UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher

Company: Fundraise Up

Location: Portugal - Remote

Job Type: Full-time

Category: UX Research / Product Design Operations

Date Posted: September 02, 2026

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

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead high-impact, end-to-end UX research initiatives to directly inform and shape product strategy for a global fundraising platform.

• Drive the development and scaling of a pragmatic UX Research practice within the Design team, establishing processes, coaching designers, and setting quality guardrails.

• Act as a dedicated UX Research evangelist, proactively identifying opportunities, coaching colleagues, and launching new research-driven initiatives across product development.

• Bridge the gap between qualitative user insights and quantitative product analytics, collaborating closely with Product Analytics to present a holistic view of user behavior and drive actionable product decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role emphasizes a dual focus: leading complex research projects and building out the UX Research function. This implies a need for strong strategic thinking, process development capabilities, and the ability to influence and educate stakeholders on the value of UX research. The "high ownership" requirement suggests a candidate who can operate autonomously and drive projects to completion with minimal supervision.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the entire UX research lifecycle, from defining research briefs and selecting appropriate methodologies (interviews, usability tests, surveys, competitive scans, etc.) to conducting research, analyzing findings, synthesizing data, and presenting actionable insights to product teams.

• Develop and implement a scalable, pragmatic UX research process for the Design team, empowering designers to conduct simpler studies independently while ensuring methodological rigor and quality standards.

• Proactively identify research opportunities based on business goals, product roadmap, and emerging user needs, acting as a change agent to foster a user-centric product development culture.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Product Analytics to integrate qualitative findings with quantitative data, providing a comprehensive understanding of user behavior and informing strategic product decisions.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for UX research operations, independently managing participant recruitment, scheduling, tool setup, and logistics for research studies.

• Stay abreast of emerging research methods and tools, including AI-enabled techniques such as synthetic users, and experiment with their application to enhance research efficiency and effectiveness.

• Champion user needs and constraints throughout the product development process, ensuring that user perspectives are central to decision-making, rather than relying solely on opinions.

• Maintain a "research radar" by continuously monitoring internal learnings, market trends, competitor activities, and high-signal UX/product sources, sharing regular updates to keep the team informed and mitigate blind spots.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a need for a candidate who can both execute research independently and build a framework for others. The emphasis on "pushing actions" and "connecting quantitative and qualitative evidence" highlights the role's strategic impact on product development and its integration with data-driven decision-making.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A postgraduate degree is strongly preferred, with an academic/scientific research background (graduate/PhD track) considered a significant plus. This indicates a need for a candidate with a strong theoretical foundation in research methodologies. Experience:

• Proven experience in leading and executing UX research end-to-end with a high degree of ownership and autonomy.

• Demonstrated experience working across both Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B) product environments and understanding diverse user audiences.

• Experience in collecting and synthesizing input from cross-functional teams (Sales, Customer Success, Support, Marketing, Analytics) to formulate testable research questions. Required Skills:

• UX Research Expertise: Deep understanding and practical application of various qualitative and quantitative research methods (interviews, usability testing, concept testing, surveys, ethnographic studies, etc.).

• Product Strategy: Ability to translate research insights into strategic recommendations that inform product roadmaps and feature development.

• Research Operations: Proficiency in managing the full research lifecycle, including participant recruitment, scheduling, logistics, tool setup, and data management.

• Data Synthesis & Analysis: Strong analytical skills to synthesize qualitative data, identify patterns, and integrate findings with quantitative data from product analytics.

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex research findings clearly and persuasively to diverse stakeholders, including product managers and executives.

• AI Tool Proficiency: Demonstrated experience using AI tools (e.g., Claude) to accelerate research operations, synthesis, and analysis while maintaining methodological rigor and human judgment.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Ability to effectively partner with Product, Design, Analytics, Sales, CS, and Marketing teams.

• Methodological Rigor: Commitment to high research quality, including structured methodology, predictable timelines, and ethical research practices.

Preferred Skills:

• NN/g certifications.

• Experience with analytics tools such as PostHog or Tableau.

• Familiarity with insights repository tools like Productboard.

