Senior UX Researcher - Medicaid and CHIP (Multiple Roles)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher - Medicaid and CHIP

Company: A1M Solutions

Location: US-based remote

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience Research / Government Healthcare Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-13

Experience Level: 8+ years professional experience

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead complex and multi-stream user research initiatives to inform government healthcare policy and digital product strategy, focusing on Medicaid and CHIP programs.

• Apply advanced qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to solve multifaceted user needs and uncover critical insights within government services.

• Mentor and coach peers and stakeholders on user research best practices, fostering a user-centered design culture across cross-functional teams.

• Drive the adoption of research findings to influence product priorities, roadmap decisions, and strategic improvements to user experiences.

• Collaborate with policy SMEs, designers, product managers, and developers to ensure research aligns with strategic goals and government requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a government contracting environment, emphasizing the intersection of user experience, policy, and data for public services. The "Senior" title implies a need for strategic thinking, leadership in research methodologies, and the ability to influence decision-making beyond just reporting findings. The focus on Medicaid and CHIP indicates a specialized domain within government healthcare.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and conduct comprehensive user research studies using advanced qualitative and quantitative methods to address complex government program challenges.

• Facilitate research synthesis activities, translating raw data into actionable insights, strategic recommendations, and clear opportunities for intervention.

• Mentor and coach junior researchers, designers, product managers, and government stakeholders on user research techniques, human behavior, and integrating user feedback throughout the product lifecycle.

• Drive the strategic application of research findings across teams, influencing product priorities, roadmap decisions, and overall program strategy.

• Proactively identify and respond to government requirements, policy impacts, and regulatory considerations such as accessibility, PRA, FOIA, and security compliance.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams, clients, and government stakeholders to foster collaboration, break down silos, and enable improved delivery of public services.

• Articulate research rationale and findings to diverse stakeholder groups, including those with competing priorities, ensuring clear understanding and buy-in.

• Identify and manage risks and conflicts within project teams and client relationships, taking proactive steps and escalating appropriately.

• Continuously evaluate personal skills and seek learning opportunities to enhance expertise in user research and government domain acumen.

• Initiate and drive projects that require collaboration across multiple disciplines and practices to tackle challenging, complex problems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Responsibilities are framed around leadership, strategic influence, and deep domain expertise within government healthcare. The emphasis on mentoring and coaching suggests a capacity to build team capabilities. The mention of "government domain acumen" and specific regulations highlights the unique operational context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Information Science, Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a closely related field is preferred. Experience:

• 8+ years of relevant professional experience in user research, UX design, or a related field.

• Demonstrated experience working within government or government consulting environments (local, state, or federal).

• Proven ability to lead complex or multi-stream research efforts that inform program and contract strategy.

• Experience working with social impact-focused product teams or in civic tech is preferred.

• Experience working with distributed, cross-functional teams, including product managers, designers, engineers, and subject matter experts, is preferred.

• Personal experience with government health and human services programs is a plus.

• Working knowledge of Medicare, the ACA, MACRA, Medicaid, or CHIP is preferred.

• Familiarity with SAFe and agile methodologies is preferred. Required Skills:

• Advanced qualitative and quantitative research methodologies (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability testing, ethnographic studies, diary studies).

• Strategic research planning and design aligned with program and organizational goals.

• Synthesis and analysis of research data to generate actionable insights and compelling findings.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex information clearly to diverse audiences.

• Facilitation skills for research synthesis sessions, workshops, and stakeholder meetings.

• Mentoring and coaching capabilities to develop team members and stakeholders.

• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with a focus on process and outcomes.

• Understanding of user-centered design principles and agile development processes.

• Ability to influence roadmap decisions and drive adoption of research findings.

• Knowledge of government contracting environments and associated requirements (e.g., accessibility, PRA, FOIA, security compliance). Preferred Skills:

• Experience with specific government healthcare programs like Medicaid and CHIP.

• Familiarity with SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) and other agile methodologies.

• Proficiency in data analysis tools and statistical software for quantitative research.

• Experience with user research platforms and tools.

