Senior UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher

Company: Anaplan

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Operations

Date Posted: April 30, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead complex, end-to-end user research initiatives for Anaplan's AI-infused scenario planning and analysis platform, driving product strategy and innovation.

• Conduct both qualitative and quantitative research, synthesizing diverse data streams to deliver actionable insights that inform product development and user-centered design.

• Champion the integration and application of AI-powered tools and methodologies within the research lifecycle to enhance efficiency and uncover deeper user understanding.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Design, and Engineering teams to translate research findings into tangible product improvements and strategic product roadmaps.

• Advocate for user needs and research best practices across the organization, educating stakeholders on effective research application and user-centered methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Researcher, indicating a need for strong leadership in research execution and strategic influence. The emphasis on AI-driven products and AI tools suggests a forward-thinking research environment. The target location in London, UK, implies a need to consider regional market nuances and potential salary benchmarks.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the design and execution of comprehensive research plans, encompassing both qualitative (e.g., user interviews, usability testing) and quantitative (e.g., surveys, data analysis) methodologies, from inception to delivery.

• Conduct specialized research focused on Anaplan's AI-driven products, critically evaluating their effectiveness, identifying opportunities for enhancement, and exploring novel avenues for innovation.

• Manage all aspects of research projects, including participant recruitment, logistical coordination, and the definition and tracking of success metrics.

• Synthesize findings from a variety of sources, including user research, product analytics, customer feedback, and market trends, to generate clear, concise, and actionable insights that directly influence product prioritization and strategic decisions.

• Present research findings, insights, and strategic recommendations persuasively to diverse audiences, including executive leadership, to cultivate and reinforce a user-centered product development culture.

• Drive the adoption and effective utilization of AI-powered tools and advanced methodologies within the research process to optimize efficiency, uncover nuanced insights, and enhance the overall research output.

• Act as a subject matter expert and thought leader for research practices, tools, and optimal ways of working, actively educating and mentoring cross-functional partners on the strategic application of user research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a full lifecycle ownership of research projects, from planning to strategic recommendation. The focus on AI products and tools is a key differentiator, requiring candidates to demonstrate experience in this advanced area. The requirement to educate partners highlights a mentorship and advocacy component critical for senior roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A postgraduate degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a closely related field is preferred, demonstrating a strong theoretical foundation in research methodologies and human behavior.

Experience: Proven experience in a senior research role (typically 5-10 years) with a demonstrable track record of leading high-impact, end-to-end research projects that have significantly influenced both strategic product direction and tactical feature development.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in designing and executing a wide array of qualitative research methods, including in-depth user interviews, contextual inquiries, ethnographic studies, and heuristic evaluations.

• Proficiency in designing and deploying quantitative research instruments such as surveys, A/B tests, and statistical analysis of user data.

• Advanced ability to analyze and synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative data from multiple sources into clear, compelling, and actionable insights that drive product strategy.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with a proven ability to articulate complex research findings in an engaging and persuasive manner to executive-level stakeholders and cross-functional teams.

• Hands-on experience with AI-powered research tools and methodologies, such as automated data analysis, sentiment analysis, natural language processing (NLP) for feedback analysis, or predictive modeling for user behavior.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build rapport, manage expectations, and drive consensus among diverse groups including product managers, designers, engineers, and senior leadership.

Preferred Skills:

• Direct experience conducting user research within B2B or SaaS environments, particularly for complex, data-rich enterprise software solutions.

• Specialized experience in strategic research for AI-powered products, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities they present.

• Familiarity with enterprise domains such as financial planning, forecasting, business intelligence, or complex decision-making tools and workflows.

• A strong theoretical background in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Cognitive Psychology, or a related behavioral science discipline.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills reflect a blend of robust foundational UX research capabilities with a specific emphasis on AI applications and complex enterprise software. The preferred skills point towards a candidate who can quickly integrate into Anaplan's specific market and product landscape. The experience level aligns with a senior individual contributor capable of independent leadership.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 high-impact research projects, clearly detailing the problem statement, research objectives, methodologies employed, and key findings.

