Senior UX Researcher- Mercari Marketplace (Commerce New Service)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher - Mercari Marketplace (Commerce New Service)

Company: Mercari, inc.

Location: Minato City, Tokyo, Japan

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Product Research

Date Posted: 2026-09-08

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid (Office in Roppongi)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end user research initiatives for new business concepts within Mercari's Marketplace, focusing on identifying and validating transformative opportunities.

• Drive strategic and tactical research efforts, encompassing early-stage market exploration, business model validation, and the iterative testing of emerging product features.

• Collaborate extensively with Product, Engineering, Business Development, and Design teams to translate complex business hypotheses into rigorous research frameworks.

• Establish and mature research operations and infrastructure for the New Business organization, including scalable processes, participant recruitment strategies, and insight repositories.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Mercari's "Commerce New Service" initiative, indicating a strong focus on innovation and the development of entirely new business models or market expansions. The emphasis on "zero-to-one initiatives" and "strategic bets" suggests a high degree of autonomy and impact for the Senior UX Researcher, requiring a blend of strategic foresight and hands-on execution. The role demands a researcher comfortable with ambiguity and the challenges of validating novel concepts in fast-paced environments.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Strategic Research Leadership: Own and execute research strategy for assigned new business initiatives, from initial market exploration to validation of emerging concepts, ensuring alignment with business objectives.

• Methodological Versatility: Design and implement a diverse range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including user interviews, ethnographic fieldwork, usability testing, surveys, concept validation, and large-scale validation studies.

• International & Cross-Cultural Research: Plan and conduct research in key international markets (e.g., US, Asia-Pacific regions) to understand local user behaviors, market dynamics, and competitive landscapes.

• Business Impact & Decision Support: Synthesize complex research findings into clear, actionable recommendations and strategic insights that directly influence go/no-go decisions, product strategy, and market entry strategies for new ventures.

• Research Operations Development: Establish and evolve research operations best practices for the new business organization, including participant recruitment, repository management, insight communication frameworks, and the thoughtful application of AI tools to enhance research efficiency and scale.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Product Managers, Designers, Marketing, and Business Development stakeholders to embed research into decision-making cycles, identify research needs early, and build buy-in for research-informed decisions.

• Communication & Storytelling: Effectively communicate research findings to diverse audiences, including senior leadership, adapting communication style and rigor to stakeholder needs and creating memorable, actionable narratives.

• Mentorship & Team Growth: Support and mentor junior researchers or contractors as the new business research function expands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a "full-stack" research capability, meaning the candidate must be adept at both deep strategic research and rapid, lightweight validation. The emphasis on "building research infrastructure and processes" suggests this role will have a significant impact on the maturity and scalability of research within Mercari's new ventures.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a related field such as Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Market Research, or a related discipline is typically expected for a Senior UX Researcher role.

Experience: 5+ years of dedicated UX research experience, gained through in-house roles, agency work, consulting, or hybrid environments. Demonstrated ability to lead research initiatives independently and influence product and business strategy is critical.

Required Skills:

• Strategic Research Leadership: Proven experience in defining and leading end-to-end research initiatives that have directly informed business decisions or product strategy, with at least 2-3 concrete examples.

• Methodological Expertise: Strong command of a wide array of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including user interviews, ethnographic research, usability testing, surveys, analytics interpretation, concept validation, and A/B testing.

• International Field Research: Hands-on experience planning and conducting research across multiple countries and cultures, including in-person fieldwork, ethnographic studies, or international market assessments.

• Research Operations & Strategy: Familiarity with research repository management, research planning frameworks, Voice of Customer (VOC) programs, or strategies for scaling research capabilities across teams.

• Communication & Storytelling: Exceptional English communication skills (verbal and written) at a professional/executive level, with the ability to distill complex findings into clear, compelling narratives for senior leaders.

