UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher

Company: RBC

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience Research / GTM Operations Support

Date Posted: 2026-09-28

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive user-centered design principles within RBC US Wealth Management Technology by identifying, planning, and executing critical UX research initiatives.

• Collaborate extensively with Product Owners, stakeholders, UX designers, and developers to translate complex user needs into actionable insights that inform technology platform development and prioritization.

• Employ a diverse range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to gather, analyze, and distill user feedback, ensuring data-driven decision-making across all technology projects.

• Develop comprehensive research artifacts, including personas, journey maps, and detailed reports, to effectively communicate user insights and influence the delivery of optimal technology solutions that meet end-user requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "UX Researcher," has significant operational implications for Go-To-Market (GTM) technology platforms. The emphasis on understanding user needs, influencing prioritization, and ensuring optimal technology solutions directly supports the effectiveness and efficiency of GTM processes and user adoption. Therefore, it's categorized with a GTM Operations Support lens, highlighting its strategic contribution beyond pure design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, plan, and execute a variety of research studies (user interviews, usability testing, card sorting, cognitive walkthroughs, concept testing, competitive analysis) tailored to specific project needs and objectives.

• Facilitate discovery sessions, process mapping, journey mapping, design-thinking workshops, and requirements gathering activities to deeply understand user workflows and pain points.

• Analyze and synthesize user feedback, partnering with Technology Experience Consultants and Product/Capability Owners to formulate actionable recommendations and innovative ideas.

• Create and present impactful research artifacts such as personas, journey maps, and detailed findings reports to diverse stakeholder groups, including business partners, Operations, Supervision, and technology teams.

• Conduct heuristic evaluations of existing products, services, and processes to identify areas for UX improvement and ensure alignment with best practices.

• Continuously research and advocate for innovative UX research practices, tools, and techniques to elevate the user experience strategy within the organization.

• Articulate and champion the ideal client/user experience, acting as a key advocate for user needs throughout the technology development lifecycle.

• Understand the intricate workings of RBC Wealth Management systems and processes to ensure research is contextually relevant and impactful.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed emphasize a proactive and strategic approach to UX research, directly impacting product development and business operations. The focus on process mapping, journey mapping, and heuristic evaluations indicates a strong connection to operational efficiency and workflow optimization, critical for a GTM technology context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.

Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience in developing personas, journey maps, and contributing to epic story creation; 2+ years of experience implementing proven research methods including user interviews, usability testing, card sorting, cognitive walkthroughs, concept testing, and competitive analysis.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated end-to-end qualitative and quantitative research skills, with the ability to manage research projects from conception to completion.

• Proficiency in designing and executing a range of research methodologies to uncover user needs and validate design solutions.

• Strong understanding of the firm’s compliance policies and procedures, particularly as they relate to financial services and user data.

• Solid technology background with a demonstrated ability to quickly learn and adapt to new tools, software, and technologies relevant to UX research and product development.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), web-based learning tools, and presentation hardware.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex findings clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Ability to travel up to 20% to support research initiatives and stakeholder engagements. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience within the financial services industry, specifically within wealth management technology.

• Exceptional organizational skills with a proven ability to prioritize multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining meticulous attention to detail.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, capable of influencing stakeholders and advocating for user needs.

• Proven experience in team-oriented environments, collaborating effectively with key stakeholders across different departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for understanding compliance policies and a strong technology background are critical for this role within a regulated financial institution. The "nice-to-have" skills highlight the value of industry-specific knowledge and strong interpersonal abilities for effective collaboration and influence within RBC.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 comprehensive UX research case studies demonstrating end-to-end project lifecycle management, from problem definition to actionable insights and impact.

• Clearly articulate the research questions, chosen methodologies, participant recruitment strategy, and the execution process for each case study.

• Detail the analysis and synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data, highlighting key findings and their implications for product design and business strategy.

• Demonstrate the creation of impactful research artifacts (e.g., personas, journey maps, user flows, usability reports) and how they informed design decisions and product roadmaps.

• Quantify the impact of your research where possible, using metrics related to user satisfaction, task completion rates, efficiency gains, or contribution to business objectives. Process Documentation:

• For each portfolio project, include a brief overview of the research process employed, highlighting any unique challenges or innovative approaches taken.

