Senior UX Researcher, Growth

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher, Growth

Company: Etsy

Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience Research / Product Growth

Date Posted: 2026-04-15

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid (2 days in office for commutable candidates)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead user research initiatives within Etsy's newly formed Growth team, focusing on accelerating marketplace growth through buyer and seller experience optimization.

• Partner with cross-functional teams including Product Managers, Designers, Marketers, and Data Scientists to translate research findings into actionable product development strategies and marketplace improvements.

• Independently manage a research portfolio, defining project scopes and applying a range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to uncover foundational and evaluative insights.

• Drive business goals by sharing tangible findings and prioritized recommendations that enhance marketplace health and customer engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a "Growth" team, implying a strong focus on metrics-driven research aimed at increasing user acquisition, engagement, retention, and conversion rates. The emphasis on "Keeping Commerce Human" suggests a need to balance quantitative growth targets with qualitative understanding of user needs and motivations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with Product, Design, Marketing, and Analytics teams to define research objectives and guide product development and refinement efforts.

• Independently define project scope, select appropriate research methodologies, and manage a research portfolio covering both foundational discovery and evaluative testing.

• Conduct a variety of user research studies, including remote, on-site, and potentially in-field research with both Etsy buyers and sellers.

• Translate complex research findings into clear, compelling, and prioritized recommendations to drive marketplace health, customer satisfaction, and Etsy's business objectives.

• Champion and promote proven user research methodologies and best practices across the company, fostering a user-centric product development culture.

• Manage and oversee relationships with third-party research vendors, such as research agencies and freelance moderators, as needed to support research objectives.

• Contribute to the strategic direction of the Growth team by identifying new opportunities for user-centric innovation and optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "manage a research 'portfolio'" suggests the need for strong project management skills and the ability to prioritize multiple research streams concurrently. The focus on "marketplace health" indicates that research outcomes will be tied to broader platform success metrics, not just isolated feature performance.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Master's or Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, or a related field is often preferred for senior-level UX research roles, providing a strong theoretical foundation.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) Research, with a significant portion focused on product growth, e-commerce, or marketplace platforms.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated in-depth understanding of a wide range of research approaches, balancing the need for speed with research rigor.

• Proven experience conducting UX research using methods such as in-depth user interviews, contextual inquiry, journey mapping, participatory design, and usability testing (both moderated and unmoderated).

• Experience leading research across multiple stages of the product development lifecycle, from early-stage discovery and opportunity identification to late-stage validation and iteration.

• Exceptional storytelling and communication skills, with a proven ability to present research findings persuasively and customer-centrically to diverse stakeholders.

• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, demonstrating meticulous attention to detail and ambitious drive.

• Subject matter expertise and practical experience working within the e-commerce industry.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with quantitative research methods, including survey design and analysis, A/B testing interpretation, and working with large datasets to complement qualitative insights.

• Familiarity with web and app analytics tools to contextualize user behavior.

• Experience working in a fast-paced, agile environment with evolving business needs.

• Experience managing external research vendors and agencies effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5-10 years" experience level suggests that candidates are expected to be largely self-sufficient, capable of defining their own research agendas within the Growth team's objectives, and potentially mentoring junior researchers. Expertise in e-commerce is highlighted as a strong preference, indicating that familiarity with online marketplaces, buyer/seller behavior, and transaction flows will be a significant advantage.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of UX research projects, demonstrating proficiency across various methodologies (qualitative and quantitative).

• Include detailed case studies that clearly articulate the research problem, your approach, the insights generated, and the impact on product decisions or business outcomes.

• Highlight projects specifically related to growth initiatives, user acquisition, engagement, conversion optimization, or e-commerce platforms.

• Demonstrate experience in defining research scope, managing research projects end-to-end, and presenting findings to cross-functional teams.

Process Documentation:

• For each portfolio project, provide a clear overview of the research process followed, including:

  • Research planning and methodology selection.
  • Participant recruitment and screening strategies.
  • Data collection and analysis techniques.
  • Synthesis and insight generation methods.
  • Recommendation development and stakeholder communication.

• Showcase how research findings were integrated into product development workflows and contributed to measurable improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is a senior role focused on growth, the portfolio should emphasize research's direct impact on key business metrics. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how their research influenced decisions related to user acquisition, conversion rates, retention, and overall marketplace engagement.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $136,000.00 - $176,000.00 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Equity package: Opportunity to own a stake in Etsy's growth and success.

• Annual performance bonus: Rewarded for individual and company performance.

• Competitive benefits: Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans (e.g., 401(k) with company match), paid time off, parental leave, and other wellness programs.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility expected to meet project deadlines and business needs, especially within a fast-paced growth environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a Senior UX Researcher in a major tech hub like Brooklyn, NY. The inclusion of an equity package and annual bonus signifies a performance-oriented culture.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce / Online Marketplace. Etsy operates as a global marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of unique and creative goods, positioning itself as a platform that "Keeps Commerce Human."