• AI Tools Proficiency: Experience utilizing AI tools to enhance research workflows, including synthesis, insight generation, and reporting, while maintaining research rigor and ethical practices. Familiarity with research platforms like UserTesting, Maze, Qualtrics, or equivalent survey platforms.

• Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated ability to present to and influence senior stakeholders, translate research findings into business language, and build consensus for research-informed decisions.

Preferred Skills:

• New Market/Business Model Validation: Prior experience conducting research specifically focused on testing the viability of new product categories, market entry decisions, or novel transaction types.

• Ecommerce/Marketplace Domain Knowledge: Understanding of ecommerce user behaviors, conversion funnel dynamics, trust/safety considerations, and marketplace operations.

• Japanese Language Proficiency: Spoken and written Japanese skills are highly beneficial for stakeholder communication and research moderation within the Tokyo office.

• Mandarin or Cantonese Language Skills: A bonus for conducting research in Asia-Pacific markets.

• Emerging Product Category Experience: Familiarity with niche communities or vertical markets such as anime, comics, gaming, entertainment, creator economy, Web3/blockchain.

• Startup/Scale-up Experience: Comfort working in fast-paced, ambiguous environments, adapting to shifting priorities, and moving quickly with incomplete information.

• Quantitative Analysis Tools: Familiarity with tools like R, Python, Tableau, or Looker for analyzing large research datasets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "international field research experience" and the preference for Japanese, Mandarin, or Cantonese language skills underscore the global nature of Mercari's new ventures and the need for culturally nuanced research. The emphasis on "independent leadership" and "influencing business decisions" distinguishes this senior role from more execution-focused positions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Impact Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed examples of strategic research initiatives you have led, clearly outlining the business problem, your research strategy, methodology, key findings, and the tangible impact on business decisions or product direction.

• Methodological Breadth Examples: Include examples demonstrating proficiency across a range of qualitative and quantitative methods, such as user interviews, ethnographic studies, usability tests, surveys, and concept validation.

• International Research Examples: If applicable, present case studies or project summaries detailing your experience conducting research in international or cross-cultural contexts.

• Research Operations Contributions: Highlight any experience in establishing or improving research processes, participant recruitment strategies, knowledge repositories, or scaling research practices.

Process Documentation:

• Research Planning & Design: Demonstrate your ability to frame research questions that directly address business hypotheses and risks, and to design comprehensive research plans that balance rigor with business velocity.

• Execution & Synthesis: Provide evidence of your ability to execute research studies efficiently and synthesize findings into clear, actionable insights and strategic recommendations.

• Impact Measurement: Show how you have measured and communicated the impact of your research on product development, business strategy, or market entry decisions, ideally with quantitative metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Researcher role, especially one focused on new ventures, the portfolio should emphasize strategic thinking and demonstrable business impact, rather than just a collection of usability test reports. The ability to articulate how research mitigated business risk or unlocked new opportunities will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior UX Researcher role in Tokyo with 5-10 years of experience and specialized skills in international research and new venture validation, the estimated annual salary range is ¥9,000,000 - ¥14,000,000 JPY. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior-level UX research positions in major metropolitan areas like Tokyo, considering the company's scale (implied by its global presence) and the specialized nature of the role.

Benefits:

• Full Flextime Work: Flexible working hours with no core time, allowing for significant autonomy in managing one's schedule.

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Including medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Contribution matching or similar retirement planning support.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, including conferences, workshops, and access to research tools and platforms.

• Relocation Assistance: May be provided for candidates moving to Japan.

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) or Stock Options: Potential for equity participation.

• Commuting Allowance: Support for transportation costs to the Roppongi office.

Working Hours: Full Flextime (no core time), suggesting a high degree of autonomy and flexibility, with an expected commitment of approximately 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Full Flextime" arrangement is a significant benefit for self-directed professionals. The salary range is an estimation and should be confirmed with the employer. Benefits are typical for a large tech company operating internationally but may vary.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Marketplace, Technology, Commerce Services. Mercari operates one of the largest C2C marketplaces globally, focusing on the circulation of value and empowering individuals.

