Senior UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher

Company: Key Lime Interactive LLC

Location: Remote, US

Job Type: Full Time

Category: User Experience Research & Strategy

Date Posted: April 24, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end user experience research initiatives with minimal oversight, demonstrating a strong command of diverse research methodologies.

• Develop and deliver actionable research reports that inform product strategy and design decisions for a range of clients.

• Actively participate in client relationship management and business development efforts, contributing to the acquisition of new projects and partnerships.

• Lead and manage research projects, including resource allocation and stakeholder communication, ensuring timely and impactful delivery.

• Mentor junior team members on UX research best practices, tools, and techniques to foster team growth and capability.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Researcher within a consulting agency environment. The emphasis on "ambiguous environments," "picking which research will work best," and "involvement in sales" indicates a need for a proactive, adaptable, and business-minded researcher who can operate with a high degree of autonomy and contribute to the growth of the agency. The "Senior" title implies leadership and mentorship responsibilities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, plan, and execute a wide range of UX research studies (e.g., qualitative interviews, usability testing, surveys, diary studies, ethnography) to uncover user needs, behaviors, and pain points across various product domains.

• Synthesize complex research findings into clear, concise, and actionable insights, translating data into strategic recommendations for product teams and stakeholders.

• Lead client engagements from initial scoping and proposal development through to final report delivery and presentation, ensuring client satisfaction and fostering long-term relationships.

• Contribute to business development by identifying opportunities for new research projects, participating in sales pitches, and cultivating relationships with potential clients.

• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources effectively, ensuring research deliverables are met on time and within scope, while exercising independent judgment on critical project decisions.

• Develop and maintain high-quality research documentation, including study protocols, screeners, discussion guides, and final reports, ensuring consistency and adherence to KLI's standards.

• Mentor and guide junior UX researchers, providing feedback on their work, sharing expertise in research methodologies, and fostering their professional development.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (design, product, engineering) to ensure research insights are integrated into the product development lifecycle.

• Stay abreast of the latest trends, tools, and techniques in UX research and human-computer interaction, and champion their adoption within the team.

• Support the creation and co-creation of case studies post-project to showcase KLI's capabilities and research impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of core research execution, strategic thinking, client-facing activities, and team leadership. The mention of "cross-product user research" and "end-to-end engagements for cross-product engagements" suggests a need for researchers who can handle complex, multi-faceted projects.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Minimum: Bachelor's Degree in a related field (e.g., Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Human-Computer Interaction, Design, Communications, Computer Science).

Experience:

• Minimum: 5-6 Years of experience as an individual contributor in User Experience (UX) research roles.

Required Skills:

• Mastery of a broad spectrum of UX research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative), including experimental design, usability testing, in-depth interviews, surveys, contextual inquiry, and ethnographic research.

• Proven ability to independently manage the entire research lifecycle, from defining research questions and objectives to data analysis and actionable insight generation.

• Exceptional analytical and synthesis skills, with the capacity to transform raw data into compelling narratives and strategic recommendations.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to craft clear, actionable reports and present findings effectively to diverse audiences, including executive leadership.

• Experience in client relationship management, including understanding client needs, managing expectations, and building trust.

• Proficiency in selecting and utilizing appropriate research tools and platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, Maze, JourneyTrack, survey software, usability testing platforms).

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in ambiguous, fast-paced environments, adapting to changing project needs and priorities.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in business development or sales support within a consulting or agency setting.

• Familiarity with A/B testing and experimental design principles.

• Experience with data visualization tools and techniques to communicate research findings effectively.

• Ability to mentor and guide junior researchers and contribute to team skill development.

• Experience with KLI's proprietary Inclusivity Index™ report and its application.

• Familiarity with cross-product research coordination and management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of 5-6 years for a "Senior" role is standard. The preferred education and experience in specific fields like Statistics or HCI, along with an MBA, suggest a strong emphasis on research rigor and business acumen. The mention of "ambiguous environments" and "picking which research will work best" strongly signals the need for strategic thinking and self-direction.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrates a strong command of various research methodologies with clear examples of how different methods were chosen and applied based on project constraints and objectives.

• Showcases the ability to translate research findings into actionable insights and strategic recommendations that led to tangible improvements or business impact.

• Includes examples of research deliverables, such as detailed reports, presentations, and personas, highlighting clarity, conciseness, and visual appeal.