• Demonstrate a clear narrative arc for each project, illustrating how research insights directly led to specific product decisions, feature enhancements, or strategic shifts.

• Quantify the impact of your research whenever possible, using metrics such as improved user satisfaction scores, increased feature adoption rates, reduced task completion times, or positive ROI.

• Include examples of how you have synthesized both qualitative and quantitative data to form comprehensive insights and recommendations.

Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of your structured approach to research planning, including how you define research questions, select appropriate methodologies, and scope projects effectively.

• Showcase examples of how you document and share research findings, such as research reports, presentations, personas, journey maps, or interactive dashboards, ensuring accessibility and actionability for stakeholders.

• Illustrate your process for integrating research insights into product development workflows, demonstrating how you collaborate with design and engineering to ensure successful implementation.

• Detail your experience in evaluating and adopting new research tools and methodologies, with a particular emphasis on AI-driven research techniques and efficiency improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Researcher role, a portfolio is crucial. It needs to go beyond just showing deliverables and clearly articulate the research process, the strategic thinking behind it, and the measurable impact on product outcomes. The emphasis on AI tools and B2B/SaaS experience should be a prominent theme in the portfolio.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on Anaplan's presence in London, UK, and the Senior UX Researcher title with 5-10 years of experience, a competitive annual salary range is estimated to be between £70,000 and £100,000 GBP. This range considers the cost of living in London, the demand for specialized UX research skills, and Anaplan's positioning as a leading enterprise software provider.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health and wellness programs, potentially including private medical insurance, dental, and vision coverage.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) allowance, including vacation days, public holidays, and sick leave, designed to support work-life balance.

• Opportunities for professional development, such as conference attendance, training courses, and access to online learning platforms, to foster continuous skill enhancement in UX research and AI.

• Retirement savings plan (e.g., pension scheme) with potential company matching contributions.

• Life assurance and income protection benefits for added financial security.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or stock options, aligning individual success with company growth.

• Access to Anaplan's collaborative and innovative work environment, with modern office facilities in London.

Working Hours: Standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. While the role is on-site, Anaplan often supports flexible working arrangements where feasible, allowing for some adaptability around core business hours to accommodate project needs and personal commitments, particularly when collaborating with global teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX Researchers in London, UK, considering the company's profile. Benefits are typical for a large enterprise tech company and are presented with potential specifics relevant to a senior role. The working hours acknowledge the on-site requirement but also the common flexibility in tech environments.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Anaplan operates within the Enterprise Software and Technology sector, specifically focusing on AI-infused scenario planning, financial planning, and business analytics solutions. This industry is characterized by rapid innovation, a strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making, and a competitive landscape where platform sophistication and AI capabilities are key differentiators.

Company Size: Anaplan is a large enterprise company, indicated by its significant customer base (over 2,400 global companies, including Fortune 50 clients) and its position as a market leader. This size suggests a structured environment with established processes, dedicated departments for various functions (including Product, Design, and Engineering), and ample resources for research and development.

Founded: Anaplan was founded in 1998. Its history of over two decades in the market signifies a mature company with a well-established product, a significant customer footprint, and a deep understanding of enterprise business needs. This longevity suggests stability, a strong foundation in its core domain, and a progressive approach to evolving its platform with cutting-edge technologies like AI.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team is likely integrated within the Product and Design organizations, working in close partnership with Product Management, UX/UI Design, and Engineering.

• Researchers may operate within specific product pods or domains, focusing on particular areas of the Anaplan platform, or they might be part of a central research function providing expertise across multiple initiatives.

• The reporting structure for a Senior UX Researcher would typically be to a Lead UX Researcher, Head of UX Research, or a Director/VP of Product Design, with direct collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering Leads.

Methodology:

• Anaplan's "Winning Culture" emphasizes being strategy-led, values-based, and disciplined in execution, suggesting a structured approach to operations and product development.