Company Size: Etsy is a large, publicly traded company with a significant global presence, enabling large-scale impact and access to substantial resources, while still fostering a culture that values individuality. The mention of "Etsy Inc." and "Depop" suggests a broader family of brands under one umbrella, potentially offering diverse internal opportunities.

Founded: Etsy was founded in 2005, giving it a mature presence in the e-commerce landscape, with established processes and a strong brand identity.

Team Structure:

• The Senior UX Researcher will be part of Etsy's Product Research team, specifically embedded within the newly formed Growth organization.

• This Growth team is highly cross-functional, comprising key partners from Product, Design, Analytics, Engineering, and Marketing.

Methodology:

• The Growth team operates with a focus on identifying and capitalizing on opportunities to accelerate Etsy's marketplace growth.

• Research methodologies employed will span both foundational and evaluative approaches, driven by data analysis and user insights to understand and influence buyer and seller behavior.

• Collaboration is key, with a strong emphasis on partnering across disciplines to ensure research informs product strategy and development effectively.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Growth" team's focus suggests a data-informed, experimental approach to product development, where research plays a critical role in hypothesis validation and understanding user behavior drivers. The company's slogan "Keeping Commerce Human" implies a strong emphasis on user empathy and ethical business practices within their growth strategies.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior UX Researcher role, indicating an individual contributor position with a high degree of autonomy and responsibility. Senior researchers are expected to lead complex projects, influence strategy, and mentor others. In the context of growth operations, this role directly impacts revenue-generating initiatives through user experience optimization.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a Research Manager within the Product Research team. This manager likely oversees multiple researchers and provides guidance, strategic alignment, and career development support. Collaboration will be extensive with Product Managers, Designers, and Marketing leads within the Growth team.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Researcher's work will have a direct impact on Etsy's core business objectives by identifying and addressing friction points in the buyer and seller journey, optimizing conversion funnels, increasing user engagement, and driving customer retention. Insights generated will inform strategic decisions within the Growth organization, directly contributing to revenue acceleration and marketplace health.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in growth-focused research methodologies, applying them to a large-scale e-commerce platform. Potential to gain experience in advanced analytics integration and experimentation design.

• Leadership Development: Potential to mentor junior researchers, lead research initiatives for significant product areas, and contribute to shaping the research practice at Etsy.

• Career Progression: Pathways may include moving into a Lead UX Researcher role, specializing in a particular product area, or transitioning into a Product Management role with a strong UX research foundation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior role within a Growth team, career progression often involves becoming a go-to expert for specific growth levers (e.g., acquisition, retention) or developing leadership skills to manage larger research initiatives or teams.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Etsy offers a hybrid work model. For candidates within commutable distance of the Brooklyn Office Hub, attendance of one to two days per week is required. This suggests a blend of focused individual work and collaborative in-office sessions.

Office Location(s): Brooklyn, NY, United States. This location offers access to a vibrant tech and creative community.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model supports flexibility while fostering in-person collaboration. Expect a dynamic environment within the Growth team, characterized by cross-functional interaction.

• Access to standard office technology and potentially specialized research tools will be available.

• Opportunities for regular interaction with Product Managers, Designers, Marketers, and other researchers will be integral to the role.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with the expectation of approximately 40 hours per week. However, the fast-paced nature of growth initiatives may require flexibility to meet project deadlines and urgent business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is designed to balance the benefits of remote work (flexibility, focus) with the advantages of in-office collaboration (team building, spontaneous ideation). Candidates should be comfortable with this blended approach.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely review your application, focusing on relevant experience in UX research and e-commerce.

• Hiring Manager/Recruiter Call: Discussion about your background, motivations for applying, and initial assessment of fit with the role and team.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: This is a critical step. You will be asked to present 1-2 detailed case studies from your portfolio that showcase your expertise in growth-focused UX research, problem-solving, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your process, insights, and the outcomes.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Designers, and potentially other researchers or data scientists. These will assess your collaboration skills, research approach, ability to influence, and understanding of product development in a growth context.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into your senior-level capabilities, strategic thinking, and leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select case studies that best demonstrate your experience in growth, e-commerce, and driving measurable impact.

Prioritize projects where your research directly influenced key business metrics.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline:

  • The Business/Product Problem: What challenge or opportunity were you addressing?
  • Your Role & Objectives: What was your specific contribution and the research goals?
  • Methodology: Why did you choose your research methods?
  • Key Insights: What did you learn, and how did it surprise or inform stakeholders?
  • Recommendations & Impact: What actions were taken based on your findings, and what were the measurable results (e.g., increased conversion, engagement, retention)?

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the value of your research. Show how your insights led to tangible improvements in key performance indicators.

• Showcase Collaboration: Highlight how you worked with cross-functional partners and influenced their decisions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a specific growth-related research challenge for Etsy. This might involve a hypothetical scenario or a discussion of past experiences.

