Senior Vice President, Lead UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Vice President, Lead UX Researcher

Company: BNY Mellon

Location: New York, NY, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience Research (UX Research) / Product Operations

Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (10+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and manage end-to-end UX research projects for assigned product experiences, driving strategic research initiatives and informing multi-year product roadmaps.

• Foster strong, collaborative relationships with design, product experience leads, and product managers to ensure user-centricity in product development and strategic planning.

• Enhance overall practice maturity by leading specialized research areas, developing team processes, and facilitating workshops to elevate organizational efficiency and UX research capabilities.

• Conduct rigorous user needs analysis, behavioral research, and usability testing to validate new designs and continuously improve live software, integrating feedback into QA and product workflows.

• Proactively identify and mitigate potential problems, manage client-facing team relationships, and communicate project progress effectively across diverse stakeholder groups.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Senior Vice President, Lead UX Researcher," the core responsibilities and required experience align with a senior leadership role focused on operationalizing UX research within a large financial institution. This role requires not only deep research expertise but also strong strategic influence and process development capabilities, fitting within a broader Product Operations or GTM Operations context for a financial services firm.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee the entire lifecycle of UX research projects, from planning and execution to analysis and reporting, ensuring alignment with business objectives and product strategies.

• Conduct in-depth qualitative research, including user interviews, ethnographic studies, and diary studies, to uncover deep user needs, pain points, and behavioral patterns.

• Facilitate user feedback sessions on strategic business priorities, new features, and product concepts to inform decision-making and validate hypotheses.

• Execute comprehensive usability testing for both early-stage designs and production software, identifying critical issues and recommending actionable improvements.

• Contribute to and manage feedback programs for live software, ensuring seamless integration with quality assurance (QA) and product development workflows to drive continuous improvement.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with product management and design teams, acting as a trusted advisor and advocate for the user throughout the product development process.

• Lead and mentor junior researchers, providing guidance on research methodologies, project management, and stakeholder communication, thereby enhancing team capabilities.

• Develop and deliver engaging training sessions and workshops on UX research best practices, methodologies, and tools to foster a culture of user-centricity across the organization.

• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance team processes, optimize workflows, and improve overall organizational efficiency in research operations.

• Manage communications related to internal projects, ensuring clarity, transparency, and timely updates for all relevant stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of direct research execution, strategic influence on roadmaps, and operational leadership in enhancing the UX research practice. This suggests a role that bridges individual contribution with team enablement and process optimization, common in senior operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, User Experience, Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a closely related discipline.

Experience:

• 10-12 years of progressive experience specifically in User Experience (UX) Research.

• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing complex research projects, including those with strategic business implications.

• Proven track record of influencing product roadmaps and strategic decisions through impactful research insights.

Required Skills:

• Deep expertise in facilitating a wide range of qualitative research methodologies, including but not limited to user interviews, contextual inquiries, ethnography, and usability testing.

• Strong analytical and synthesis skills, with the ability to process and interpret complex information from multiple sources to derive actionable insights.

• Exceptional communication, storytelling, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate research findings and strategic recommendations clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, from individual contributors to executive leadership.

• Meticulous attention to detail and superior organizational skills, essential for managing multiple research projects, data sets, and stakeholder communications effectively.

• Proficiency in using enterprise feedback management tools such as Qualtrics, Medallia, Foresee, or similar platforms for survey deployment, data collection, and analysis.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in quantitative research methodologies and mixed-methods approaches to complement qualitative findings.

• Familiarity with product analytics tools and their integration with UX research insights.

• Experience in leading and mentoring junior UX researchers or research teams.

• Knowledge of design thinking principles and their application within product development cycles.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards and inclusive design practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "10-12 years of experience" and "advanced degree a plus" positions this as a senior leadership role requiring significant depth and breadth of UX research expertise, with a strong preference for candidates who can operate independently and strategically within a complex organizational structure. The inclusion of enterprise feedback tools points to a need for operational efficiency in data collection and analysis.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrations of end-to-end UX research projects, showcasing the full research lifecycle from problem identification to actionable recommendations.

• Case studies detailing user needs analysis, behavioral research findings, and the impact of those insights on product strategy and feature development.

• Examples of usability testing reports, highlighting identified issues, severity ratings, and proposed solutions that led to improved user experience.