• Understanding of policy analysis and its intersection with user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirements are substantial, indicating a need for seasoned professionals. The emphasis on government experience and specific healthcare programs suggests a niche but critical skillset. The preferred skills offer a pathway for candidates to stand out.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Well-crafted research deliverables, such as comprehensive reports, presentations, or executive summaries, that clearly articulate research findings, insights, and strategic recommendations.

• Demonstration of critical thinking regarding the research process, including methodology selection, execution, and analysis, and how these choices impacted outcomes.

• Evidence of facilitating research synthesis activities, showcasing the ability to guide teams in generating insights and identifying opportunities for intervention.

• Examples of identifying opportunities to introduce change and scale successful research efforts within organizations or across projects.

• Case studies or project examples that highlight strategic research planning and execution, detailing the problem, methodology, findings, and impact. Process Documentation:

• Showcase your ability to document research processes, from planning and recruitment to data collection and analysis, ensuring reproducibility and clarity.

• Provide examples of how you've translated research findings into clear, actionable recommendations for product, policy, and design teams.

• Demonstrate experience in creating and presenting research findings in a manner that drives stakeholder alignment and influences strategic decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are geared towards demonstrating practical application of research skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to drive organizational change within a government context. Emphasis on "scaling" and "introducing change" points to a need for proactive and impactful contributions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $125,000 – $155,000 per year. This range is set by the company's contracts and reflects the full compensation spectrum for this position over time. Actual starting salary will depend on various factors including experience, skills, and location within the authorized remote work area.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage.

• Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and optional Voluntary Benefits.

• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions.

• Generous Paid Time Off: Four weeks of PTO, seven company holidays, two personal days, and your birthday off.

• Paid Volunteer Time: Opportunities to contribute to the community.

• Wellness Reimbursements to support employee well-being.

• Professional Development Support: Budgets for training, development, and travel.

• Office Supply Needs: Reimbursement for essential home office supplies.

• Charitable Contributions: Donations to a nonprofit of your choice upon hire and periodically. Working Hours:

• This is a full-time, permanent position.

• Standard working hours are typically aligned with a 40-hour work week.

• Due to primary client work often being on Eastern Standard Time (EST), flexibility in working hours may be required if residing outside of EST to accommodate client meetings and collaboration needs.

• The company offers flexibility for non-work-related life responsibilities during the day.

• Active participation in client virtual meetings, including being on camera, is an essential function.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly stated and explained within the context of government contracts. The benefits package is robust, emphasizing employee well-being, professional growth, and community involvement, which are attractive to operations professionals seeking long-term stability and a supportive work environment. The flexibility alongside EST alignment is a key detail for remote candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Government Consulting / Information Technology / Healthcare Services. A1M Solutions operates at the intersection of policy, data, and user experience design, focusing on improving government healthcare programs.

Company Size: Small Business (Woman-owned). This typically means a more agile, close-knit environment where individual contributions can have a significant impact.

Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the company emphasizes its mission to preserve and improve government healthcare programs, suggesting a focus on long-term public service impact.

Team Structure:

• Operations work is conducted within cross-functional, cross-organizational teams.

• These teams often include policy experts, data specialists, developers, product managers, and UX researchers.

• The structure encourages collaboration and shared responsibility for delivering government digital services.

• Researchers are expected to mentor peers and strengthen team capabilities, indicating a collaborative and developmental team dynamic. Methodology:

• User-centered design practices are fundamental to A1M's approach.

• Agile methodologies are employed to ensure iterative development and responsiveness.

• Data-driven decision-making is crucial, with research findings informing policy and product development.

• Emphasis on building sustainable public services and enhancing client/partner capabilities.

Company Website: https://a1msolutions.com/ (Derived from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is mission-driven, focused on public service, and emphasizes collaboration and continuous improvement. The small business aspect suggests direct impact and visibility for employees. The cross-functional team structure is typical for modern tech and consulting firms, requiring strong interpersonal and communication skills.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior UX Researcher. This role is positioned as an experienced individual contributor with significant strategic influence. It requires not only deep expertise in user research methodologies but also the ability to mentor others, shape team practices, and impact program-level strategy. While not explicitly a people management role, it carries leadership responsibilities in guiding research efforts and fostering user-centricity.