• Think about how you would define success metrics for research within a growth context.

• Practice articulating complex research findings concisely and persuasively.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior growth researcher role, the interview process will heavily scrutinize your ability to connect research directly to business outcomes. Candidates should be ready to articulate ROI and demonstrate strategic thinking beyond just executing research tasks.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools for conducting remote usability testing, user interviews, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms).

• Collaboration & Design Tools: Familiarity with tools used by design and product teams for wireframing, prototyping, and journey mapping (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite).

• Data Analysis Software: Proficiency in analyzing qualitative data (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and potentially quantitative data tools (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets, basic SQL for data extraction).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Experience interpreting data from tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics to understand user behavior patterns and identify research opportunities.

• BI Tools: Familiarity with business intelligence platforms (e.g., Tableau, Looker) for understanding broader business metrics and performance dashboards.

CRM & Automation: While not the primary focus, understanding how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms function can provide context for buyer journeys and engagement strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tool requirements aren't detailed, a strong UX researcher in a growth role will likely need to be adept at using a variety of research platforms and comfortable interpreting data from analytics tools to contextualize their qualitative findings.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the needs and experiences of Etsy buyers and sellers.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing both qualitative research insights and quantitative data to inform strategies and product decisions.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Working effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals.

• Impact & Measurability: Focusing on research that drives tangible business outcomes and marketplace health.

• Iteration & Agility: Embracing a fast-paced environment and adapting research approaches to meet evolving business needs.

Collaboration Style:

• The Growth team fosters a highly collaborative environment where researchers work closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Marketers.

• Expect regular syncs, co-creation sessions, and shared ownership of objectives.

• A culture of open feedback and constructive critique is likely encouraged to refine research approaches and recommendations.

• Knowledge sharing is vital, with opportunities to present findings and learn from colleagues across different disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Etsy's ethos of "Keeping Commerce Human" likely permeates the company culture, emphasizing empathy, authenticity, and ethical practices, even within a growth-focused team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Rigor: In a fast-paced growth environment, researchers must deliver timely insights without compromising research quality or ethical standards.

• Cross-functional Influence: Effectively translating research findings into actionable changes across diverse teams with potentially competing priorities requires strong communication and persuasion skills.

• Measuring Impact: Clearly demonstrating the ROI of UX research within growth initiatives can be challenging, requiring robust data analysis and storytelling.

• Evolving Marketplace Dynamics: Staying ahead of user needs and market trends in the competitive e-commerce landscape requires continuous learning and adaptation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific growth levers (e.g., user acquisition, retention, monetization) through focused research projects.

• Methodology Expansion: Opportunity to learn and apply new research techniques, potentially including more advanced quantitative methods or experimental design.

• Mentorship: Gain insights and guidance from a Research Manager and senior peers, and potentially mentor junior team members.

• Industry Exposure: Access to industry conferences, webinars, and internal learning sessions to stay abreast of UX research and e-commerce trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be demonstrating how research directly contributes to measurable growth outcomes in a dynamic e-commerce environment. Success will require not just excellent research skills, but also strategic thinking and strong communication to drive adoption of insights.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach researching opportunities to increase new buyer acquisition on Etsy?" (Focus on defining scope, methodologies, and potential insights.)

• "Describe a time you used research to influence a significant product decision that drove growth. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare a detailed case study emphasizing impact and collaboration.)

• "How do you balance the need for quick, iterative research with deeper, foundational studies in a growth context?" (Discuss your approach to portfolio management and prioritization.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Etsy's mission to 'Keep Commerce Human' and how does that align with growth initiatives?" (Show understanding of Etsy's brand and values.)

• "How do you typically collaborate with Product Managers and Designers on a growth team?" (Highlight your partnership approach and communication style.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as compelling narratives with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify the results of your research whenever possible. Use metrics to show how your work moved the needle on key growth indicators.

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly articulate your specific contributions and decision-making processes.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your methodology choices, how you handled challenges, and what you would do differently.

• Showcase Adaptability: Demonstrate your ability to adapt research methods to different project needs and tight timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience with growth metrics, conversion funnels, and user lifecycle optimization. The ability to connect qualitative insights with quantitative data will be a significant advantage.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher, Growth position:

• Submit your resume and an optional cover letter through the provided application link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight 1-2 key projects demonstrating your experience in e-commerce growth, user acquisition, engagement, or conversion optimization. Clearly articulate your process, insights, and measurable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your years of experience in UX research, specific methodologies used, and achievements related to driving business growth. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, impact quantification, and your collaborative process. Prepare to discuss growth strategies and how research informs them.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Etsy's mission, products, and recent growth initiatives. Understand their target audience and competitive landscape. Consider how your research skills can uniquely contribute to their "Keeping Commerce Human" ethos within a growth context.

⚠️ 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.

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