• Provides evidence of end-to-end project management, including handling ambiguity, managing timelines, and working with stakeholders.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of designing and documenting research plans, including defining research questions, selecting appropriate methodologies, and outlining participant recruitment strategies.

• Examples of creating study materials, such as interview scripts, usability test plans, and survey questionnaires.

• Documentation demonstrating the process of synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data, identifying key themes, and generating actionable insights.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the research process, challenges encountered, solutions implemented, and the ultimate outcomes or impact of the research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "creating/co-creating case studies after each project" and "ensuring that each project has a case study on file" is a critical requirement. This indicates that candidates will be evaluated on their ability to not only conduct research but also to document and socialize its value effectively. The mention of "identifying and selecting 3rd party vendors" and "participants" suggests a need for documented processes around vendor and participant management.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $90,000 - $115,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Disability insurance.

• Life insurance.

• 401k retirement savings plan.

• Paid Time Off (PTO).

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

Working Hours:

• Standard 40 hours per week.

• May be required to occasionally work irregular hours, nights, and weekends as required by project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified salary range of $90,000 - $115,000 is competitive for a Senior UX Researcher role in the US, particularly for a remote position. The inclusion of a wide array of benefits, including health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401k, PTO, and FSAs, aligns with standard offerings for full-time employees in professional services firms. The note about occasional irregular hours is common for consulting roles with client-driven project deadlines.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Customer Experience (CX) and User Experience (UX) Research, Strategy, and Design Services. KLI operates as a consultancy serving various industry sectors, including Fortune 500 clients.

Company Size: The job description does not explicitly state company size, but the presence of a formal HR system (ADP) and benefits package suggests a structured organization that has grown beyond a small startup. The description of the team as potentially "small" implies a dynamic agency culture.

Founded: Key Lime Interactive (KLI) was founded with a mission to help companies adopt a human-first approach to build better experiences. The company emphasizes its role as a user-centric consultancy.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team likely consists of researchers of varying experience levels, including Senior UX Researchers, UX Researchers, and UX Associates.

• The reporting structure is not explicitly defined but is likely hierarchical within the UX practice, with Senior Researchers potentially leading project teams and reporting to a UX Lead or Director.

Methodology:

• KLI's approach is rooted in qualitative and quantitative user research to provide actionable insights.

• A key differentiator is their proprietary Inclusivity Index™ report, which helps clients assess how their products and services meet broad inclusivity goals.

• The company emphasizes a data-driven, human-first approach to product development and customer engagement.

Company Website: keylimeinteractive.com

📝 Enhancement Note: KLI is presented as a specialized UX/CX research and strategy agency. The mention of serving Fortune 500 clients and operating in a "fast-paced agency environment" indicates a demanding yet rewarding atmosphere. The "minority woman-owned" status is a significant aspect of their identity and likely influences their commitment to diversity and inclusivity.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Senior UX Researcher, indicating a mid-to-senior level individual contributor. It requires a high degree of autonomy, expertise in research methodologies, and the ability to lead projects independently. It is a step above a standard UX Researcher and below a Lead or Director of UX Research.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Senior UX Researcher typically reports to a UX Manager, Director, or Practice Lead. They are also expected to mentor and guide more junior members of the UX team.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Researcher's impact is significant, directly influencing product strategy, design decisions, and ultimately, customer satisfaction and business outcomes. By providing actionable insights, they help clients build better products and services, leading to improved user adoption, retention, and client revenue. Their involvement in sales also directly contributes to the company's growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in specialized research areas, learn new methodologies, and gain experience with emerging UX research tools and technologies.

• Leadership Development: Transition into a UX Lead or Manager role, overseeing research teams and client engagements, or specializing in business development within the agency.

• Client Portfolio Expansion: Work with a diverse range of clients across various industries, building a robust portfolio of impactful projects and developing strategic client relationships.

• Mentorship: Develop leadership and coaching skills by mentoring junior researchers.

• Introduction of New Tools: Opportunity to research and propose new tools and technologies for the team to adopt, influencing the agency's operational efficiency and capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a pathway to leadership, either through managing teams or specializing in client strategy and business development, which is a common progression in consulting firms. The emphasis on "leading projects with minimal oversight" and "seeking new clients" points towards a role with significant responsibility and potential for rapid career advancement based on performance and initiative.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This allows for a flexible work environment, enabling candidates to work from anywhere within the United States.

