Sr UX Researcher I

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr UX Researcher I

Company: RELX

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Product Operations

Date Posted: 2026-10-02

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead UX research strategy for a business or product line, focusing on understanding user behaviors, needs, and motivations within the scientific publishing domain.

• Drive a user-centered research process, employing a variety of research and testing methodologies to inform product development and strategy.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners, including engineering and product management, to ensure user feedback is integrated throughout the product lifecycle.

• Mentor junior researchers, sharing expertise in research techniques and technical skills to foster team growth and capability.

• Contribute to the strategic understanding of market segments, competitor landscapes, and the regulatory environment relevant to scientific information and analytics.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within RELX's Elsevier division, specifically supporting the Submissions team for academic publishing. The focus is on enhancing tools and services for authors, reviewers, and editors, implying a need for research expertise in complex workflow products and digital platforms serving the scientific community. The "Sr UX Researcher I" title suggests a leadership role with mentorship responsibilities, requiring not just execution but also strategic direction and team development.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of comprehensive UX research plans, utilizing a range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies (e.g., usability testing, interviews, surveys, contextual inquiry) to uncover user needs and pain points within the academic publishing workflow.

• Translate complex user needs and behaviors into actionable insights and recommendations for product managers, designers, and engineering teams, ensuring a deep understanding of customer use cases.

• Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with cross-functional teams, acting as the voice of the user and ensuring user feedback is systematically incorporated into product roadmaps and development sprints.

• Define and champion the UX research strategy for the Submissions team's product portfolio, aligning research efforts with business objectives and product vision.

• Mentor and guide junior UX researchers, providing feedback on research design, methodology, analysis, and presentation skills, and fostering their professional development.

• Conduct competitive analysis and stay abreast of industry trends, regulatory changes, and the competitive landscape within scientific publishing and information services to inform research and product strategy.

• Segment markets and conduct in-depth research into the specific needs of different user sub-segments (authors, reviewers, editors) to drive targeted product enhancements and feature development.

• Create detailed research documentation, including study plans, participant recruitment criteria, analysis reports, and compelling presentations of findings to diverse organizational stakeholders.

• Apply advanced UX research techniques to complex technical products, understanding the nuances of conducting research across different contexts (remote, in-person, moderated, unmoderated).

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic and leadership-oriented UX Research role. Emphasis on "leading the UX Research strategy," "mentoring juniors," and "aligning/coaching the team" indicates a senior individual contributor role with significant influence and team development expectations. The mention of "complex workflow products" and serving the "scientific community" suggests a need for research into intricate user journeys and professional user needs.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

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

• 5-10 years of professional experience in User Experience (UX) Research, with a proven track record of leading research initiatives and influencing product strategy.

• Demonstrated experience in designing, conducting, and analyzing a variety of UX research methodologies, including usability testing, in-depth interviews, surveys, card sorting, and ethnographic studies.

• Experience working with complex technical products and understanding the nuances of researching in diverse contexts (remote, in-person, moderated, unmoderated).

• Proven ability to mentor and guide junior researchers and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (product management, design, engineering). Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in a variety of UX Research methodologies and their application to different research contexts.

• Strong understanding of user-centered design principles and their practical application in product development.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data into clear, actionable insights.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate research findings and influence stakeholders at all levels.

• Proficiency in using research software such as Qualtrics, Lookback, and UserTesting.com at an expert level.

• Ability to build strong working relationships with technical teams and contribute to a collaborative product development environment. Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the scientific publishing, academic research, or information services industry.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and experience integrating UX research into agile sprints.

• Knowledge of statistical analysis and data visualization techniques to support quantitative research findings.

• Experience in market segmentation and understanding of diverse user needs within professional contexts.

• Understanding of competitors and the regulatory environment relevant to scientific information dissemination.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level (5-10 years) and "Sr UX Researcher I" title suggest a need for candidates who can operate independently, lead research strategy, and contribute to team development. The explicit mention of specific tools like Qualtrics, Lookback, and UserTesting.com indicates a requirement for hands-on expertise. The "technical products with multiple levels of complexity" requirement points to the need for researchers comfortable with sophisticated software and platforms.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX research projects, highlighting your role in defining research questions, selecting methodologies, executing studies, analyzing data, and presenting findings.

• Include case studies that illustrate your ability to translate user insights into tangible product improvements and business impact, with clear evidence of the user-centered process.

• Showcase examples of research conducted on complex technical products or within professional B2B environments, demonstrating an understanding of sophisticated user needs and workflows.