• Data analysis and insights methods are core to Anaplan's platform and likely extend to its internal operations, with a strong reliance on metrics, KPIs, and evidence-based decision-making.

• Workflow planning and optimization strategies are crucial for managing complex enterprise software development, ensuring efficient processes from ideation through to release.

• Automation and efficiency practices are likely embraced, especially given the company's focus on AI, aiming to streamline internal operations and enhance product capabilities.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights Anaplan's established presence in the enterprise software market and its strategic focus on AI. The "Winning Culture" provides insight into the expected work environment and operational philosophy. The team structure and collaboration patterns are inferred to be typical of a large tech organization focused on product development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Senior UX Researcher role represents a significant individual contributor position within the product development lifecycle. It signifies a level of expertise where the individual is expected to lead research initiatives independently, mentor more junior researchers, and have a substantial impact on product strategy and user experience. The role demands not just execution but also strategic thinking and the ability to influence product direction.

Reporting Structure: A Senior UX Researcher typically reports into a Lead UX Researcher, Manager of UX Research, or potentially a Director of Product Design. They will work collaboratively with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers, often embedded within product teams or working on key strategic projects that span multiple teams. The influence of this role extends to senior leadership through research presentations and strategic recommendations.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is directly tied to shaping Anaplan's AI-driven planning platform. By providing deep user insights, the Senior UX Researcher will influence product roadmaps, identify new market opportunities, improve user adoption and satisfaction, and ultimately contribute to Anaplan's competitive advantage and revenue growth. The focus on AI research means this role is at the forefront of the company's innovation efforts.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specialized research areas, particularly within AI/ML product research, complex enterprise B2B SaaS environments, and advanced quantitative analysis techniques.

• Leadership Development: Potential to move into a Lead UX Researcher or Research Manager role, taking on greater team leadership, strategic planning for the research function, and mentorship responsibilities.

• Cross-functional Influence: Opportunity to expand influence across product strategy, contributing to high-level business decisions and working on high-visibility, strategic initiatives that have a broad impact on the company's direction and market position.

• Specialization: Develop deep expertise in specific enterprise domains (e.g., financial planning, supply chain) that Anaplan serves, becoming a go-to expert for research in those areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section frames the Senior UX Researcher role not just as a job but as a career step, emphasizing the strategic influence and growth potential within Anaplan's product operations. The focus on AI and enterprise SaaS provides context for specialized career development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site" in London, United Kingdom. This indicates a traditional office-based work environment where employees are expected to work from Anaplan's London office. This setup facilitates in-person collaboration, team cohesion, and direct interaction with colleagues.

Office Location(s): While specific details aren't provided, Anaplan's London office is likely situated in a business district accessible via public transport, common for major metropolitan areas like London. This ensures ease of commute for employees and accessibility for potential client meetings or industry events.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is expected to foster collaboration, with shared workspaces, meeting rooms equipped for presentations and workshops, and common areas for informal interaction.

• Access to necessary research tools, software licenses, and technology infrastructure will be provided to support the execution of research projects.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with design, product, and engineering teams will be abundant, promoting a dynamic and integrated product development culture.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is Monday to Friday, aligning with typical business operations. While on-site, Anaplan may offer some flexibility in start and end times, provided core business hours are covered and project demands are met. This allows for efficient management of research timelines and collaboration with global teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" designation is key, implying a strong emphasis on in-person collaboration and team integration. The description focuses on the practical aspects of an office environment relevant to a researcher, including workspace and collaborative opportunities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will conduct a preliminary call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit, and to explain the interview process.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into your experience, research philosophy, and how you approach complex research challenges, particularly related to AI products.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present 1-2 key research projects from your portfolio. This is a critical stage to demonstrate your process, insights, impact, and communication skills. Expect to discuss your methodologies, data synthesis, and how your work influenced product decisions.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with peers in Product Management, UX Design, and Engineering to assess collaboration style, ability to translate research into actionable requirements, and how you integrate into a product team.