• Experience in mentoring, teaching, or leading workshops on research craft.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI tools is a critical differentiator, suggesting that candidates should not only be familiar with AI but actively integrate it into their workflow. The preference for academic research backgrounds and NN/g certifications points towards a desire for a candidate with a strong theoretical grounding and commitment to best practices.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated End-to-End Research Ownership: Showcase projects where you independently managed the entire research process from inception to action. This includes defining the problem, selecting methods, recruiting participants, conducting research, analyzing data, and presenting findings with clear recommendations.

• B2C and B2B Case Studies: Provide at least one detailed case study for a B2C product and one for a B2B product, highlighting your ability to adapt research approaches to different audience needs and business contexts.

• Methodology Selection & Rationale: For each project, clearly articulate why specific research methods were chosen, linking the methodology to the research objectives and business goals.

• Synthesis of Qualitative & Quantitative Data: Include examples where you integrated qualitative research findings with quantitative data (e.g., from product analytics, A/B tests) to provide a comprehensive understanding of user behavior and product performance.

• Actionable Insights & Impact: Clearly demonstrate how your research led to specific product changes, strategic shifts, or measurable improvements in user experience, conversion rates, or other key metrics. Quantify impact whenever possible.

• AI Integration Examples: Showcase specific instances where AI tools were used to enhance research efficiency, analysis, or synthesis, explaining the value added and the role of human judgment.

Process Documentation:

• Research Process Framework: Outline your approach to building a scalable UX research practice, including how you would establish clear quality guardrails, enable designers, and integrate research into the product development lifecycle without becoming a bottleneck.

• Methodology Design & Documentation: Provide examples of how you structure research plans, consent forms, interview scripts, or usability test protocols, demonstrating attention to detail and methodological soundness.

• Analysis & Synthesis Techniques: Detail your methods for analyzing qualitative data (e.g., thematic analysis, affinity mapping) and synthesizing findings into clear, concise, and actionable insights.

• Cross-functional Collaboration Protocols: Describe how you would engage with Product, Design, Analytics, Sales, and CS teams to gather input, validate hypotheses, and disseminate research findings effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily focused on demonstrating practical application, strategic thinking, and the ability to build processes. Candidates should select projects that showcase their autonomy, their ability to connect research to business outcomes, and their forward-thinking approach to incorporating AI.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The gross monthly compensation range for this role is €4,100 - €5,200.

• This range is determined based on relevant experience, skills, qualifications, alignment with role requirements, and the candidate's location within Portugal. Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Private medical insurance for the employee and their family.

• Generous Paid Time Off: 22 paid vacation days per year, plus up to 14 paid public holidays.

• Sick Leave: 5 company-paid sick leave days.

• Professional Development:

  • English learning courses.
  • Support for relevant professional education and certifications.

• Wellness & Lifestyle:

  • Access to a gym or swimming pool.
  • Home Office Setup Assistance: financial support for essential furniture (office chair, desk, monitor) and other items to create a productive remote workspace.
  • Co-working space access.

• Remote Work Support:

  • Fully remote working arrangement.
  • €50 monthly allowance to cover internet and mobile phone expenses.

• Long-Term Investment: Equity options offered, valuing sustained and meaningful contributions.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are assumed to be approximately 40 hours per week, aligning with typical European work standards. The remote nature of the role offers flexibility in scheduling, though core collaboration hours may be expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is presented as a gross monthly figure, which is common for European compensation. The range of €4,100 - €5,200 gross per month translates to approximately €49,200 - €62,400 annually before taxes. This is a competitive range for a mid-senior UX Researcher in Portugal, especially for a remote role with a global tech company. The benefits package is robust, particularly the home office setup assistance and the monthly allowance for connectivity, which are crucial for remote employees.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (SaaS platform for fundraising) - The company operates in the enterprise software segment, serving nonprofit organizations globally. This means the product is complex, dealing with sensitive financial data and high-value transactions, requiring a focus on trust, security, and user experience for both donors and nonprofit administrators.

Company Size: 160+ product professionals. This indicates a mature, growing organization with established teams and processes, but still small enough to foster a collaborative and impactful environment. For a UX Researcher, this means opportunities to influence and build within a defined structure, rather than a chaotic startup.

Founded: Not specified, but the company operates globally and serves established non-profits, suggesting a stable, established business with a clear market position.

