Senior UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher

Company: StackAdapt

Location: Canada

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Development

Date Posted: 2026-05-12

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and define UX research strategy across multiple product teams, ensuring a deep understanding of user needs and behaviors to inform product development.

• Execute comprehensive mixed-method research studies, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches to tackle complex, ambiguous problem spaces within the AdTech domain.

• Translate research findings into actionable product requirements and tangible design solutions by facilitating workshops and collaborating closely with Product and Design stakeholders.

• Act as a strategic partner, proactively identifying research opportunities and advocating for the user perspective to influence product roadmaps and immediate development cycles.

• Leverage AI tools and implement process improvements within the UX Research function to enhance quality, efficiency, and scalability across the product organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Researcher, indicating a need for a candidate who can operate with significant autonomy, lead research initiatives, and influence strategic product decisions. The focus on "complex problem spaces" and "ambiguous research problems" suggests a need for strong strategic thinking and problem-framing skills, beyond just executing defined studies. The mention of AI tools and process improvements highlights a forward-thinking approach to research operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the development and execution of research strategies for 3-4 product teams, employing a variety of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to address intricate user challenges.

• Define and scope ambiguous research problems, translating broad business objectives into detailed research plans with clear objectives, hypotheses, and expected outcomes.

• Facilitate impactful workshops (e.g., ideation, solutioning, co-creation) that effectively translate validated research findings into prioritized product requirements and concrete design solutions.

• Serve as a key strategic advisor to Product Management and Design teams, proactively identifying research opportunities, challenging existing assumptions, and championing the user's voice in crucial trade-off discussions.

• Contribute significantly to the product roadmap by ensuring that user insights derived from research directly inform both short-term development sprints and long-term strategic planning.

• Develop and maintain resources, guidelines, and best practices to empower product and design stakeholders to conduct quality research independently, while also providing consultation and feedback on their research endeavors.

• Identify, evaluate, and implement improvements to UX Research tools, workflows, and processes, with a particular emphasis on leveraging AI to create repeatable and scalable research operations.

• Collaborate effectively with research-adjacent teams, such as Product Analytics and Product Marketing, to synthesize insights, ensure alignment, and prevent redundant research efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on research execution, and process improvement. The role requires not just delivering insights but actively driving them into product decisions, as evidenced by "tangible design solutions" and "prioritized product requirements." The expectation to mentor and enable other teams highlights a senior-level responsibility for scaling research capabilities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While a specific degree is not listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for this level of UX research role.

Experience: 4-7 years of hands-on, applied UX research experience, with a strong emphasis on demonstrating research-informed decision-making and the ability to extract actionable insights from complex technology environments.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in developing and executing comprehensive research strategies across multiple product teams.

• Mastery of a wide array of qualitative research methods (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, ethnographic studies, diary studies) and quantitative methods (e.g., surveys, A/B testing, analytics data analysis, card sorting).

• Demonstrated experience in conducting mixed-method studies, understanding the strengths and appropriate applications of each research approach.

• Portfolio showcasing successful research projects, detailing how findings directly influenced product decisions, design solutions, and business outcomes.

• Proficiency in translating complex business questions into clear, actionable research plans with defined objectives and measurable outcomes.

• Strong ability to facilitate workshops (e.g., ideation, co-creation, journey mapping) and drive collaborative problem-solving sessions.

• Experience with AI tools integrated into the research workflow, such as for synthesis, analysis, generative insights, or participant recruitment.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to tailor insights and recommendations to diverse audiences, from development teams to executive leadership.

• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with cross-functional partners (Product, Design, Engineering, Marketing) and effectively influence decision-making.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with the digital advertising ecosystem, including programmatic advertising, AdTech platforms, and key industry metrics.

• Understanding of data privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA, and their implications for user research and product design.

• Experience with emerging industry trends like cookieless targeting, AI-driven optimization, and their user experience implications.

• Experience conducting UX research specifically on AI-powered features or products, understanding the unique ethical and technical considerations.