Company Size: Mercari Group is a significant global organization with thousands of employees worldwide. The specific "Commerce New Service" team is likely a smaller, agile unit within a larger corporate structure, offering both the stability of a large company and the dynamism of a startup environment.

Founded: Mercari was founded in 2013, indicating a relatively young but rapidly scaled company with a strong culture of innovation and growth.

Team Structure:

• The New Business Design Team (or a closely related unit) is responsible for end-to-end UX design and research for emerging product initiatives.

• This team operates at the intersection of Product, Engineering, Research, and Business Development, fostering close cross-functional collaboration.

• The Senior UX Researcher will likely report into a Head of UX Research or a Director of Product/Design within the New Business organization, working alongside Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers dedicated to specific new ventures. Methodology:

• Mercari's mission emphasizes "circulating all forms of value," suggesting a culture focused on efficiency, sustainability, and user empowerment.

• The "Commerce New Service" approach likely involves lean methodologies, rapid iteration, hypothesis-driven development, and data-informed decision-making.

• Emphasis is placed on user-centricity, building trust, and delivering high-quality experiences even in exploratory phases.

Company Website: https://careers.mercari.com/en/

📝 Enhancement Note: Mercari's culture is built around its mission and values, emphasizing innovation, empowerment, and a data-driven approach. The New Business Design Team is positioned as a hub for innovation, requiring a collaborative and entrepreneurial mindset.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level position, indicating a need for seasoned professionals capable of independent leadership, strategic thinking, and influencing direction. It implies a significant level of responsibility and autonomy.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher will likely report to a research lead or design director within the New Business organization. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Business Development leads, serving as the primary research voice for their assigned initiatives.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts Mercari's expansion into new markets and revenue streams by validating business models and product concepts. Research insights will be critical for informing strategic investments, go/no-go decisions, and the overall direction of new ventures, thus having a substantial impact on Mercari's future growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Emerging Areas: Opportunity to establish and lead research practices for entirely new business lines, potentially growing into a lead or management role within the New Business research function.

• Specialization Development: Deepen expertise in areas like international market research, business model validation, or specific emerging commerce categories (e.g., Web3, creator economy).

• Cross-functional Influence: Develop strong relationships and influence across Product, Engineering, and Business Development, potentially leading to broader strategic roles.

• Research Operations Expertise: Gain significant experience in building scalable research infrastructure, which is a highly valuable skill in the industry.

• Global Exposure: Work on initiatives with global implications, providing exposure to diverse markets and user behaviors.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the research function for new business initiatives from the ground up, providing significant career growth potential beyond traditional product research roles. The emphasis on "building research ops" is a strong indicator of future opportunities in operational leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is hybrid, with an office located in Roppongi, Tokyo. This suggests a modern, collaborative workspace designed to facilitate in-person collaboration, brainstorming, and team building, while also supporting remote flexibility.

Office Location(s): Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan. This is a well-connected and central business district in Tokyo, offering accessibility.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional work suggest a dynamic environment where collaboration with Product, Design, and Engineering is frequent and essential.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard UX research tools, analytics platforms, and potentially AI-powered research assistants.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with research peers, design teams, and product stakeholders, fostering a knowledge-sharing culture.

Work Schedule: Full Flextime with no core hours offers significant autonomy. While the office is in Roppongi, the hybrid nature means researchers can balance in-office collaboration with remote work, provided they can meet research needs and team syncs effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model in a prime Tokyo location indicates a company that values both flexibility and in-person collaboration. The "Full Flextime" aspect is particularly noteworthy for professionals seeking high autonomy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Screening: Initial review of CV and portfolio for relevant experience, particularly in strategic research and international work.

• Skill Assessment: Potential for a research-focused assessment to evaluate methodological knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and strategic thinking. This could involve a take-home assignment or a live exercise.