• Documentation of how research findings were integrated into product roadmaps and influenced design decisions, ideally with quantifiable outcomes or ROI.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of established research processes that ensure consistency, quality, and efficiency in research execution.

• Highlight contributions to improving team processes, such as developing new research methodologies, standardizing reporting templates, or optimizing data analysis workflows.

• Provide examples of how feedback programs for live software were integrated into QA and product workflows, demonstrating an understanding of operational integration.

• Illustrate experience in facilitating workshops or training sessions focused on research methodologies or user-centric design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for a senior UX Researcher. It should not only showcase individual research skills but also demonstrate leadership in process improvement, strategic influence, and operational integration of research findings within a large enterprise. The ability to articulate the impact of research on business outcomes is paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The base salary for this position is expected to be between $102,000 and $246,000 per year at the commencement of employment.

• Note: This range reflects the broad spectrum for a Senior Vice President level role in a major financial hub like New York City. Actual compensation will be determined on an individualized basis, considering factors such as the candidate's experience, specific skills, and the precise market location within New York.

Benefits:

• Highly competitive compensation package, including base salary, potential for discretionary bonuses, and short/long-term incentive plans.

• Comprehensive wellbeing programs designed to support employee health and resilience.

• Generous paid leaves, including paid volunteer time, to support personal and family needs.

• Access to flexible global resources and tools to support an individual's life journey.

• Financial goal support and programs to help employees reach their economic objectives.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is described as comprehensive, emphasizing not just financial rewards but also holistic employee support, which is typical for large, established financial institutions like BNY Mellon.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work schedule, often estimated at 40 hours per week.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: While a standard 40-hour week is mentioned, senior roles, especially on-site in high-stakes industries like finance, often involve flexibility and the expectation of dedicating the time necessary to meet strategic objectives and manage projects effectively.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Investment Banking / Technology. BNY Mellon operates at the core of the global financial system, influencing a significant portion of the world's investible assets. The company leverages cutting-edge AI and breakthrough technologies to drive transformative solutions.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (BNY Mellon is a global financial institution with a substantial employee base, likely in the tens of thousands). This size offers stability, extensive resources, and opportunities for broad impact and career advancement, but also implies a structured environment with established processes.

Founded: While not explicitly stated in the provided text, BNY Mellon has a long history, with its origins tracing back to 1784. This deep heritage suggests a culture that values tradition, stability, and long-term vision, while actively integrating modern technologies and innovative practices.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team, likely part of a larger Product or Design organization, will include specialists in various research methodologies.

• This role reports to a senior leader within Product Experience or Design, with direct influence on product managers and design leads.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, leveraging advanced AI and technologies to inform product development and client solutions.

• Emphasis on collaboration and cross-functional teamwork to drive transformative initiatives.

• A culture that fosters innovation, encouraging bold ideas and the adoption of advanced technologies.

• Focus on client success and partnership in redefining industries.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: BNY Mellon's culture is presented as a blend of innovation, technological advancement, and a strong commitment to client success within the financial services sector. The "LifeAtBNY" hashtag and emphasis on culture suggest a deliberate effort to foster an engaging and growth-oriented work environment for its employees.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Vice President (SVP) signifies a high level of leadership and strategic responsibility within the organization. This role is critical for shaping the user experience strategy and operationalizing research practices at a significant scale within BNY Mellon's Pershing division. It implies a role that not only executes but also defines and improves the operational framework for UX research.

Reporting Structure: This SVP will likely report to a Chief Experience Officer (CXO), Head of Product, or a senior executive within the Pershing business unit. They will manage direct reports or lead matrixed teams, working closely with Product Managers, Design Leads, and potentially other operational functions like Data Analytics and Product Operations.

Operations Impact: The UX Research team's impact is crucial for BNY Mellon's success in the competitive financial services landscape. By ensuring products are intuitive, efficient, and meet client needs, this role directly contributes to client satisfaction, retention, adoption rates, and ultimately, revenue growth and market leadership. The strategic influence on roadmaps ensures that user needs are prioritized in long-term planning, minimizing costly post-launch corrections.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a more senior executive role overseeing a larger segment of the UX function or expanding into broader product strategy leadership.

• Strategic Impact: Opportunity to shape the future of digital products and services within the financial sector, influencing industry standards and best practices.

• Mentorship and Development: Leading and mentoring a team of researchers provides opportunities to develop leadership and coaching skills, fostering the next generation of UX talent.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Gaining exposure to and influence over various business units within BNY Mellon, broadening understanding of the financial services ecosystem.