• Experience in coaching or mentoring junior researchers or enabling non-researchers to conduct effective studies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements strongly suggest a need for a candidate who is not just an executor of research but a strategic partner who can shape product direction. The emphasis on AI integration and the digital advertising industry indicates a highly specialized role within a specific tech vertical, requiring both deep research expertise and domain knowledge.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio is critical, showcasing 3-5 in-depth case studies that clearly demonstrate your ability to lead research initiatives from framing ambiguous problems to driving tangible product impact.

• Each case study should detail the research problem, your role and approach (including specific methodologies used), the insights generated, and the concrete outcomes or decisions influenced by your research.

• Evidence of research-informed decision-making and the ability to extract actionable insights that led to measurable improvements in user experience, product adoption, or business metrics.

• Demonstrations of how you translated complex findings into prioritized product requirements and design solutions, ideally through workshop facilitation or direct collaboration.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of research plans, clearly outlining objectives, hypotheses, target audiences, methodologies, and timelines.

• If applicable, include documentation or descriptions of research processes you have helped to define or improve, particularly those involving mixed-methods or AI integration.

• Provide insight into how you collaborate with product managers and designers to document and socialize research findings and recommendations.

• Demonstrate your ability to create resources or guidelines that enable cross-functional teams to conduct effective research, highlighting your role in scaling research capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirement is a cornerstone for this role, emphasizing not just what you did, but how you did it and the impact it had. The focus on "actionable insights," "prioritized product requirements," and "tangible design solutions" aligns with the strategic nature of the Senior UX Researcher position. The inclusion of AI tools in the portfolio is a highly specific and crucial requirement.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior UX Researcher role in Canada, especially within a technology company like StackAdapt, the salary range can vary significantly based on specific location (e.g., Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal), years of experience, and the precise responsibilities. Based on industry benchmarks and the specified experience level (4-7 years), a competitive annual salary range could be estimated between CAD $100,000 to CAD $150,000.

Benefits:

• Highly competitive salary

• Retirement/401K/Pension Savings globally

• Competitive Paid Time Off packages, including birthdays off.

• Access to a comprehensive mental health care program.

• Health benefits from day one of employment.

• Work from home reimbursements.

• Optional global WeWork membership for flexible workspace options.

• Robust training and onboarding program.

• Coverage and support of personal development initiatives (conferences, courses, books).

• Access to StackAdapt programmatic courses and certifications for continuous learning.

• An excellent parental leave program.

• A friendly, welcoming, and supportive culture.

• Social and team events.

Working Hours: The role is listed with an AI-derived standard of 40 hours per week. However, as a Senior UX Researcher, there may be flexibility required to meet project deadlines or accommodate global team interactions, with the possibility of occasional work outside standard hours, balanced by the remote-friendly nature of the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market data for senior-level UX Researchers in Canada, considering the tech industry and the company's profile. The benefits package is comprehensive and detailed, reflecting a company that invests in employee well-being and professional development. The note about benefits varying by country is important for international candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically in the AdTech (Advertising Technology) sector, focusing on programmatic advertising and an AI-powered marketing platform. StackAdapt operates in a fast-paced, data-driven environment where innovation and efficiency are paramount.

Company Size: StackAdapt is a growing company, indicated by its need for a Senior UX Researcher to support multiple product teams. While not explicitly stated in the provided text, companies of this nature often range from 200-1000 employees, suggesting a dynamic environment with opportunities for impact and growth, yet structured enough to have established processes.

Founded: StackAdapt was founded with a vision to empower marketers. While the exact founding year isn't provided, its current positioning indicates a mature but still rapidly evolving company.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research function likely sits within the Product or Engineering organization, supporting several agile product teams.

• The Senior UX Researcher will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Designers, Product Analysts, and potentially Product Marketing Managers.