• Interviews (Multiple Rounds):

  • Hiring Manager Interview: Focus on overall experience, strategic approach, leadership capabilities, and fit with the New Business team's mission.
  • Cross-functional Interviews: Discussions with Product Managers, Designers, and potentially Business Development leads to assess collaboration style, communication, and ability to translate research into business impact.
  • Senior Leadership Interview: Evaluation of strategic thinking, vision for research operations, and ability to influence at higher levels.

• Reference Check: Online references typically requested around the final interview stage.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Strategic Impact: Focus on case studies where your research directly influenced significant business or product decisions. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "reduced risk by X%", "identified Y new market opportunities").

• Showcase Versatility: Demonstrate your ability to employ a range of methodologies and adapt them to different research challenges (strategic vs. tactical, qualitative vs. quantitative).

• Emphasize International Experience: Clearly articulate your approach to international research, including challenges and learnings from cross-cultural fieldwork.

• Demonstrate Process Ownership: If you have experience building research ops, include examples of frameworks, repositories, or scalable processes you've implemented.

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentations as compelling narratives that highlight your problem-solving process and the value you deliver. Be prepared to discuss your thought process behind methodological choices.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Strategy Questions: Be ready to discuss how you would approach research for a hypothetical new business concept, including how you'd balance speed and rigor, and what key questions you'd seek to answer.

• Prepare for Methodological Debates: Be able to defend your methodological choices and discuss trade-offs.

• Articulate Business Acumen: Practice translating research findings into business language and demonstrating how they address market opportunities or mitigate risks.

• Showcase Collaboration: Prepare examples of how you've worked effectively with cross-functional teams, managed stakeholder expectations, and influenced decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "strategic research" and "business model validation" means interviewers will be looking for evidence of business acumen and the ability to connect research outcomes to commercial success, not just user satisfaction. The portfolio review will be critical for demonstrating this capability.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Research Platforms: UserTesting, Maze, Lookback, UserZoom (or similar for remote usability testing and feedback collection).

• Survey Platforms: Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms (for quantitative data collection and surveys).

• Qualitative Data Analysis Tools: Dovetail, NVivo, Atlas.ti (for coding, theming, and synthesizing qualitative data).

• Collaboration Tools: Miro, FigJam (for collaborative synthesis, journey mapping, and workshops).

• AI Tools: Expectation to leverage AI for tasks like transcription, initial synthesis, insight generation, and potentially participant recruitment optimization. Specific platforms may vary but a proactive approach to AI integration is key.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Looker (preferred if available, as noted in preferred skills) for analyzing quantitative research data and creating dashboards.

• General Analytics: Familiarity with website/app analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to complement qualitative findings with behavioral data.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how research data can feed into CRM systems or inform customer segmentation strategies is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI tools and the preferred skills in quantitative analysis tools like Tableau/Looker suggest Mercari is investing in advanced research capabilities. Demonstrating familiarity with these tools and a proactive approach to using AI will be advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission & Values Embodiment: A strong emphasis on empathizing with and embodying Mercari Group's mission ("Circulate all forms of value to unleash the potential in all people") and company values. This translates to a focus on user empowerment, efficiency, and sustainability.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Research findings are expected to be rigorous and evidence-based, directly informing critical business and product decisions.

• Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Working in the New Business unit requires an entrepreneurial spirit, comfort with ambiguity, and a drive to explore and validate new opportunities.

• Collaboration & Empathy: Strong emphasis on cross-functional teamwork, understanding diverse perspectives, and building trust with stakeholders.

• Continuous Improvement: A culture of learning, adapting, and seeking ways to improve processes, methodologies, and outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Research is deeply embedded within product development cycles, requiring close collaboration with PMs, Designers, and Engineers from ideation through validation.

• Transparent Communication: Open sharing of research plans, findings, and limitations to build trust and ensure alignment.