Office Location(s): The role is remote within the United States. The company headquarters are not specified, but the remote nature suggests a distributed team.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: While remote, the company culture emphasizes collaboration and a "we win together" mentality, suggesting active engagement through virtual channels.

• Tools & Technology: Access to and proficiency with a variety of UX research tools (Qualtrics, Maze, JourneyTrack) and standard collaborative software (e.g., video conferencing, project management tools).

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for team interaction will primarily be virtual, through regular team meetings, project-specific calls, and informal virtual gatherings.

Work Schedule:

• Standard 40 hours per week.

• Flexibility is implied by the remote nature, but candidates must be prepared for potential irregular hours, nights, and weekends to meet project deadlines and client needs, which is typical in a client-service agency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature is a significant draw for many candidates. The challenge in a remote environment is maintaining team cohesion and client rapport, which KLI seems to address through its cultural emphasis on collaboration and communication. The flexibility in hours is balanced by the need to meet client demands.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a brief call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager (likely a UX Lead or Director) to delve into experience, research philosophy, and project examples. This will focus on your ability to lead projects independently and handle ambiguity.

• Portfolio Review & Case Study Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present their portfolio, showcasing specific research projects, methodologies, insights, and impact. Be prepared to walk through a complex project, detailing your process, challenges, and how you arrived at actionable recommendations. This may include a pre-assigned case study or a deep dive into a past project.

• Skills Assessment/Exercise: Potentially a short research exercise or a discussion around hypothetical research scenarios to assess problem-solving skills and methodological approach under pressure.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with other team members and potentially clients to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and overall cultural fit.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your most impactful projects that demonstrate a range of methodologies, your ability to handle ambiguity, client engagement, and impactful outcomes.

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, your research approach, key findings, and most importantly, the actionable recommendations and their resulting impact (e.g., improved conversion rates, enhanced user satisfaction, cost savings). Quantify impact where possible.

• Showcase Process: Detail your research process from start to finish, including how you defined research questions, selected methodologies, recruited participants, analyzed data, and presented findings. Highlight any unique challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

• Highlight Autonomy & Leadership: Emphasize projects where you worked with minimal oversight, led the research effort, and contributed to client relationships or business development.

• Prepare for "Ambiguity": Be ready to discuss how you approach research in uncertain or ill-defined situations. Use examples where you had to define the problem or scope yourself.

• Tool Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your experience with tools like Qualtrics, Maze, and JourneyTrack, and how you leverage them for effective research.

Challenge Preparation:

• Methodology Application: Practice articulating how you would approach a given research problem with limited information, selecting appropriate methods and justifying your choices.

• Insight Generation: Be prepared to analyze sample data or a case study and quickly identify key insights and potential solutions.

• Client Communication: Practice presenting complex research findings in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner, tailored to different stakeholder needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes the portfolio review and the ability to handle ambiguity. Candidates should prepare to showcase not just research skills but also project leadership, client interaction, and business acumen. The "co-create case studies" requirement strongly suggests that portfolio examples should be well-documented and demonstrate impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Qualtrics: A robust platform for survey design, distribution, and analysis, often used for quantitative research, customer feedback, and market research.

• Maze: A platform for unmoderated usability testing, providing quick, data-driven insights on prototypes and live products.

• JourneyTrack: Likely a tool for mapping and analyzing customer journeys, helping to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement across touchpoints.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Proficiency with various data analysis tools and techniques is expected. This may include statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R, Python for data analysis), spreadsheet software (Excel, Google Sheets), and potentially BI tools for reporting and dashboard creation.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly listed as core UX research tools, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) might be beneficial for understanding client business contexts or for sales involvement.

• Automation within research processes (e.g., automated survey distribution, data collection streamlining) is implicitly valued.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific mention of Qualtrics, Maze, and JourneyTrack indicates the expected technical proficiency. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these tools and how they leverage them to conduct effective UX research. The ability to "introduce new tools to the team" suggests an openness to exploring and adopting new technologies.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• See the Puzzle: A mindset of understanding the bigger picture and how individual pieces (research insights) fit together to solve complex client challenges.

• Dynamic: Adaptability and agility in responding to changing project requirements, client needs, and market dynamics.

• Open and Receptive: Willingness to listen to diverse perspectives, embrace feedback, and be open to new ideas and methodologies.

• Do the Right Thing: Integrity in research practices, client interactions, and decision-making.

• Put a Ribbon on It: A commitment to delivering polished, high-quality work with excellent presentation and clear, impactful recommendations.