• Specialization & Innovation: Opportunity to lead the development of new research methodologies, integrate emerging technologies (like AI) into research practices, or specialize in specific areas of financial services UX.

📝 Enhancement Note: The SVP title indicates a strategic leadership position. Growth opportunities will focus on expanding influence, refining operational processes, and potentially moving into broader executive roles within BNY Mellon's extensive organizational structure.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in New York City, indicating an on-site work environment within a corporate office setting. This likely means a professional, structured office environment designed for collaboration and productivity.

Office Location(s): New York City, NY (240 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10286). This location is a prime business district, offering access to talent, resources, and a dynamic professional ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be designed to foster collaboration, with meeting rooms, common areas, and potentially flexible desk arrangements.

• Access to advanced technology and tools necessary for UX research, including specialized software, hardware, and secure network infrastructure, will be provided.

Work Schedule:

• The expectation is a full-time, on-site role, likely adhering to standard business hours (e.g., 9 AM to 5 PM EST), with flexibility required to meet project deadlines and business needs.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: While standard hours are typical, senior leadership roles in finance often require adaptability and willingness to work beyond typical hours to manage complex projects and global operations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and salary expectations.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager to evaluate experience, leadership style, and strategic thinking related to UX research and operations.

• Team/Peer Interviews: Meetings with potential colleagues (UX researchers, designers, product managers) to assess collaboration skills, technical expertise, and team dynamics.

• Portfolio Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present a selection of their work, demonstrating research methodologies, insights, impact, and process improvements. This will likely involve case studies and detailed project walkthroughs.

• Executive Interview: Final interview with a senior executive (e.g., Head of Product, CXO) to assess strategic vision, leadership potential, and alignment with BNY Mellon's long-term goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 projects that best demonstrate your leadership in UX research, strategic influence, and process enhancement. Prioritize projects with quantifiable outcomes and clear impact.

• Structure for Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the methodologies used, key insights derived, the actions taken based on those insights, and the resulting impact (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased user satisfaction, reduced development costs).

• Highlight Process Improvement: Specifically showcase instances where you improved research processes, mentored junior staff, or streamlined workflows. This demonstrates your operational leadership capabilities.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to illustrate the success of your research initiatives. This could include user satisfaction scores, task completion rates, reduction in support tickets, or impact on revenue.

• Tailor to BNY Mellon: Understand BNY Mellon's business and the Pershing division. Frame your examples to show how your skills and experience can address their specific challenges in the financial services industry.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a case study or a hypothetical research challenge. This might involve analyzing a product scenario, outlining a research plan for a new feature, or interpreting a set of user data.

• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, demonstrating your ability to think critically and strategically under pressure.

• Prepare to discuss how you would manage stakeholder expectations, communicate research findings effectively, and integrate your insights into an agile development process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for an SVP role will be rigorous, focusing heavily on strategic thinking, leadership, and the tangible impact of past work. The portfolio presentation is a key opportunity to showcase not just research skills but also operational acumen and leadership potential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Enterprise Feedback Management Tools: Qualtrics, Medallia, Foresee (required). Proficiency in these platforms for survey design, deployment, data collection, and basic analysis is essential.

• UX Research Platforms: Tools for remote usability testing, session recording, and user feedback collection (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, or Trello for managing research projects, tracking progress, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Familiarity with tools for analyzing quantitative data, potentially including basic SQL, Excel, or more advanced statistical software if applicable to mixed-methods research.

• Business Intelligence Tools: Experience with BI platforms like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for creating dashboards and visualizing research insights in a business context.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Understanding how UX research findings can inform CRM strategies and customer journey mapping within systems like Salesforce (though direct CRM management may not be a primary responsibility).

• Automation Tools: Awareness of how automation can streamline research operations, such as automated survey triggers or data processing scripts.

• Integration Tools: Understanding how research platforms and feedback tools might integrate with other enterprise systems to ensure data flow and holistic insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of enterprise feedback tools is a critical requirement. Beyond that, a broad understanding of the broader technology stack used in product development and operations is beneficial, allowing for better integration of research insights.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user's needs and experiences in all product decisions.

• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Valuing evidence-based insights derived from rigorous research to guide strategy and product development.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Fostering strong working relationships across design, product, engineering, and business teams to achieve shared goals.