• Feedback Culture: An environment that encourages constructive feedback, both giving and receiving, to foster growth and improve research quality.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement to share learnings and frameworks across the broader UX research community at Mercari.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mercari's culture is strongly tied to its mission. For this role, demonstrating alignment with values like "trust," "empowerment," and "innovation" will be important. The collaborative style is essential for success in a fast-paced new ventures environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working in new business development means facing high levels of uncertainty, incomplete information, and shifting priorities. The challenge lies in providing clarity and direction through research.

• Balancing Rigor and Speed: The need to conduct robust research quickly to support iterative hypothesis testing requires careful methodological choices and efficient execution.

• Validating Novel Concepts: Testing entirely new business models or market opportunities presents unique challenges in defining research questions and recruiting appropriate participants.

• Building Research Ops: Establishing scalable research processes and infrastructure from the ground up requires strategic planning, stakeholder buy-in, and continuous iteration.

• Cross-Cultural Nuances: Effectively conducting and synthesizing research across diverse international markets requires deep cultural sensitivity and adaptability.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Research Leadership: Develop advanced skills in framing research strategy, influencing senior stakeholders, and driving business outcomes.

• New Venture Incubation: Gain hands-on experience in the lifecycle of new business development, from ideation to market validation.

• Research Operations Expertise: Build a strong foundation in developing and scaling research functions, a highly sought-after skill.

• AI in Research: Explore and implement cutting-edge applications of AI to enhance research efficiency and effectiveness.

• Global Market Insights: Deepen understanding of diverse international markets and consumer behaviors within the e-commerce and marketplace space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around the inherent uncertainty of new business development and the need to establish research maturity in a rapidly evolving environment. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to shape new ventures and build expertise in high-demand areas.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led research for a completely new product or business concept. What was your approach, what were the key challenges, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic framing, methodological choices, and business impact.)

• "How do you balance the need for research rigor with the fast-paced demands of new business development? Provide an example." (Assess your ability to make trade-offs and adapt methodologies.)

• "Imagine we are exploring a new service for [specific niche market, e.g., vintage fashion]. How would you approach researching its viability and potential user needs?" (Evaluate your strategic research planning and question formulation.)

• "How would you go about building a research repository or knowledge-sharing system for a growing new business team?" (Assess your understanding of research operations and scalability.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Mercari's mission and the specific focus of our New Business organization?" (Showcase your understanding of the company and your alignment with its goals.)

• "How do you approach collaborating with Product Managers and Designers on exploratory initiatives?" (Demonstrate your cross-functional collaboration skills and ability to influence.)

• "Describe your experience working with international markets. What are the key considerations for conducting user research across different cultures?" (Highlight your international research capabilities.)

• "How do you see AI tools impacting the future of UX research, and how have you incorporated them into your workflow?" (Assess your forward-thinking approach to research technology.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, key findings, and the resulting business/product impact. Quantify outcomes whenever possible.

• Explain Your 'Why': Be prepared to discuss the rationale behind your methodological choices, especially how they were tailored to address specific business questions and constraints.

• Showcase Leadership: Emphasize your role in leading the research end-to-end, including stakeholder management and influencing decisions.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific details of your research process, participant recruitment, data analysis, and how you handled challenges.

• Connect to Mercari: Where possible, draw parallels between your past experiences and Mercari's mission, values, or the challenges of new business development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss your experience with "zero-to-one" initiatives and business model validation. The interviewers will be looking for evidence of strategic foresight, operational thinking, and the ability to thrive in ambiguity.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful strategic research projects that highlight your leadership, methodological versatility, and international experience. Focus on demonstrating how your research directly influenced business decisions or product strategy.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, specific methodologies used, experience with international research, and any contributions to research operations or strategy. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your experience and case studies concisely and compellingly, focusing on the "why" and "so what" of your research. Be ready to discuss your approach to ambiguity and fast-paced environments.

• Research Mercari: Familiarize yourself with Mercari's mission, values, current marketplace offerings, and any public information about their new business initiatives. Understand their commitment to "circulating value" and their global presence.

⚠️ 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.