• The role involves acting as a strategic partner, suggesting a peer-to-peer relationship with Product and Design leadership, rather than a purely task-based reporting structure.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: StackAdapt's platform relies on "465 billion automated optimizations per second," highlighting a deep commitment to data and algorithmic performance. This ethos likely permeates the product development process, with research findings expected to be grounded in data and user behavior.

• User-Centricity: The core of the role is to "represent the user perspective," ensuring product development is aligned with user needs and challenges.

• Agile Development: The mention of supporting "3-4 product teams" and contributing to "immediate development cycles" suggests an agile or iterative product development framework.

• Continuous Improvement: The focus on "identifying and implement improvements to UXR tools and processes" and "leveraging AI" points to a culture that values innovation and optimization in its operational practices.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The AdTech industry context is crucial. It's a competitive, rapidly evolving space where understanding user behavior, data privacy, and technological advancements (like AI) is key. StackAdapt's emphasis on AI and automation suggests a culture that embraces cutting-edge technology, and the UX Researcher will be expected to integrate these advancements into their work.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Senior-level position within User Experience Research. It signifies a move beyond individual contributor roles focused solely on executing studies. A Senior UX Researcher is expected to lead research strategy, mentor others, influence product direction, and contribute to the operational excellence of the research function itself. The scope includes managing research for multiple product teams and acting as a strategic advisor.

Reporting Structure: While the specific reporting line isn't stated, a Senior UX Researcher typically reports to a Head of UX, Director of Product, or a similar senior leadership role overseeing product development. They will work closely with Product Managers and Designers within their assigned product teams.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Researcher's impact is multifaceted:

• Product Strategy: Directly shapes product roadmaps and feature development by ensuring user needs are prioritized.

• Product Quality & Adoption: Drives the creation of user-friendly, effective products that meet market demands, leading to higher adoption rates and customer satisfaction.

• Efficiency & Scalability: Improves the overall efficiency and quality of the product development process by optimizing research methodologies, implementing AI tools, and enabling other teams.

• Business Outcomes: Ultimately contributes to the company's success by ensuring products resonate with target audiences and achieve business objectives in the competitive AdTech market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead UX Researcher or Managerial role, overseeing a team of researchers and defining the overall UX research vision.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven products, programmatic advertising, or specific research methodologies.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Transition into Product Management or Design leadership roles, leveraging a deep understanding of user needs and product strategy.

• Process Innovation: Lead initiatives to further integrate AI and automation into research operations, becoming a subject matter expert in research ops and tools.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to the broader UX research community through speaking engagements, publications, or contributions to industry best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title is a key indicator of responsibility and expected autonomy. The growth opportunities highlight a path for individuals who want to deepen their research expertise, move into leadership, or leverage their UX insights into broader product strategy roles. The emphasis on AI and AdTech provides clear avenues for specialization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: StackAdapt offers a flexible work environment, with the option to work remotely. They also provide access to WeWork memberships in London and Toronto, indicating a hybrid-friendly approach that supports employees who may prefer a co-working space or an office environment at times.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote in Canada, StackAdapt has physical hubs in London and Toronto. This suggests a strong global presence and potentially opportunities to collaborate with colleagues in different regions.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Flexibility: Employees have the autonomy to choose their primary workspace, whether it's a home office or a co-working space like WeWork.

• Collaborative Tools: The nature of remote work and supporting multiple product teams necessitates robust digital collaboration tools for communication, project management, and research data sharing.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: The role demands frequent interaction with Product, Design, and Analytics teams, fostering a collaborative and integrated work environment, even when remote.

• Focus on Efficiency: The company's reliance on AI and automation suggests an environment that values efficient workflows and embraces technology to streamline tasks.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is likely 40 hours per week, typical for full-time roles. However, the remote nature and the demands of supporting multiple product teams may allow for some flexibility in how those hours are structured, provided deliverables are met and collaboration with global teams is managed effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote OK" status for Canada, combined with WeWork memberships, points to a modern, flexible work model. This environment requires strong self-discipline, excellent communication skills, and proficiency with remote collaboration tools. The company's global presence means candidates should be comfortable working across different time zones.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application, focusing on your resume and portfolio for alignment with the core requirements (experience, methodology, AI integration).