Team Structure:

• Distributed Product Team: The broader product team consists of 160+ professionals, with members primarily based across Spain, Poland, Portugal, Georgia, Armenia, Serbia, Turkey, and Cyprus. This implies a highly international and remote-first work environment.

• Research Team: The UX Researcher will be the dedicated expert within the Research Team, working alongside Product and Marketing Researchers. This suggests a supportive structure where specialized knowledge is valued and collaboration across research disciplines is encouraged.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Close collaboration is expected with Product, Design, and Analytics teams on a daily basis. Input is also regularly collected from Sales, Customer Success, Support, and Marketing. This indicates a highly integrated approach to product development.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Innovation: Fundraise Up emphasizes innovation that directly impacts results, focusing on speed, conversion rates, and accessibility. Research plays a key role in identifying and validating these improvements.

• Agile & Pragmatic Approach: The company operates like a focused team despite its scale, valuing thoughtful collaboration and strong engineering practices. The UX Research practice is expected to be pragmatic, enabling designers without becoming a bottleneck.

• AI Integration: AI is a default tool, not experimental. Expect to leverage AI for efficiency in research operations, synthesis, and analysis, with a focus on augmenting human judgment.

Company Website: https://fundraiseup.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on a "large and complex product ecosystem" and its enterprise segment serving global NGOs suggests that the UX Researcher will tackle significant, impactful challenges. The remote-first, distributed nature of the team is a key cultural aspect, requiring strong communication and self-management skills. The emphasis on AI is a significant differentiator for this role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a senior-level UX Researcher, tasked with both leading complex research and building out the research practice. It's a foundational role for establishing a robust UX Research function within the Design team. The expectation of high ownership and proactive initiative suggests a level of autonomy and strategic input beyond typical junior or mid-level roles.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will be the dedicated expert within the Research Team and will work closely with Product, Design, and Analytics teams. The specific reporting manager is not detailed, but it is likely to be a Head of Design, Head of Product, or a lead within the Research Team.

Operations Impact: The UX Researcher's impact is directly tied to informing product strategy and improving user experience for both donors and non-profit organizations. By ensuring user needs are central to product decisions, they will directly contribute to higher conversion rates, increased donor engagement, and ultimately, greater impact for the non-profits served by Fundraise Up. Their work in building the research practice will have a lasting effect on how the entire company approaches user-centricity.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in UX Research: Opportunity to define and scale the UX Research function, establishing best practices, processes, and potentially building a team in the future.

• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in shaping product strategy through high-impact research, working on complex, ambiguous problems with significant business implications.

• Skill Development: Deepen expertise in advanced research methodologies, AI-enabled research tools, and cross-functional collaboration within a fast-paced tech environment.

• Industry Exposure: Gain deep insights into the non-profit sector and the unique challenges and opportunities in online fundraising technology.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and researchers, sharing craft and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique blend of hands-on research and functional development. The growth trajectory is likely towards becoming a lead UX researcher, a research manager, or a principal UX researcher, with significant influence over product direction and research methodology.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. The company operates a remote-first model, with a distributed team across multiple countries.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the company's team members are primarily based across Spain, Poland, Portugal, Georgia, Armenia, Serbia, Turkey, and Cyprus. The specific "Portugal - Remote" designation means candidates must be legally able to work in Portugal, but the day-to-day work will be from a home office or co-working space.

Workspace Context:

• Home Office Environment: Candidates are expected to maintain a productive home office setup. The company provides assistance with furniture and a monthly allowance for internet and phone expenses, supporting a comfortable and efficient remote workspace.

• Collaborative Digital Environment: Work will be conducted primarily through digital collaboration tools, video conferencing, and project management software. Regular interaction with colleagues across different time zones will be a key aspect.

• Access to Tools & Technology: The role will require proficiency with various digital tools for research, collaboration, and communication, including AI-powered platforms.