• Present evidence of your ability to mentor junior researchers, perhaps through examples of guidance provided or team projects led. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of research documentation, including detailed study plans, research protocols, and comprehensive analysis reports that clearly articulate methodologies, findings, and recommendations.

• Demonstrate experience in creating and presenting research findings to diverse audiences, including product managers, designers, engineers, and business stakeholders, using clear and compelling visual aids and narratives.

• Showcase how you have integrated research findings into product development processes, illustrating your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive iterative design and development based on user feedback.

• Illustrate your understanding of how to measure the impact of UX research on product success and business outcomes, potentially through metrics related to usability, user satisfaction, or adoption rates.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Researcher role, a portfolio is critical. It should not only showcase research execution but also strategic thinking, leadership in research direction, and the ability to mentor. The emphasis on "complex technical products" and "workflow products" means case studies involving intricate systems and professional user journeys will be highly valued. Evidence of impact on product development and business outcomes is expected.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the Senior UX Researcher I title, 5-10 years of experience, and location in London, UK, a competitive salary range is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for experienced UX Researchers in London, a typical range could be between £60,000 to £90,000 per annum. This estimate considers the seniority, the specific industry (information/analytics for scientific community), and the cost of living in London. Benefits:

• Generous holiday allowance with the option to buy additional days.

• Health screening, eye care vouchers, and private medical benefits.

• Comprehensive wellbeing programs and access to employee assistance.

• Life assurance coverage.

• Competitive contributory pension scheme.

• Long service awards recognizing tenure.

• Save As You Earn (SAYE) share option scheme.

• Travel Season ticket loan to support commuting.

• Generous maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave policies.

• Access to emergency care services for elderly dependents and children.

• RECARES days for supporting charitable causes.

• Opportunities to join employee resource groups with dedicated volunteer time.

• Extensive access to learning and development resources for professional growth.

• Exclusive employee discounts via Perks at Work.

• Country-specific benefits available, details accessible via the provided link. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. The company promotes a healthy work/life balance with flexible hours, allowing employees to adjust their start and end times to optimize productivity and personal commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits list is extensive and aligns with what a major global employer like RELX would offer. The salary estimate is based on common ranges for senior UX roles in London, but actual compensation will vary based on specific experience, interview performance, and internal compensation structures. The mention of "country specific benefits" and a link to their details is important for candidates to explore.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Information and Analytics, Scientific Publishing, Technology. RELX (Elsevier) is a global leader in providing information and analytics solutions that help researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes. The Submissions team specifically focuses on tools and services for the academic publishing process.

Company Size: RELX is a large, global organization. While the specific size of the Submissions team or the UX Research department isn't stated, RELX as a whole employs over 33,000 people worldwide, indicating a significant corporate structure with established processes and resources.

Founded: Elsevier was founded in 1880, and RELX Group was formed in 1993. This long history suggests a company with deep roots, established market positions, and a commitment to long-term innovation within its sectors.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research function likely operates within product development teams, collaborating closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers. As a "Sr UX Researcher I," you will lead research for a specific product line or business area within the Submissions team.

• The reporting structure would likely involve reporting to a UX Research Lead, Head of UX, or a Director within Product or Technology.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a core aspect, with researchers embedded in or working very closely with product development squads focused on author, reviewer, and editor tools. Methodology:

• The team emphasizes a user-centered approach, driven by data and insights to inform product strategy and development.

• Research efforts are geared towards understanding complex workflows and user needs within the scientific community to drive innovation in publishing tools.

• Emphasis is placed on translating research findings into actionable recommendations that lead to measurable improvements in user experience and product effectiveness.

Company Website: https://www.relx.com/ and https://www.elsevier.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding that RELX operates in scientific publishing and information analytics is key. This implies a B2B focus with professional users who have specific, often complex, needs and high standards for accuracy and efficiency. The company's size suggests opportunities for broad impact and exposure to various technologies and processes, but also potentially a more structured environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Individual Contributor role (Sr UX Researcher I) with leadership and mentorship responsibilities. It sits above junior researcher roles and signifies a high level of expertise and autonomy in conducting UX research, defining research strategy, and influencing product direction. It's a critical position for ensuring the usability and effectiveness of complex publishing tools.

Reporting Structure: The role likely reports into a UX Research Manager or Lead, who oversees the UX research function within the Submissions team or a broader product division. Collaboration with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineering leads is essential for day-to-day execution.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is directly tied to improving the user experience for authors, reviewers, and editors within Elsevier's publishing platforms. By ensuring these tools are intuitive, efficient, and meet user needs, the researcher contributes to faster scientific discovery, higher quality publications, and stronger relationships with the scientific community, ultimately impacting Elsevier's market position and revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Potential to become a Principal UX Researcher, leading research for larger product areas, defining research best practices across multiple teams, or specializing in a particular research area (e.g., qualitative methods, quantitative analysis, generative research).