• Portfolio Presentation/Deep Dive: Expect to present your portfolio, walking through 1-2 key case studies. This stage assesses your research strategy, methodology, ability to extract and communicate insights, and impact on product decisions. Be prepared to discuss your specific contributions.

• Technical/Skills Interview: A session with Product Managers and/or Designers to assess your understanding of UX research principles, mixed-methods application, and ability to translate findings into actionable product requirements. You might be asked to critique a design or outline a research plan for a hypothetical problem.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Interview: An interview focusing on your ability to partner with stakeholders, facilitate workshops, and influence product direction. This may involve behavioral questions about past collaborations and conflict resolution.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion with the hiring manager to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with the team's vision and StackAdapt's culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best represent the requirements of this specific role. Highlight projects where you led research, used mixed methods, integrated AI, and drove significant product impact.

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the problem, your unique contribution, the insights you uncovered, and the tangible outcomes (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, new feature adoption). Use metrics wherever possible.

• Showcase Process: Detail your research process, including how you framed the problem, selected methodologies, recruited participants, conducted analysis, and synthesized findings. Explain why you made certain methodological choices.

• Demonstrate AI Integration: If applicable, clearly highlight how you used AI tools in your research workflow (synthesis, analysis, etc.) and the benefits it provided.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as compelling narratives. Start with the challenge, build through your process, and end with the resolution and impact.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Design Exercise: You may be asked to outline a research plan for a given product problem or scenario, demonstrating your ability to scope, select methods, and define success metrics.

• Insight Synthesis Exercise: You might be given mock data (interview transcripts, survey results) and asked to identify key insights and propose actionable recommendations.

• Workshop Facilitation Simulation: Be prepared to discuss how you would facilitate a workshop (e.g., ideation, prioritization) with stakeholders.

• AI & AdTech Acumen: Brush up on current trends in AI within UX research and the AdTech industry. Be ready to discuss how these might impact user experience and research approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly evaluate strategic thinking, research execution, stakeholder management, and cultural fit. The portfolio review is a critical component, requiring candidates to articulate their process and impact clearly. Preparation for potential exercises is key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• Collaboration & Whiteboarding: Tools for remote workshops and idea generation (e.g., Miro, Mural, Figma Jam).

• Data Analysis & Synthesis: Tools for qualitative data analysis (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and quantitative analysis (e.g., Excel, R, Python, SPSS).

• AI-Powered Research Tools: Specific AI tools for synthesis, analysis, participant matching, or generative insights. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with such tools.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Experience with platforms like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar, to complement qualitative findings with quantitative user behavior data.

• BI/Dashboarding Tools: Familiarity with tools like Tableau, Looker, or Power BI for visualizing data and reporting key metrics, though direct expertise might not be required if collaborating with analysts.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary function, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms (relevant to the AdTech space) can provide valuable context for understanding the broader customer journey and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI tools is a critical differentiator for this role. Candidates should be prepared to discuss not just which AI tools they've used, but how they've integrated them into their research process and the specific benefits achieved. Proficiency in standard UX research and collaboration tools is expected.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity & Empathy: A deep-seated commitment to understanding and advocating for the user, ensuring that user needs are at the forefront of all product decisions.

• Data-Driven Innovation: A culture that values leveraging data, including AI-driven insights, to fuel innovation and optimize product performance, particularly in the complex AdTech landscape.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Strong emphasis on cross-functional teamwork, working closely with Product, Design, Engineering, and Marketing to achieve shared goals.

• Efficiency & Scalability: A drive to continuously improve processes and leverage technology (like AI) to enhance the quality and output of product development and research operations.

• Impact & Ownership: A culture where individuals are empowered to take ownership of their work and are accountable for driving tangible business and user outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive & Strategic: The Senior UX Researcher is expected to be a proactive partner, identifying opportunities and bringing forward insights, rather than waiting for research requests.