Work Schedule:

• The role is full-time, with approximately 40 working hours per week. While remote work offers flexibility, candidates should be prepared to accommodate potential overlap with colleagues in different European time zones for meetings and collaborative sessions. The company operates across multiple time zones, so adaptability is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role is a primary feature, with significant support provided for setting up a home office. The distributed team structure means that asynchronous communication and self-discipline in managing one's schedule and workload are paramount.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, resume, and portfolio to assess relevant experience and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your background, experience in UX research, understanding of B2C/B2B research, and your approach to building research practices. You'll likely discuss your experience with AI tools and your ability to work autonomously.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study Review: A dedicated session where you will present 1-2 key projects from your portfolio, demonstrating your end-to-end research process, methodologies, synthesis, actionable insights, and impact. Be prepared to discuss challenges and how you leveraged AI.

• Team/Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with potential peers (e.g., other researchers, designers) and stakeholders (e.g., Product Managers, Product Analytics leads) to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit. Questions will likely focus on how you integrate research with other disciplines.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to finalize the decision, potentially covering strategic vision for UX research at Fundraise Up and long-term career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business problem you addressed, the actions taken based on your research, and the measurable outcomes achieved. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Showcase End-to-End Ownership: Select projects where you were the primary researcher, demonstrating your ability to manage the entire process independently.

• Highlight AI Integration: Explicitly call out how you used AI tools to enhance your research process, providing specific examples and the value derived.

• Demonstrate Methodological Diversity: Showcase a range of research methods and explain your rationale for choosing each one.

• Structure for Clarity: Organize your portfolio with clear project summaries, role, methodology, findings, and recommendations. Use visuals where appropriate.

• Prepare for Q&A: Be ready to answer detailed questions about your process, decisions, and the challenges you faced.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Process Design: You may be asked to outline how you would approach a specific research challenge or how you would build out a particular aspect of the UX research practice.

• Methodology Selection: Be prepared to justify your choice of research methods for hypothetical scenarios.

• AI Application Scenarios: Discuss how you would leverage AI to solve specific research problems or improve existing processes.

• Stakeholder Communication: Practice articulating research findings and recommendations in a way that resonates with different stakeholders (e.g., product managers, engineers).

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess both deep research expertise and the ability to build and evangelize a research function. The emphasis on AI and independent execution means candidates should be prepared to demonstrate practical, hands-on experience and a proactive, strategic mindset.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• AI Research Assistants: Expect to heavily utilize AI tools like Claude for tasks such as generating survey drafts, summarizing notes, tagging themes, and creating initial reports. The company views AI as a default tool, implying a need for advanced, practical application.

• Research Platforms: Proficiency with tools for participant recruitment, scheduling, and session management is essential. This may include platforms like UserTesting, Lookback, or similar, though the role emphasizes self-management of logistics.

• Collaboration Suites: Standard tools such as Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), or Microsoft equivalents for communication, documentation, and presentations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Familiarity with tools like PostHog (mentioned as a strong plus) or similar platforms for analyzing user behavior data, tracking key metrics, and connecting quantitative findings with qualitative insights.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau (mentioned as a strong plus) or others for creating dashboards and visualizing data to support research findings and product performance analysis.

CRM & Automation:

• Insights Repository Tools: Experience with tools like Productboard (mentioned as a strong plus) or similar platforms for managing user feedback, research findings, and product roadmaps. This helps in centralizing and acting on insights.

• Survey Tools: Proficiency with survey platforms (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform, Google Forms) for designing and deploying surveys for data collection.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI tools like Claude, PostHog, Tableau, and Productboard indicates the expected technical proficiency. Candidates should highlight their experience with these or similar tools and emphasize their ability to integrate them into a research workflow for maximum efficiency and impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for user needs, ensuring that product decisions are grounded in empathy and evidence, not just opinions.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A strong reliance on both qualitative and quantitative data to inform strategy, validate hypotheses, and measure impact.

• Collaboration & Transparency: A culture that values open communication, thoughtful collaboration across disciplines, and transparency in how the company operates, grows, and makes decisions.

• Innovation & Efficiency: An embrace of new tools and methods, particularly AI, to drive innovation and improve operational efficiency in research and product development.

• High Ownership & Autonomy: An expectation that individuals take responsibility for their work, drive projects forward independently, and contribute proactively.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Cross-Functional Teams: Collaboration is expected to be seamless and continuous with Product, Design, and Analytics. Regular input is also sought from Sales, CS, Support, and Marketing.

