Sr User Experience Research Specialist - Concur UX Team (7-12 years)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr User Experience Research Specialist - Concur UX Team

Company: SAP

Location: Bangalore, India

Job Type: Regular Full Time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-11

Experience Level: 7-12 years (Professional)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead complex, end-to-end user experience research programs for SAP Concur products, driving product strategy through deep customer insights.

• Apply mixed-methods research expertise (qualitative and quantitative) to uncover user needs, evaluate product usability, and assess AI-enabled experiences.

• Translate complex research findings into clear, actionable recommendations that influence product direction and evidence-based decision-making for Product, Design, and Engineering teams.

• Mentor and develop junior researchers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and elevating the overall quality of user research within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the primary focus is User Experience Research, the strategic influence and cross-functional collaboration required to "shape the future of Concur products" and "ensure research drives meaningful action" place this role firmly within the broader GTM and Product Operations ecosystem. The emphasis on influencing product strategy and evidence-based decision-making aligns it with the analytical and strategic demands of operations roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Independently design, plan, and execute comprehensive UX research initiatives across the product lifecycle, from initial discovery to evaluative testing of AI-enabled features.

• Identify critical research questions and select appropriate qualitative and quantitative methodologies to address them effectively, managing research projects with minimal supervision.

• Conduct user interviews, usability testing, surveys, and other research methods to gather deep insights into customer needs, pain points, and behaviors related to enterprise software solutions.

• Analyze and synthesize complex research data from various sources to identify actionable insights, trends, and key findings that directly inform product design and strategy.

• Communicate research outcomes clearly and compellingly through reports, presentations, and workshops to diverse stakeholders, including Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, and leadership.

• Champion customer-centricity by advocating for user needs and ensuring that product decisions are grounded in robust, evidence-based insights.

• Provide mentorship and guidance to other researchers, assisting them in developing their research skills, refining their methodologies, and delivering high-impact research.

• Collaborate closely with global and regional teams in India and beyond, fostering strong partnerships and ensuring research efforts are aligned with broader business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description highlights "leading complex research programs" and "influencing product strategy," which points to a senior role with significant autonomy. The responsibility to "mentor and develop other researchers" indicates a leadership component, often found in senior operations roles that guide team development. The global collaboration aspect suggests a need for strong project management and communication skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, Information Science, or a related field.

• A strong academic foundation in research methodologies and user behavior analysis is expected. Experience:

• 7-12 years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) Research, with a proven track record of leading research programs independently.

• Demonstrated experience in conducting mixed-methods research, seamlessly integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches to gain comprehensive insights.

• Experience researching and evaluating AI-enabled experiences, including understanding factors like usability, trust, quality, and adoption.

• Proven ability to translate complex research findings into clear, actionable recommendations that directly influence product strategy and roadmaps.

• Experience working in an agile development environment, collaborating closely with Product Management, Design, and Engineering teams. Required Skills:

• Expertise in a wide range of qualitative research methods (e.g., user interviews, contextual inquiries, usability testing, focus groups).

• Proficiency in quantitative research methods (e.g., surveys, A/B testing, data analysis, statistical interpretation).

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize large datasets and identify underlying patterns and insights.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate complex findings to diverse audiences.

• Proven ability to thrive in ambiguity and lead research initiatives with a high degree of autonomy.

• Experience in mentoring or coaching junior researchers and contributing to team development.

• Familiarity with enterprise software, SaaS products, and B2B user research contexts. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with research in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) or business travel management software domain.

• Familiarity with tools and platforms for remote usability testing and data analysis.

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

• Experience with user journey mapping and persona development.

• Understanding of agile methodologies and how UX research integrates into sprints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level (7-12 years) and the requirement to "independently lead complex research programs" and "mentor other researchers" suggest a senior-level individual contributor role with potential for team leadership. The focus on influencing product strategy and working with AI-enabled experiences are key differentiators for operations-minded candidates.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX research projects, highlighting your ability to manage research from conception to actionable recommendations.

• Include case studies that clearly articulate the research problem, your methodology, the insights generated, and the tangible impact on product design or strategy.

• Showcase examples of how you have successfully integrated both qualitative and quantitative data to inform product decisions.

• Present evidence of your experience in evaluating complex user experiences, particularly those involving new technologies like AI. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you document research plans, methodologies, and findings to ensure clarity, reproducibility, and knowledge sharing.

• Illustrate your process for turning raw data into compelling narratives and actionable insights for product teams.