• Management Track: Opportunity to move into a UX Research Manager role, leading a team of researchers, managing research roadmaps, and contributing to the strategic direction of the UX function within RELX.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Deepen understanding of product management, design, and engineering processes, potentially leading to roles in product strategy, UX leadership, or even product management.

• Industry Expertise: Develop deep domain knowledge in scientific publishing and information analytics, becoming a subject matter expert valued within the organization and the industry.

• Continuous Learning: Access to extensive learning and development resources, including training, conferences, and workshops, to stay current with UX research methodologies and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "I" in "Sr UX Researcher I" might suggest a specific level within a broader "Sr UX Researcher" band, indicating potential for further growth to Sr UX Researcher II or Principal UX Researcher. The mentorship aspect is a key indicator of readiness for future leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in London, UK, and is described as "Hybrid." This suggests a mix of working from the office and remotely. RELX promotes a healthy work/life balance, implying a supportive environment for hybrid work arrangements.

Office Location(s): The primary location mentioned is "UK - London (London Wall)". This is a central London business district, implying a professional, accessible office environment with good transport links.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be collaborative, with opportunities to interact with UX designers, product managers, and engineers, both in person and virtually.

• Access to standard office technology, collaboration tools, and potentially dedicated research facilities or software licenses.

• The environment is expected to be professional and focused, aligning with the needs of a global information and analytics company serving a professional user base. Work Schedule:

• Full-time employment with flexible hours is offered, allowing employees to tailor their working day to maximize productivity and accommodate personal needs. This flexibility is beneficial for researchers who may need to schedule studies at specific times or manage their energy levels throughout the day.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Hybrid" work arrangement suggests a structured approach to office attendance, likely with specific days designated for in-office collaboration to foster team cohesion and knowledge sharing, while also allowing for focused remote work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into your UX research experience, leadership capabilities, and understanding of the role and team.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A crucial stage where you will present selected case studies from your portfolio to the hiring manager, team leads, and potentially other stakeholders. This is an opportunity to showcase your research process, methodologies, insights, and impact.

• Skills-Based Assessment/Challenge: You may be given a take-home assignment or a live case study exercise to assess your research design, analytical, and problem-solving skills in a relevant context.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with potential collaborators (Product Managers, Designers, Engineers) to assess your ability to work effectively within a cross-functional team and build relationships.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a more senior leader (e.g., Head of UX, Director of Product) to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best represent your senior-level capabilities, showcasing leadership, strategic thinking, and impact. Tailor your selection to the scientific publishing context if possible.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the research questions, methodologies used, key findings, the impact of your work, and lessons learned. Use a clear, logical flow.

• Highlight Process & Rationale: Emphasize why you chose specific methodologies, how you navigated challenges, and how your research directly influenced product decisions.

• Showcase Mentorship: If possible, include an example or discussion of how you have mentored or guided junior researchers.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your research (e.g., improvements in conversion rates, task success, user satisfaction scores).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a case study, thoroughly research Elsevier, its products, and the scientific publishing industry to bring informed perspectives.

• Research Design Focus: For any assessment, focus on designing a robust, yet practical, research plan that addresses the given problem effectively. Consider the constraints of a real-world project.

• Communication Clarity: Practice articulating your thought process and recommendations clearly and concisely, as if presenting to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. Candidates should prepare to discuss their research process in detail, justify their methodological choices, and demonstrate how their work led to positive outcomes. The mentorship aspect of the role should also be evident in their portfolio or discussion.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Qualtrics: Expert-level proficiency required for survey design, distribution, and data analysis.

• Lookback: Expert-level proficiency for moderated and unmoderated remote usability testing, user interviews, and session recording.

• UserTesting.com: Expert-level proficiency for on-demand user feedback, moderated and unmoderated testing, and competitive benchmarking.

• General Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with tools like Jira, Confluence, Slack, Microsoft Teams for team communication and project management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Experience with data analysis tools to synthesize qualitative and quantitative findings. This may include spreadsheet software (Excel, Google Sheets), statistical packages (SPSS, R - though less likely to be expert level required), and visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI - for presenting findings).

• Familiarity with web analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics) to understand user behavior on digital products. CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM or automation role, understanding how user feedback and research insights can inform CRM strategies or automated workflows is beneficial. Familiarity with how user data is managed within platforms is a plus.