• Executive/Senior Leadership Interview: A final interview, potentially with a Director or VP, to discuss strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall alignment with Anaplan's vision and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentations as compelling narratives. Clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the key insights, and the tangible impact of your work.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics and data to demonstrate the success of your research initiatives (e.g., improved conversion rates, user satisfaction scores, feature adoption).

• Process Clarity: Be prepared to walk through your research process in detail, explaining why you chose specific methodologies and how you synthesized findings.

• AI Focus: Highlight projects that involved AI, machine learning, or complex data analysis, showcasing your ability to navigate these domains.

• Collaboration: Be ready to discuss how you collaborated with cross-functional partners and how you advocate for user needs within a team.

Challenge Preparation:

• Hypothetical Scenario: You may be given a hypothetical product problem or a research question related to Anaplan's platform and asked to outline your approach to researching it. Focus on your strategic thinking, methodology selection, and how you would ensure actionable outcomes.

• Methodology Justification: Be prepared to defend your choice of research methods, explaining the strengths and weaknesses of each in different contexts.

• Insight Generation: Practice articulating how you move from raw data to actionable insights and strategic recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides a structured guide to Anaplan's likely interview process for a Senior UX Researcher, emphasizing the portfolio review and cross-functional collaboration. It offers actionable tips for candidates to prepare effectively, focusing on storytelling, impact quantification, and AI-specific experience.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: Tools for participant recruitment, survey deployment, and potentially remote usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Lookback).

• Collaboration Suites: Platforms for team communication and project management (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence).

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with design software to understand prototypes and provide feedback (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Experience with tools that track user behavior within the Anaplan platform (e.g., Google Analytics, Pendo, Mixpanel), enabling quantitative data synthesis.

• Data Visualization Tools: Proficiency in tools like Tableau or Power BI for creating dashboards and visually communicating complex data and research findings to stakeholders.

• Spreadsheet Software: Advanced skills in Excel or Google Sheets for data manipulation and analysis.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not a primary tool for UX research, understanding how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) can inform user segmentation and research context is beneficial.

• AI-Powered Research Tools: As explicitly mentioned, familiarity with AI tools for sentiment analysis, automated transcription and analysis of qualitative data, or predictive modeling for user behavior is highly valued. Examples might include tools integrated into larger platforms or specialized AI research assistants.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section highlights the typical technology stack for a UX Researcher in a tech company, with a specific emphasis on AI tools, as mentioned in the job description. The inclusion of product analytics and data visualization tools underscores the quantitative aspect of the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user, ensuring their needs and pain points are at the forefront of product development decisions. This is fundamental to UX research.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A reliance on both qualitative and quantitative data to inform insights and recommendations, moving beyond intuition to evidence-based strategies.

• Collaboration & Partnership: A strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams (Product, Design, Engineering) to ensure research insights are understood, acted upon, and integrated into the product lifecycle.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A drive to explore new research methodologies, leverage emerging technologies like AI, and consistently refine processes to deliver greater value.

• Impact & Accountability: A focus on delivering research that has a measurable impact on product outcomes and business goals, taking ownership of research projects from start to finish.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Engagement: Regularly seeking out opportunities to collaborate with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers, offering research expertise early in the product development process.

• Transparent Communication: Sharing research plans, findings, and insights openly and regularly through presentations, documentation, and informal discussions.

• Constructive Feedback: Providing and receiving feedback constructively, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the product teams.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in sharing research best practices, learnings, and insights across the broader organization, potentially through internal workshops or knowledge-sharing sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values and collaboration style are inferred based on Anaplan's stated culture and typical expectations for senior roles in product development teams. The emphasis on user-centricity, data, and collaboration is critical for success in this role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of AI Products: Researching AI-driven features presents unique challenges, such as understanding user trust in AI, explaining complex AI outputs, and researching evolving user expectations around intelligent systems.

• Balancing Strategic vs. Tactical Research: The role requires effectively managing competing demands for both long-term strategic insights and immediate tactical research to support ongoing development sprints.