• Detail your approach to collaborating with cross-functional teams (Product, Design, Engineering) throughout the research process, ensuring alignment and buy-in.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Research Specialist, a robust portfolio is critical. It should not only showcase research execution but also strategic thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to drive measurable business impact through user insights, aligning with the data-driven nature of operations roles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the experience level (7-12 years), location (Bangalore, India), and the seniority of the role, a competitive salary range is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX Research Specialists in major tech hubs in India, the estimated annual salary could range from ₹1,800,000 to ₹3,000,000 (approximately $21,500 - $36,000 USD, subject to exchange rates). This estimate accounts for the specialized skills in mixed-methods research, AI experience evaluation, and leadership/mentorship responsibilities. Benefits:

• Comprehensive health and well-being programs to support employee physical and mental health.

• Flexible working models, including hybrid arrangements, to promote work-life balance.

• Opportunities for continuous personal development and skill growth through training, workshops, and learning platforms.

• Access to a wide range of learning opportunities to stay current with industry trends and advance career goals.

• Employee referral program benefits.

• Potential for professional development and career advancement within SAP's global organization. Working Hours:

• Standard professional working hours are typically 40 hours per week. The hybrid work arrangement offers flexibility in balancing on-site and remote work days, allowing for efficient data analysis and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation for Bangalore, India, for a Senior UX Researcher with 7-12 years of experience was based on general market data for tech roles in India, considering the specialization and seniority. The provided benefits align with SAP's stated commitment to employee well-being and growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Enterprise Software, Cloud Computing, Business Applications, Data Analytics, Intelligent Technologies, Experience Management. SAP is a global leader in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and has expanded significantly into cloud solutions and business intelligence.

Company Size: SAP is a large enterprise, employing over 100,000 people worldwide, with a significant presence in India. This size offers stability, global reach, and extensive resources. For operations professionals, this means structured processes, potential for large-scale impact, and opportunities to work within established frameworks.

Founded: SAP was founded in 1972. Its long history signifies deep industry expertise, a stable market position, and a legacy of innovation in business software solutions. This history often translates to mature product development processes and established operational excellence.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Concur UX Team, which is part of SAP's broader User Experience division. This team likely comprises UX researchers, designers, and potentially UX writers, all focused on enhancing the user experience of Concur products.

• The reporting structure will likely involve a UX Research Lead or Manager, with the Senior Specialist expected to work closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineering leads within specific Concur product areas.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a core aspect, with close partnerships expected between UX Research, Product Management, Engineering, and potentially Marketing and Sales enablement teams to ensure a unified GTM strategy. Methodology:

• SAP, as a large tech company, likely employs a data-driven approach to product development and operations, emphasizing metrics, analytics, and evidence-based decision-making.

• Workflow planning and optimization will be key, especially in a hybrid and global environment, requiring structured communication and project management practices.

• Automation and efficiency are critical for large-scale operations, so experience with tools and processes that streamline workflows will be valued.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: SAP's established presence in the enterprise software market means that operational roles often involve working with complex systems and processes at scale. The Concur UX team's focus on user experience research implies a commitment to user-centric product development, which aligns with operations' goal of ensuring efficient and effective product delivery and adoption.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Specialist, indicating a mid-to-senior level individual contributor. It requires deep expertise in UX Research methodologies, the ability to lead complex projects autonomously, and a significant influence on product strategy. This level is crucial for operations teams, bridging the gap between execution and strategic planning.

Reporting Structure: The Senior User Experience Research Specialist will likely report to a UX Research Manager or Lead, and will work in close partnership with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineering teams for specific Concur product lines. This structure emphasizes collaboration and influence rather than direct hierarchical management of large teams, though mentorship is a key component.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is measured by its ability to translate user insights into product improvements that enhance usability, drive adoption, and ultimately contribute to customer satisfaction and business success for Concur and SAP. This directly influences the Go-To-Market strategy by ensuring products meet user needs and market demands.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Opportunity to deepen expertise in AI-enabled user research, complex enterprise software UX, and potentially grow into a UX Research Lead or Manager role, overseeing research programs or a team.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Develop a strong understanding of product management, design processes, and engineering lifecycles within a large enterprise software company, enhancing overall GTM strategy knowledge.

• Global Collaboration: Gain experience working with diverse international teams, refining cross-cultural communication and collaboration skills essential for global operations.