Reporting Structure:

• The specific reporting structure is not detailed, but it is implied that Senior UX Researchers work within project teams and collaborate closely with various stakeholders, including government clients, product managers, designers, and data specialists.

• Mentorship and coaching responsibilities suggest upward and peer-level influence rather than direct hierarchical management of a research team. Operations Impact:

• The core impact of this role is on the effectiveness and usability of government healthcare programs like Medicaid and CHIP.

• By informing product strategy, policy development, and design decisions, the researcher directly contributes to improving the experience for underserved populations.

• Success is measured by the adoption of research findings, influencing roadmap decisions, and ultimately enhancing the quality and accessibility of public services.

• The role also impacts A1M's capability by strengthening team skills and fostering user-centered practices within client organizations. Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized areas of UX research, particularly within government healthcare, and to master advanced qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

• Leadership Development: Potential to take on lead roles in larger research initiatives, shape research strategy for entire programs, and develop stronger mentorship and coaching skills.

• Domain Specialization: Growing expertise in government health and human services programs, policy analysis, and civic tech, positioning the individual as a subject matter expert.

• Cross-Disciplinary Influence: Opportunities to influence practices beyond UX research, such as coaching designers, product managers, and even policy SMEs on user-centric approaches.

• Client Relationship Management: Developing skills in managing client expectations, navigating complex government contracting environments, and representing A1M effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential for experienced researchers looking to make a substantial impact in the public sector. The emphasis is on developing strategic leadership and domain expertise rather than traditional people management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This role operates entirely outside of a traditional office setting, offering maximum flexibility in terms of location within the US (excluding New York).

Office Location(s): US-based remote. Employees must reside within the United States (all 50 states, DC, and US territories), with the specific exclusion of New York state due to tax reasons.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: While remote, the role emphasizes active participation in virtual meetings, including being on camera, to foster trust and open communication. Collaboration occurs through digital platforms and scheduled virtual interactions.

• Operations Tools & Technology: While specific tools are not listed in this section, the nature of the role implies the use of standard remote collaboration tools (e.g., video conferencing, messaging platforms) and specialized UX research software for data collection, analysis, and synthesis.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with cross-functional team members, government stakeholders, and A1M colleagues through virtual meetings, shared documents, and project management tools.

Work Schedule:

• Standard 40-hour work week is expected.

• Flexibility is offered for non-work-related life responsibilities during the day.

• However, candidates must be prepared to adjust their hours if outside EST to accommodate client needs and virtual meetings, particularly on the East Coast.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature is a key aspect, with specific geographical and residency requirements. The emphasis on virtual presence and communication highlights the importance of remote collaboration skills.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

A structured, multi-round interview process designed to assess technical skills, cultural fit, and strategic alignment.

1. A1M Overview (45-60 min): Initial conversation to understand candidate's background, career aspirations, and passion. Focus on A1M's mission, vision, federal contracting specifics, and team collaboration styles.

2. Technical Assessment (45-60 min): In-depth discussion of 1-2 relevant projects from the candidate's portfolio to evaluate technical skills, research methodologies, and problem-solving abilities.

3. Values Interview (45-60 min): Assessment of alignment with A1M's core values (impact, collaboration, relationship management, curiosity, active listening) and how the candidate approaches work and collaboration.

4. Project Overview (45-60 min): A specific project team will present the day-to-day realities, vision, and objectives of a potential project assignment. This ensures mutual fit between the candidate's goals and the project's needs.

5. Offer: Final meeting with leadership to discuss the offer details and address any remaining questions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your specific role and contributions, the research methods used, key insights derived, and the tangible impact of your work on product, policy, or strategy. Quantify impact where possible.

• Demonstrate Process: Walk through your research process from planning to synthesis. Explain your methodological choices and how they addressed the research questions.