• Synthesizing Diverse Data: Integrating insights from user research with complex product analytics, customer feedback, and market intelligence requires sophisticated analytical and synthesis skills.

• Driving Organizational Change: Influencing product direction and embedding user-centricity across a large organization, especially with executive stakeholders, can be challenging.

• On-site Requirement: For individuals who prefer remote work, the on-site requirement in London may necessitate a relocation or significant commute.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced AI Research: Opportunities to specialize in researching cutting-edge AI/ML features, understanding user interaction with intelligent systems, and applying advanced AI tools in research.

• Enterprise Domain Expertise: Deepening knowledge in financial planning, forecasting, and business analytics domains, becoming a subject matter expert in Anaplan's core markets.

• Leadership and Mentorship: Developing leadership skills through mentoring junior researchers, leading strategic research initiatives, and potentially contributing to the growth of the UX research function.

• Industry Engagement: Attending industry conferences (e.g., UXPA, CHI, industry-specific events) and potentially contributing through presentations or publications.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Gaining a deeper understanding of product management, engineering processes, and business strategy within a leading enterprise software company.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying potential challenges helps candidates prepare for the realities of the role, while highlighting growth opportunities reinforces the career development aspect. The emphasis on AI research and enterprise domains is a recurring theme.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led an end-to-end research project for a complex product, particularly one involving AI or advanced analytics. What was your process, what were the key insights, and what was the impact on the product?" (Focus on process, synthesis, and impact. Be ready to discuss your methodology choices).

• "How do you approach synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data to create a unified, actionable insight? Provide an example." (Demonstrate your analytical rigor and ability to connect disparate data points).

• "Imagine you need to research user trust in a new AI feature. What methods would you employ, and how would you measure success?" (Showcase your understanding of AI-specific research challenges and your strategic thinking).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Anaplan and our focus on AI-infused scenario planning?" (Research Anaplan's platform, recent news, and your understanding of their market position. Connect your passion for UX research to their mission).

• "How do you see yourself contributing to Anaplan's 'Winning Culture' and our commitment to user-centricity?" (Relate your values and work style to Anaplan's stated values and operational principles).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select High-Impact Projects: Choose projects that best showcase your senior-level capabilities, strategic thinking, and impact on product outcomes, ideally including AI-related work.

• Structure for Clarity: Use a clear, consistent structure for each project: Problem/Opportunity -> Your Role -> Methodology -> Key Findings -> Recommendations -> Impact/Outcome.

• Visual Storytelling: Use visuals (screenshots, personas, journey maps, charts) to illustrate your process and findings. Ensure they are clear and support your narrative.

• Quantify Outcomes: Be prepared to discuss the measurable impact of your research. If direct metrics are unavailable, articulate the qualitative impact and how it informed critical decisions.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your methodology choices, data synthesis process, and how you collaborated with your team.

📝 Enhancement Note: These interview questions are designed to probe a candidate's strategic thinking, research execution skills, and ability to influence within a complex enterprise environment, with a specific focus on AI. The portfolio presentation tips are tailored to highlight senior-level contributions and impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position at Anaplan:

• Submit your application through Anaplan's careers portal via the provided link.

• Tailor your Resume/CV: Highlight experience relevant to senior-level UX research, AI-driven products, B2B/SaaS environments, and your ability to lead end-to-end projects. Use keywords from the job description.

• Develop Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 of your most impactful research projects that showcase your strategic thinking, research process, synthesis skills, and quantifiable impact, with a strong emphasis on any AI-related work. Ensure it's easily accessible (e.g., PDF, personal website).

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your selected portfolio projects, focusing on clear storytelling, impact demonstration, and articulating your research process. Be ready to discuss your approach to AI research challenges.

• Research Anaplan: Familiarize yourself with Anaplan's platform, their market position, their AI initiatives, and their stated company culture and values. Understand how your skills align with their business objectives.

• Anticipate Interview Questions: Prepare thoughtful responses to strategy, company, and behavioral questions, drawing on specific examples from your experience.

⚠️ 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.