• Facilitative: A key aspect of the role involves facilitating workshops and discussions to ensure collaborative problem-solving and buy-in from stakeholders.

• Empowering: The role includes mentoring and enabling other teams to conduct research, fostering a collaborative research ecosystem.

• Transparent: Open communication and sharing of findings, methodologies, and challenges are likely valued to ensure alignment across teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values highlight a company that is both user-focused and technologically advanced, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and driving measurable results. The Senior UX Researcher will need to embody these values in their daily work and interactions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Tackling complex, ill-defined problems and translating them into clear research questions and actionable plans.

• Driving Impact in a Fast-Paced Environment: Ensuring research findings are integrated effectively and quickly into product development cycles within a dynamic AdTech industry.

• Balancing Breadth and Depth: Managing research strategy and execution across multiple product teams while maintaining a deep understanding of each team's specific user challenges.

• Integrating AI Effectively: Staying ahead of AI advancements in research and product development, and effectively integrating these tools while maintaining research rigor and ethical standards.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Effectively communicating complex insights and persuading diverse stakeholders (technical and non-technical) to adopt user-centered recommendations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Research Specialization: Deepen expertise in leveraging AI for research synthesis, analysis, and generative insights, becoming a go-to person for AI-related research strategies.

• AdTech Domain Expertise: Expand knowledge of programmatic advertising, data privacy, and emerging trends to better inform research and product strategy.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Develop leadership skills through managing research initiatives for multiple teams and mentoring colleagues.

• Strategic Product Influence: Gain experience shaping product roadmaps and contributing to long-term product vision.

• Process Improvement Leadership: Lead initiatives to optimize research operations, potentially developing new frameworks or implementing advanced tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a senior, strategic role in a complex industry. The growth opportunities are clearly defined, offering pathways for specialization, leadership, and strategic impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to frame a complex, ambiguous problem into a research plan. What was your process, and what were the outcomes?" (Focus on problem framing, methodology selection, and impact.)

• "How do you prioritize research requests when supporting multiple product teams with competing demands?" (Focus on strategic prioritization, stakeholder management, and impact assessment.)

• "Walk us through a study where you integrated AI tools. What tools did you use, how did they enhance your research, and what were the results?" (Focus on practical AI application and benefits.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about StackAdapt and the AdTech industry specifically?" (Research StackAdapt's mission, platform, and recent news. Understand key AdTech concepts.)

• "How do you approach building relationships and collaborating with Product Managers and Designers?" (Focus on communication, empathy, and partnership.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each case study, clearly outline: The Problem, Your Role, The Approach (Methodology), Key Findings/Insights, The Impact/Outcome, and Lessons Learned.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics whenever possible to demonstrate the tangible results of your research (e.g., percentage increase in conversion, reduction in error rates, adoption of new features).

• Highlight AI Integration: Specifically call out any instances where AI tools were used, explaining the value they added to your process or insights.

• Be Ready for "Why": Be prepared to defend your methodological choices and discuss alternative approaches you considered.

• Engage Your Audience: Present with enthusiasm and clarity. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your contributions and thought process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, hands-on expertise (especially with AI), and strong collaboration skills. The portfolio is the primary tool for showcasing these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the StackAdapt careers portal via the provided link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience with mixed-method research, AI tool integration, strategic leadership, and driving product impact. Use keywords from the job description, such as "research strategy," "actionable insights," "stakeholder management," and "AI tool integration."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 compelling case studies that best exemplify your ability to lead research, frame ambiguous problems, use diverse methodologies, integrate AI, and drive tangible product outcomes. Ensure each case study clearly articulates your specific contributions and the impact of your work.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, clarity of process, and quantifying impact. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI tools in detail.

• Research StackAdapt: Understand StackAdapt's platform, their position in the AdTech market, their AI focus, and their company culture. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.

⚠️ 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.