• We Win Together: A collaborative spirit, emphasizing teamwork, shared success, and mutual support, both within the internal team and with clients.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Researchers are expected to work collaboratively with design, product, and engineering teams, integrating research insights into the product development lifecycle.

• Client-Centric Partnership: Building strong, collaborative relationships with clients, acting as trusted advisors and partners in their product and experience development.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages sharing best practices, learnings, and insights among team members to foster continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values are strongly emphasized, particularly "See the Puzzle," "Dynamic," and "We Win Together." These values highlight the need for analytical thinkers who are adaptable, collaborative, and focused on holistic solutions and team success. The "Put a Ribbon on It" value speaks to the importance of high-quality deliverables.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity and Autonomy: Navigating research projects with unclear objectives or limited direction, requiring strong initiative and problem-solving skills to define scope and approach.

• Client Management: Balancing diverse client expectations, managing scope creep, and ensuring stakeholder buy-in for research recommendations.

• Fast-Paced Agency Environment: Managing multiple projects concurrently, meeting tight deadlines, and adapting quickly to evolving client needs.

• Business Development Involvement: Contributing to sales efforts, which may be outside a traditional UX researcher's comfort zone, requiring an understanding of client business goals and proposal development.

• Tool Adoption & Training: Evaluating, introducing, and training the team on new research tools and methodologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Methodological Mastery: Opportunity to hone expertise in a wide array of UX research methods and potentially specialize in areas like behavioral economics, advanced analytics, or inclusive design research.

• Client Strategy & Business Acumen: Developing a deeper understanding of client business challenges and contributing to high-level strategic recommendations, enhancing business development skills.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Gaining experience in leading project teams, mentoring junior colleagues, and potentially progressing into management roles.

• Exposure to Diverse Industries: Working with a broad range of clients across different sectors, providing varied and rich project experiences.

• Innovation in Research: Opportunities to explore and implement new research tools and techniques, contributing to KLI's innovation and service offerings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the role's senior and agency-focused nature—autonomy, client management, and business development are key themes. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a path for both technical and professional development, including leadership and strategic client engagement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to conduct research in a highly ambiguous or ill-defined situation. How did you define the problem, select your methodology, and what was the outcome?" (Prepares for ambiguity, problem definition, methodological selection)

• "Walk me through a complex research project you led from start to finish. What were the key stakeholder challenges, and how did you ensure your insights were actionable and adopted?" (Prepares for project leadership, stakeholder management, actionable insights)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on our website and the job description, what do you see as KLI's unique value proposition in the UX research market?" (Prepares for company research, understanding of KLI's niche)

• "How do you embody KLI's core values, such as 'See the Puzzle' or 'We Win Together,' in your daily work?" (Prepares for cultural fit assessment, value alignment)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structured Narrative: For each project, follow a clear story: Problem -> Your Role & Approach -> Methodology -> Key Findings -> Actionable Recommendations -> Impact/Outcome.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the tangible results of your research (e.g., "This led to a 15% increase in task completion rates," or "Client reported a 10% reduction in support tickets related to this feature").

• Highlight Autonomy: Explicitly state where you took initiative, made independent decisions, or led the project with minimal oversight.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your presentation slides are clean, visually appealing, and easy to understand. Use charts and graphs effectively to convey data.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, data analysis, and decision-making process for each project.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation should focus on demonstrating initiative, strategic thinking, client-facing skills, and the ability to deliver high-quality, impactful research in a consulting environment. The emphasis on "ambiguity" and "sales involvement" means candidates need to showcase business acumen and proactivity.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on ADP.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight experience directly relevant to leading UX research projects, working in ambiguous environments, client interaction, and any business development contributions. Use keywords from the job description such as "mentorship," "actionable reports," "client relationship management," and specific tool names.

• Prepare your portfolio: Curate 3-5 of your most impactful UX research projects. Ensure each project clearly details the problem, your role, methodology, key insights, actionable recommendations, and quantifiable impact. Be ready to present this virtually, focusing on your ability to drive research with minimal oversight.

• Research Key Lime Interactive: Familiarize yourself with KLI's website, services, and core values. Understand their approach to UX research and their proprietary Inclusivity Index™.

• Practice your presentation: Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough and be prepared to answer behavioral and situational questions related to handling ambiguity, client management, and teamwork. Practice articulating your research process and insights concisely and persuasively.

⚠️ 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.