• Evangelism & Coaching: The UX Researcher is expected to act as an evangelist for user research, coaching colleagues and sharing knowledge to elevate the team's understanding and application of research methodologies.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that encourages constructive feedback exchange to continuously improve processes, methodologies, and product outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Proactive sharing of learnings, market insights, and best practices through mechanisms like a "research radar" to keep the team informed and ahead of trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of a mature tech company's efficiency and a collaborative, mission-driven environment. The emphasis on AI and user-centricity are core tenets that a candidate must align with.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Building a Scalable Research Practice: Establishing robust processes, quality guardrails, and enabling designers without becoming a bottleneck requires strategic thinking, strong communication, and change management skills.

• Balancing Strategic Research with Operational Needs: Juggling high-impact, ambiguous research projects with the day-to-day demands of supporting the design team and managing research operations.

• Integrating AI Effectively: Leveraging AI tools meaningfully and ethically to enhance research without compromising methodological rigor or human judgment.

• Working in a Distributed, Remote Environment: Maintaining strong collaboration, communication, and influence across different time zones and cultural backgrounds.

• Translating Insights into Action: Ensuring that research findings are not just presented but actively used to drive product decisions and measurable improvements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Developing Research Frameworks: Opportunity to design and implement scalable processes for UX research, setting standards for a growing company.

• Advanced AI in Research: Deepening expertise in applying cutting-edge AI tools for research synthesis, analysis, and potentially generative design inputs.

• Cross-Disciplinary Expertise: Gaining a deeper understanding of product analytics, marketing research, and the nuances of the non-profit fundraising sector.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Developing skills in coaching, mentoring, and potentially leading a research function.

• Industry Trends: Staying at the forefront of UX research methodologies, tools, and best practices through continuous learning and experimentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a senior role focused on both execution and functional development. The growth opportunities are significant for someone looking to make a strategic impact and advance their career in UX research leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a complex, ambiguous UX research project from start to finish. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and what was the impact?" (Focus on end-to-end ownership, methodology, synthesis, and quantifiable outcomes.)

• "How would you go about building a scalable UX Research practice within a Design team that currently conducts limited research? What would be your initial steps, key priorities, and how would you measure success?" (Focus on process design, enablement, quality guardrails, and change management.)

• "Explain how you would integrate qualitative UX research findings with quantitative product analytics data to provide a holistic picture of user behavior for a product manager." (Focus on data synthesis, collaboration with analytics, and actionable insights.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you see AI tools like Claude enhancing the UX research process, and what are the potential pitfalls to be aware of?" (Focus on practical application, ethical considerations, and maintaining human judgment.)

• "Describe your experience working with B2C and B2B audiences. What are the key differences in your research approach for each?" (Focus on adaptability and understanding diverse user needs.)

• "How do you ensure user needs are represented in product decisions, especially when faced with strong opinions or competing priorities?" (Focus on advocacy, empathy, and data-driven influence.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each case study, structure it as a narrative: the problem, your role, the journey (research process), the discoveries (insights), the solution (recommendations), and the impact (results).

• Highlight AI Usage: Clearly articulate where and how you used AI tools within your projects, explaining the specific benefits and your role in guiding the AI's output.

• Focus on Impact & Actionability: Emphasize the tangible outcomes of your research and how your insights led to concrete product improvements or strategic shifts. Use metrics where possible.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your methodological choices, your analysis process, how you handled challenges, and how you collaborated with others.

• Showcase Your Process: Demonstrate your structured approach to research, from planning and recruitment to synthesis and reporting.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions will likely probe your ability to lead, build, and integrate research, with a strong emphasis on practical application of AI and cross-functional collaboration. Candidates should prepare specific examples that showcase these skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Fundraise Up careers page.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight experience in end-to-end UX research, B2C/B2B product research, AI tool integration, and process development. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your capabilities in leading complex research, building research practices, and utilizing AI. Ensure each project clearly articulates the problem, your process, insights, and impact.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies concisely and effectively, focusing on storytelling, AI integration, and measurable outcomes. Be ready to answer detailed questions about your methodology and decisions.

• Research Fundraise Up: Understand their mission, product, target audience (non-profits and donors), and their stated emphasis on AI and innovation. Prepare thoughtful questions about the role, team, and company.

⚠️ 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.