• Experience with tools that facilitate user feedback collection and integration into product development pipelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Qualtrics, Lookback, and UserTesting.com indicates these are the core tools for this role. Expertise at an "expert level" means candidates should be able to leverage the full capabilities of these platforms for complex research designs and analysis.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for user needs as the primary driver of product development and strategy.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working effectively with diverse teams (product, design, engineering, business) to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing research insights and data to inform hypotheses, validate solutions, and measure impact.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset of constantly seeking to refine research methodologies, product designs, and team processes for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

• Intellectual Curiosity: A drive to explore complex problems, understand underlying user motivations, and contribute to scientific advancement.

Collaboration Style:

• Researchers are expected to be active participants in product development squads, fostering an environment of open communication and feedback.

• The team likely values constructive critique and knowledge sharing, with regular opportunities for researchers to present findings and discuss implications with stakeholders.

• A proactive approach to seeking out information and building relationships across departments is encouraged to ensure research is relevant and impactful.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given RELX's mission to advance science and health, the team culture likely reflects a dedication to impactful work and professional rigor. The emphasis on user-centricity and data-driven approaches is standard for UX, but within the context of scientific publishing, accuracy, depth, and understanding professional user workflows are paramount.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Scientific Workflows: Researching and designing for intricate, multi-stage academic publishing processes requires a deep dive into specialized user needs and technical requirements.

• Balancing Diverse User Needs: The role involves serving multiple distinct user groups (authors, reviewers, editors), each with unique needs, motivations, and technical proficiencies.

• Integrating Research into Agile: Effectively embedding robust UX research within fast-paced agile development cycles can be challenging, requiring strong stakeholder management and efficient research planning.

• Demonstrating ROI: Quantifying the impact of UX research on business outcomes and securing buy-in for research initiatives requires compelling data and strong communication skills.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: The need to stay current with evolving research tools, methodologies, and the technological landscape of digital publishing.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized research techniques, such as generative research, advanced quantitative analysis, or longitudinal studies.

• Domain Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the scientific publishing lifecycle, research trends, and the needs of the global scientific community.

• Leadership Skills: Developing mentorship capabilities and potentially moving towards team leadership or management roles.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Exposure to product strategy, design thinking, and the technical aspects of building complex software platforms.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend industry conferences, present research, and contribute to the broader UX and scientific publishing communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working in a complex B2B environment with professional users. The growth opportunities highlight the potential for deep specialization and career advancement within a large, established organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the UX research strategy for a significant product area. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic thinking, planning, and impact.)

• "How do you approach mentoring junior researchers? Can you share an example of how you've helped someone develop their skills?" (Demonstrate leadership and team development capabilities.)

• "Imagine we are launching a new feature for journal editors to manage reviewer assignments. How would you approach researching the needs and usability of this feature?" (Showcase your research design process and ability to tackle complex problems.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Elsevier and the scientific publishing industry? How do you see UX research contributing to its mission?" (Research RELX/Elsevier, their mission, and articulate the value of UX.)

• "How do you build relationships and collaborate with product managers, designers, and engineers? Describe a time you had to influence a team based on your research findings." (Highlight collaboration and influencing skills.)

• "How do you measure the success and impact of your UX research initiatives?" (Prepare to discuss metrics, ROI, and how you track outcomes.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Impactful Projects: Choose 2-3 case studies that demonstrate your senior-level skills, strategic thinking, research methodology expertise, and tangible impact.

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentation as a narrative: the challenge, your approach, the process, the insights, the solution, and the results.

• Justify Your Choices: Be prepared to explain why you chose specific methodologies, how you navigated challenges, and how your research directly informed product decisions.

• Quantify Outcomes: Use data and metrics to support your claims about the impact of your work.

• Engage Your Audience: Make it interactive. Ask for questions, and be ready to discuss alternative approaches or further research directions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate not just what they did, but why they did it, and what impact it had. The ability to discuss strategic research planning and mentorship is crucial for this senior role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr UX Researcher I position:

• Submit your application through the RELX careers portal link provided.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience with complex technical products, scientific publishing (if applicable), and proficiency in Qualtrics, Lookback, and UserTesting.com. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 strong UX research case studies that showcase your leadership, strategic approach, methodological expertise, and impact. Ensure it’s easily accessible (e.g., PDF, personal website).

• Research RELX/Elsevier: Understand their mission, products (especially in academic publishing), and target audience. This will help you tailor your application and responses.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and demonstrating your strategic thinking and mentorship capabilities.

• Prepare for Behavioral Questions: Anticipate questions about your collaboration style, problem-solving approach, and how you handle challenges.

⚠️ 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.