• Showcase Strategic Thinking: Highlight how your research influenced decision-making, shaped roadmaps, or led to significant strategic shifts. Emphasize your ability to "scale successful research efforts."

• Highlight Collaboration & Mentorship: Include examples where you collaborated effectively with cross-functional teams or mentored/coached others on research practices.

• Tailor to Government Context: If possible, include examples of work within government, public sector, or complex regulated environments, demonstrating an understanding of policy and stakeholder complexity.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your most relevant projects in detail, focusing on your strategic contributions and the outcomes.

• Anticipate questions about how you handle ambiguity, conflicting priorities, and diverse stakeholder groups.

• Think about specific examples of how you've mentored or coached others, or how you've influenced teams to adopt user-centered practices.

• Research A1M's mission, values, and their work in government healthcare to articulate your alignment and interest.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is thorough, with a strong emphasis on evaluating both technical proficiency and alignment with A1M's values and mission. The portfolio review is critical, requiring candidates to demonstrate impact, strategic thinking, and collaboration, especially within a government context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Candidates are expected to be proficient in various tools for conducting qualitative and quantitative research. While specific names aren't listed, this would include tools for surveys, interviews, usability testing, and potentially ethnographic studies.

• Data Analysis & Synthesis Tools: Proficiency in tools that facilitate the analysis of qualitative data (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and quantitative data (e.g., SPSS, R, Python for statistical analysis, Excel/Google Sheets for data manipulation).

• Collaboration & Communication Tools: Standard suite of remote collaboration tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), and project management software (e.g., Jira, Asana) for cross-functional team interaction.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Reporting Software: Ability to create clear, compelling research reports and presentations using tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or specialized reporting dashboards.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools that can help visualize research findings and metrics effectively.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM or automation role, an understanding of how user research findings integrate with product management, design systems, and development workflows is essential. Familiarity with how user data informs CRM strategies or product automation may be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is implied by the nature of a Senior UX Researcher role in a remote, government-focused environment. The emphasis is on tools that support research execution, data analysis, synthesis, and effective remote collaboration.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Foundational Values: A1M emphasizes core principles that guide their work, suggesting a culture that values integrity, ethical conduct, and a commitment to quality.

• Deliberate Focus: This value implies a strategic and methodical approach to problem-solving, with an emphasis on clear objectives and efficient execution of research and development tasks.

• Empathetic Connection: This is central to UX research and public service. It means understanding and prioritizing the needs, experiences, and challenges of users (citizens, program beneficiaries) and colleagues.

• Impact: A strong drive to make a meaningful difference in government healthcare programs, positively affecting underserved populations.

• Collaboration: A belief in the power of cross-functional teams and breaking down silos to achieve better outcomes. Active participation and open communication are key.

• Curiosity: A continuous drive to learn, explore complex problems, and uncover deeper insights into user behaviors and needs.

• Active Listening: Valuing the perspectives of others, whether they are users, team members, or clients, to ensure research and solutions are well-informed and aligned.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with policy SMEs, designers, developers, and product managers is expected, requiring researchers to translate insights into actionable steps for diverse disciplines.

• Process Review & Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive feedback and iterative improvement of research processes and deliverables.

• Knowledge Sharing: Proactive sharing of research findings, methodologies, and lessons learned across teams and projects to build collective expertise.

• Efficiency Experimentation: Openness to exploring new tools, methods, and approaches to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of research practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values directly align with the core tenets of user experience research and public sector work. The emphasis on empathy, impact, and collaboration is crucial for success in this role and within A1M's culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Government Bureaucracy & Policy: Understanding and responding to complex government regulations, policy shifts, and procurement processes can be challenging. This requires adaptability and a proactive approach to staying informed.

• Cross-Organizational Silos: Working across multiple teams and organizations, potentially with differing priorities and communication styles, requires strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.

• Translating Complex Data & Policy into User Needs: Synthesizing intricate policy details and data points into understandable user needs and actionable design recommendations is a core challenge.