• Continuous Improvement: A drive to enhance research methodologies, team processes, and organizational efficiency through ongoing learning and adaptation.

• Innovation & Excellence: Embracing new technologies and approaches to deliver exceptional user experiences and maintain a competitive edge in the financial services industry.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Encouraging proactive collaboration and communication between UX Research and other departments to ensure research insights are embedded throughout the product lifecycle.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: Promoting a culture where constructive feedback is regularly exchanged among team members and with stakeholders to drive continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing research findings, best practices, and learnings across teams and the wider organization to build collective intelligence and expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at BNY Mellon, as described, emphasizes innovation, client focus, and data-driven approaches, all of which are crucial for a successful operations-focused UX research leader.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Large Enterprise: Adapting to the complexities of a large, established financial institution, including established processes, hierarchies, and diverse stakeholder needs. Mitigation: Develop strong stakeholder management skills, build robust communication channels, and focus on incremental process improvements.

• Driving Cultural Change: Influencing a broader organization to deeply embed user-centricity and research-driven decision-making. Preparation: Focus on demonstrating the ROI of UX research through compelling case studies and building internal champions.

• Balancing Strategic vs. Tactical Research: Juggling long-term strategic research initiatives with the immediate needs for validating features and testing existing products. Preparation: Develop strong prioritization skills and clear communication protocols for managing competing demands.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Integrating emerging technologies (AI, ML) into research practices and understanding their impact on user behavior and financial services. Learning: Engage in continuous learning through industry conferences, publications, and internal tech forums.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership Development Programs: Access to BNY Mellon's internal leadership training and development initiatives.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Opportunities to attend leading UX research and financial industry conferences (e.g., UXPA, CHI, Finovate) and pursue relevant certifications.

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior executives within BNY Mellon or to mentor junior researchers, enhancing leadership and coaching skills.

• Exposure to Advanced Technologies: Working with cutting-edge AI and technology initiatives within BNY Mellon, providing hands-on experience and insights into future trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for adaptability, strategic thinking, and strong interpersonal skills to thrive in a large financial organization. The growth opportunities focus on leadership, strategic impact, and leveraging advanced technologies.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach developing a comprehensive UX research strategy for a new digital investment platform within BNY Mellon's Pershing division?" (Focus on process, stakeholder alignment, methodology selection, and impact measurement.)

• "Describe a time you had to influence a product roadmap using research insights, especially when facing resistance from product management or engineering. What was your strategy?" (Highlight communication, data storytelling, and negotiation skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about BNY Mellon's position in the financial services industry, and how do you see UX research contributing to its strategic goals?" (Showcase research on the company and its market.)

• "Describe your ideal team culture for a UX Research function within a large financial institution. How would you foster such a culture?" (Align with BNY's stated values and emphasize collaboration, data-driven approaches, and continuous improvement.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling Arc: For each case study, craft a narrative that clearly outlines the problem, your approach, the pivotal insights, the actions taken, and the measurable outcomes.

• Visual Clarity: Use clean, professional visuals for your slides. Ensure charts and graphs are easy to understand and directly support your key points.

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize the "so what?" – what was the business impact of your research? Quantify wherever possible.

• Demonstrate Process Ownership: Highlight instances where you led process improvements or mentored others, showcasing your operational leadership.

• Interactive Engagement: Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your methodology, decision-making, and how you handled challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, operational efficiency, leadership, and a deep understanding of how UX research drives business value in a complex financial services environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Oracle Cloud HCM link.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: Thoroughly customize your resume to highlight your 10-12 years of UX research experience, emphasizing leadership, strategic influence, process improvement, and experience with enterprise feedback tools. Use keywords like "UX research," "qualitative research," "usability testing," "product strategy," "stakeholder management," and "process optimization."

• 📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare a concise, impactful portfolio that showcases 3-4 key projects. Ensure each project clearly articulates the problem, your role, methodologies, key insights, actions taken, and quantifiable business impact. Be ready to walk through this portfolio and answer in-depth questions about your process and decision-making.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: Research BNY Mellon's current initiatives, recent news (especially in the Pershing division), and their stated company values. Understand their position in the financial services market and how UX research can support their strategic objectives.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: Practice answering behavioral and situational interview questions, focusing on your leadership experience, problem-solving abilities, and how you drive operational efficiency and user advocacy within large organizations. Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've improved research processes or mentored teams.

⚠️ 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.