research approaches and findings, and providing feedback to partners to improve product development processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to a culture of learning by sharing research methods, best practices, and insights through documentation, presentations, and informal discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to be focused on impact, collaboration, and leveraging data for decision-making. The emphasis on customer empathy and continuous improvement is crucial for a role that bridges user needs with business objectives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity in Complex Domains: Navigating and defining research problems within potentially complex industries like fintech or payroll, where user behaviors and technical requirements can be intricate.

• Balancing Rigor and Speed: Delivering high-quality, impactful research within fast-paced product development cycles and tight timelines, a common challenge in tech.

• Scaling Research Impact: Developing and implementing reusable workflows and AI-supported methods to increase the overall efficiency and reach of research across multiple teams and projects.

• Influencing Diverse Stakeholders: Effectively communicating complex research findings and driving consensus among stakeholders with varying priorities and perspectives.

• Responsible AI Integration: Staying abreast of evolving AI capabilities while ensuring ethical use, data privacy, and maintaining research integrity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized research techniques, generative AI applications in research, or quantitative modeling.

• Industry Knowledge: Gaining in-depth understanding of specific operational domains (entertainment, payroll, fintech, accounting) if not already possessed.

• Leadership Skills: Developing mentorship capabilities, strategic planning skills, and influence techniques for senior leadership roles.

• AI & Research Innovation: Staying at the forefront of how AI is transforming the research landscape through company-supported training and experimentation.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Broadening understanding of product management, engineering, and data science functions through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical of senior-level roles in dynamic tech environments. The growth opportunities are aligned with advancing within a specialized research track or moving into broader product leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to define a research strategy for a completely new product area or an ambiguous business problem. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem framing, learning agendas, and strategic planning.)

• "Walk us through a complex research project where you synthesized findings from multiple sources (qualitative, quantitative, analytics). How did you connect the dots, and what key insights emerged?" (Demonstrate synthesis skills and ability to build a holistic picture.)

• "How do you balance methodological rigor with the need for speed and pragmatic decision-making in a fast-paced product environment?" (Showcase your practical approach to research.)

• "Describe your experience using AI tools in your research process. What were the benefits, challenges, and how did you ensure responsible application?" (Prepare specific examples of AI tool usage.)

• "How do you approach influencing stakeholders who may have different opinions or priorities than your research findings suggest?" (Highlight your communication and negotiation skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of our company/industry, what do you see as the biggest user research opportunities or challenges?" (Research the partner company and its industry beforehand.)

• "How do you see your role contributing to our company's values of [mention company values if known, or infer from job description like customer empathy, data-driven]?" (Connect your approach to their stated or implied values.)

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with Product Managers and Designers." (Emphasize partnership and integrated workflows.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 1-2 High-Impact Projects: Choose projects that best showcase your strategic thinking, methodological range, and ability to drive impact.

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentation with a clear narrative: the business/product context, the research questions, your methodology, key findings, actionable recommendations, and the resulting impact.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the value of your research (e.g., "This insight led to a redesign that increased conversion by X%," or "Prevented a costly product mistake by identifying a critical usability flaw").

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your specific choices (methodology, sample size, analysis techniques) and be prepared to defend them.

• Showcase Collaboration: Highlight how you worked with cross-functional teams throughout the research process.

• AI Integration (if applicable): If you used AI tools, be prepared to explain how and why, and what the outcome was.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation focuses heavily on demonstrating strategic thinking, impactful execution, and collaborative influence. Candidates must be ready to articulate their process and results with clarity and confidence, especially regarding AI integration and complex problem-solving.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior User Researcher II position:

• Submit your application through the provided Jobgether portal link.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight the 6+ years of experience, expertise in mixed-method research, experience influencing product direction, and any relevant industry experience (entertainment, payroll, fintech, accounting). Ensure keywords like "user research," "product research," "strategy," "qualitative," "quantitative," "synthesis," and "stakeholder management" are prominent.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 robust case studies that exemplify your end-to-end research ownership, strategic approach, methodological breadth, and tangible impact. Ensure they clearly articulate the problem, your process, insights, and outcomes. Be prepared to discuss your use of AI tools in research if applicable.

• Prepare for Portfolio Presentation: Practice presenting your selected portfolio projects concisely and compellingly, focusing on storytelling, impact, and your strategic decision-making process.

• Research the Partner Company: Invest time in understanding the partner company's products, industry, and potential user base. This will help you tailor your answers and demonstrate genuine interest and understanding during interviews.

• Anticipate AI Questions: Be ready to discuss your experience with and perspective on using AI in research, including its benefits, limitations, and ethical considerations.

⚠️ 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 or Jobgether before making application decisions.