• Continuous Learning: Access to SAP's extensive learning resources, conferences, and internal development programs to stay at the forefront of UX research and related fields.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and emphasis on mentorship suggest a clear path for career progression within UX research or potentially into product management or operations leadership roles that leverage deep user understanding. The role's strategic influence aligns with the career trajectory of operations professionals aiming for greater impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is designated as Hybrid, meaning employees are expected to work from the SAP office in Bangalore a portion of the week, with the flexibility to work remotely for the remainder. This model supports collaboration and team cohesion while offering individual flexibility.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Bangalore, India (specifically, a zip code within the 560066 area, likely in a tech park or business district). This location is a major technology hub, offering access to a skilled talent pool and a vibrant tech ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is expected to be collaborative, facilitating face-to-face interactions with design, product, and engineering counterparts.

• Access to standard office technology, including necessary hardware, software, and high-speed internet, will be provided. The UX team will likely have access to specialized research tools and platforms.

• Opportunities for informal "water cooler" discussions and structured team meetings will be available, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose within the Concur UX team. Work Schedule:

• The role specifies a standard professional employment type, implying a typical 40-hour work week. The hybrid arrangement allows for flexibility in scheduling workdays, balancing on-site collaboration with focused remote work for tasks requiring deep concentration, such as data analysis and report writing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is increasingly common and offers a balance that many operations professionals seek. The emphasis on collaboration within the office is key for roles that require close teamwork with product and design, critical for aligning research with product development cycles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely conduct a brief screening call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth conversation with the hiring manager to discuss experience, research philosophy, and how your skills align with the role's specific needs and challenges.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: This is a critical stage. You will be asked to present a selection of your best work, demonstrating your UX research process, methodologies, insights, and impact on product outcomes. Be prepared to discuss your contributions, challenges faced, and lessons learned.

• Team/Peer Interviews: Interviews with other UX researchers, designers, and/or product managers to assess collaboration style, technical depth, and ability to integrate into the team.

• Final Round: Potentially a discussion with a senior leader or a take-home assignment/case study to evaluate problem-solving skills and strategic thinking in a simulated scenario.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your expertise in mixed-methods research, AI experience evaluation, and influencing product strategy. Tailor your selection to highlight experiences relevant to enterprise software.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your specific role and responsibilities, the research methods employed, key findings, the impact of your insights (quantify where possible), and lessons learned.

• Highlight Impact: Emphasize how your research led to tangible improvements in product design, user satisfaction, adoption rates, or business metrics. Use data and metrics to support your claims.

• Showcase Process: Clearly explain your research process, demonstrating your ability to handle ambiguity, adapt methodologies, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, how you handle conflicting data, how you influence stakeholders, and your approach to mentoring.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for questions about how you would approach research for a specific feature or problem related to Concur products.

• Prepare to discuss your experience with AI ethics, trust, and adoption in user research.

• Practice articulating your research strategy and defending your methodological choices.

• Review SAP's Concur product suite to understand its market and user base.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and presentation is standard for senior UX roles. For this role, candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just research execution but also strategic thinking, impact measurement, and the ability to mentor, which are key operational competencies.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• Survey & Data Analysis Tools: Experience with survey platforms (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, Google Forms) and statistical analysis software (e.g., SPSS, R, Python libraries like Pandas/NumPy).

• Collaboration & Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with design and collaboration tools used by product teams (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Jira, Confluence) to understand their workflow and integrate research seamlessly.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience creating clear and impactful visualizations to present research findings (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, or advanced features within Excel/Google Sheets).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Ability to interpret product analytics data (e.g., from tools like Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics, Mixpanel) to complement qualitative research.

• Experience in generating comprehensive research reports and dashboards that communicate key insights to stakeholders. CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus, an understanding of how user research insights can feed into CRM strategies or influence automated customer journeys within enterprise software would be beneficial. Familiarity with SAP's ecosystem (e.g., SAP S/4HANA, SAP Analytics Cloud) is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is UX Research, understanding the broader tech stack of an enterprise software company like SAP is crucial. Proficiency in data analysis, visualization, and collaboration tools is essential for driving operational efficiency and ensuring research findings are actionable across product development and GTM functions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user, ensuring that product decisions are driven by user needs and feedback.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Valuing evidence and insights derived from research to inform strategy and execution, minimizing assumptions and guesswork.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Fostering strong working relationships with Product, Design, and Engineering teams to ensure research is integrated effectively and its impact is maximized.