• Driving Adoption of Research: Ensuring that research findings are not just delivered but are actively understood, accepted, and acted upon by diverse stakeholder groups can be difficult.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Maintaining strong team cohesion, effective communication, and a shared sense of purpose in a fully remote environment requires deliberate effort and strong interpersonal skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in specialized research methods, particularly those relevant to government health programs, and gain proficiency in advanced data analysis techniques.

• Industry Conference & Certification Participation: Opportunities to attend relevant conferences (e.g., UXPA, GovLoop events) and pursue certifications to stay current with industry best practices and network.

• Operations Mentorship & Leadership: Develop leadership capabilities through mentoring junior researchers and guiding strategic research initiatives, potentially leading to future leadership roles within A1M or client projects.

• Policy & Domain Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of government healthcare programs (Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, ACA) and related policy landscapes, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Agile & SAFe Training: Opportunities to learn and apply agile and SAFe methodologies more deeply within a government contracting context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for roles in government consulting, requiring resilience, strategic thinking, and strong interpersonal skills. The growth opportunities are substantial, focusing on developing deep domain expertise and leadership within the user experience and public sector domains.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex research project you led that significantly influenced policy or product strategy within a government context. What was your approach, what were the key insights, and what was the ultimate impact?" (Preparation: Structure your answer using the STAR method, focusing on strategic planning, methodology, stakeholder alignment, and measurable outcomes.)

• "How do you approach mentoring junior researchers or coaching non-researchers (e.g., designers, PMs, policy SMEs) on user research best practices and integrating user feedback?" (Preparation: Provide specific examples of coaching techniques, feedback mechanisms, and how you foster a user-centric mindset.)

• "Walk us through a situation where you had to translate complex policy or data into actionable user needs. What was your process, and how did you ensure clarity and buy-in from stakeholders with different backgrounds?" (Preparation: Be ready to explain your synthesis process and communication strategies for diverse audiences.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about A1M's mission to improve government healthcare programs, and how does your experience align with our values of foundational values, deliberate focus, and empathetic connection?" (Preparation: Research A1M's mission and values thoroughly. Connect your personal career drivers and past experiences to these specific aspects.)

• "How do you approach building relationships and breaking down silos within cross-functional, cross-organizational teams, especially in a remote setting?" (Preparation: Share examples of successful collaboration and strategies you employ to foster trust and communication.)

• "Describe a time you had to manage competing priorities or navigate conflicts with stakeholders. How did you approach the situation and what was the resolution?" (Preparation: Focus on your problem-solving, negotiation, and communication skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your senior-level capabilities, strategic thinking, and relevance to government healthcare.

Prioritize impact and complexity.

• Structure for Impact: For each project, clearly outline:

  • The Problem/Challenge (including policy or government context)
  • Your Role & Responsibilities
  • Methodology (why you chose it, how it was executed)
  • Key Findings & Insights
  • Recommendations & Strategic Influence
  • Outcomes & Impact (quantify if possible)

• Highlight Mentorship/Leadership: Explicitly point out instances where you mentored others, led research initiatives, or influenced team practices.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, decision-making process, and how you handled challenges within each project.

• Demonstrate Visual Communication: Use clear visuals in your presentation to illustrate research artifacts, key findings, and user journeys.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership in research, and a deep understanding of the government healthcare domain. Candidates need to be ready to articulate their process, impact, and alignment with A1M's mission and values.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful projects that demonstrate senior-level research strategy, execution, and influence, particularly any work within government, healthcare, or complex regulated environments. Ensure your portfolio clearly outlines the problem, your role, methodology, insights, and outcomes.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight 8+ years of relevant experience, emphasizing your skills in qualitative/quantitative research, strategic planning, stakeholder management, mentorship, and any government/healthcare sector experience. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Prepare Your Case Studies: Practice presenting your portfolio projects, focusing on storytelling that emphasizes strategic decision-making, research impact, and your ability to drive change. Be ready to discuss your process and insights in detail.

• Research A1M Solutions: Understand the company's mission, values, and their focus on improving government healthcare programs. Prepare to articulate why you are passionate about this mission and how your skills align with A1M's culture and objectives.

⚠️ 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.