• Continuous Improvement: A proactive approach to learning, skill development, and refining research processes to deliver ever-increasing value.

• Impact & Accountability: Taking ownership of research outcomes and demonstrating the measurable impact of research on product success and business goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Engagement: Actively seeking out opportunities to collaborate with cross-functional teams, offering insights and research support early in the development process.

• Open Communication: Maintaining transparent and regular communication regarding research plans, findings, and recommendations.

• Constructive Feedback: Willingness to both provide and receive constructive feedback to improve research quality and team effectiveness.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing research insights and best practices within the UX team and across product teams to build a shared understanding of the user.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on customer-centricity, data-driven decisions, and collaboration aligns perfectly with the core tenets of successful Revenue and Sales Operations. This role requires a similar mindset of using insights to drive business outcomes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Effectively leading research in areas where product direction may not be fully defined, requiring strong strategic thinking and adaptability.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Persuading diverse teams and leadership to adopt research-backed recommendations, especially when they may conflict with existing opinions or priorities.

• Researching Complex AI Experiences: Developing methodologies to evaluate the usability, trust, and adoption of sophisticated AI features, which can be novel and challenging.

• Global Team Collaboration: Ensuring effective research alignment and insight sharing across different time zones, cultures, and functional priorities within SAP's global organization.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Research Techniques: Deepening expertise in cutting-edge UX research methodologies, particularly in AI and emerging technology evaluation.

• Product Strategy Influence: Developing skills in strategic product planning and roadmap development through close collaboration with Product Management.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Honing leadership and coaching abilities by guiding junior researchers and contributing to the growth of the UX research practice.

• Industry Engagement: Opportunities to attend industry conferences, participate in SAP-specific training, and potentially pursue certifications in relevant UX or data science fields.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in senior operations roles: dealing with ambiguity, influencing stakeholders, and adapting to new technologies. The growth opportunities highlight a path for individuals looking to advance their careers in strategic, impactful roles within a large tech organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a complex, end-to-end research program with significant ambiguity. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, decision-making, and impact.)

• "How do you balance qualitative and quantitative research to gain a holistic understanding of user needs for enterprise software?" (Highlight your mixed-methods expertise and ability to integrate data.)

• "Tell me about your experience researching AI-enabled experiences. What specific challenges did you encounter, and how did you address them?" (Prepare specific examples of evaluating usability, trust, and adoption of AI features.)

• "How would you approach understanding the user needs for a new feature within the Concur expense management workflow?" (Demonstrate your ability to apply research principles to a specific product context.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about SAP and the Concur product suite?" (Research Concur's business value, target audience, and recent product developments.)

• "How do you ensure your research insights are actionable and influence product strategy within large organizations?" (Discuss your stakeholder management, communication, and advocacy skills.)

• "Describe your experience mentoring junior researchers. What is your philosophy on developing talent?" (Showcase your leadership potential and commitment to team growth.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the business problem, your research objectives, the specific actions you took, and the measurable impact your insights had. Use numbers where possible (e.g., "reduced task completion time by X%", "increased user satisfaction by Y%").

• Demonstrate Process: Walk through your research process step-by-step, explaining why you chose certain methodologies. Show how you handled challenges and adapted your approach.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with Product, Design, and Engineering teams. Show how you translated findings into concrete recommendations they could act upon.

• Tell a Story: Frame your projects as compelling narratives. Start with the problem, build to the insights, and conclude with the solution and its impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing for these types of questions requires not just recalling past experiences but also framing them strategically to highlight skills relevant to operations – problem-solving, data analysis, cross-functional influence, and driving measurable outcomes.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr User Experience Research Specialist position:

• Submit your application through the SAP careers portal. Ensure your resume is up-to-date and clearly highlights your 7-12 years of relevant UX research experience, mixed-methods expertise, and experience with AI-enabled features.

• Curate your portfolio: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best represent your skills in end-to-end research leadership, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and influencing product strategy. Tailor your portfolio to showcase experience relevant to enterprise software.

• Prepare your presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio projects, focusing on the problem, your process, key insights, and quantifiable impact. Be ready to discuss your role and decision-making.

• Research SAP and Concur: Familiarize yourself with SAP's mission, values, and the Concur product suite. Understand their market position and target audience to better tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

• Anticipate interview questions: Prepare thoughtful answers for behavioral, situational, and technical questions, particularly those related to your research methodologies, stakeholder management, and experience with AI.

⚠️ 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.