• Document how research findings were communicated and integrated into the product development lifecycle, emphasizing collaboration with UX designers, product managers, and engineering teams.

• Provide examples of how your research directly influenced product prioritization, feature development, or strategic decision-making within a team or organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is crucial for this role, as it directly demonstrates the candidate's ability to apply research methodologies and deliver tangible results. The emphasis on process documentation and impact quantification is key for operations-focused roles, showcasing analytical rigor and business acumen.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $70,000 - $130,000 USD per year. This range is dependent on the candidate's experience, skills, registration status, market conditions, and business needs.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Total Rewards Program including competitive compensation.

• Flexible benefits package encompassing:

  • 401(k) program with company-matching contributions.
  • Health insurance.
  • Dental insurance.
  • Vision insurance.
  • Life insurance.
  • Disability insurance.
  • Generous paid-time off (PTO).

• Opportunities for professional development and growth, including coaching and leadership development programs.

• Potential to earn additional compensation through RBC’s discretionary variable compensation program, tied to business performance and individual goals.

Working Hours: Standard 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected to meet project deadlines and research demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an estimate based on the information given and industry benchmarks for UX Researchers with 2-5 years of experience in a major US metropolitan area like Minneapolis. The inclusion of a variable compensation program is common in financial services and offers upside potential. The benefits package is comprehensive, aligning with industry standards for large financial institutions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Banking and Wealth Management Technology). RBC operates as a leading financial institution, providing a wide array of banking, wealth management, and capital markets services. This industry context means a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance, data security, and client trust.

Company Size: RBC is a large, global financial institution, employing tens of thousands of individuals worldwide. This scale offers opportunities for broad impact, access to extensive resources, and diverse career paths, but also requires navigating complex organizational structures and processes.

Founded: RBC was founded in 1864, boasting a long history and established reputation in the financial sector. This historical depth suggests a culture that values stability, long-term client relationships, and a commitment to its core principles.

Team Structure:

• The UX Researcher will be part of the RBC US Wealth Management Technology team, likely working within a dedicated UX/Design function or closely aligned with Product Management and Engineering.

• The reporting structure will likely involve a UX Research Lead or a Director of Product Design, with direct collaboration across Product Owners, Capability Owners, and various technology development teams.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, requiring close partnerships with business stakeholders, Operations, Compliance, and other technology disciplines to ensure user needs are understood and met effectively within the broader business context. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Heavy reliance on data-driven insights derived from user research to inform strategic decisions, product roadmaps, and prioritization.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: Utilizing journey mapping, process mapping, and heuristic evaluations to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for streamlining user workflows and operational processes.

• Automation & Efficiency: While not explicitly stated, the goal of improving user experience through technology often implies a drive towards automation and increased efficiency in user interactions and back-end processes.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's strong emphasis on "living shared values" (Client First, Integrity, Collaboration, Respect, Excellence) and "winning together as One RBC" suggests a culture that prioritizes teamwork, ethical conduct, and customer-centricity. For a UX Researcher, this means understanding how these values translate into user needs and product design within the regulated financial services environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an intermediate-level UX Researcher, requiring 2+ years of dedicated experience. It involves executing research plans, analyzing data, and influencing design decisions, but likely with some guidance from senior researchers or design leads. The role acts as a crucial bridge between user needs and the development of technology solutions that support operational efficiency.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will report to a lead within the UX/Design or Product Management function within RBC US Wealth Management Technology. They will collaborate extensively with Product Owners, Capability Owners, and various technology teams (developers, QA, etc.), as well as business stakeholders in Operations and Supervision.

Operations Impact: The UX Researcher's work directly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of technology platforms used by wealth management professionals and potentially end-clients. By ensuring these platforms are intuitive, user-friendly, and meet specific operational needs, the researcher contributes to:

• Improved user adoption and proficiency with technology tools.

• Reduced training time and support costs.

• Enhanced client satisfaction through better service delivery enabled by technology.

• Streamlined operational workflows and increased productivity for internal users.

• Data-driven prioritization of technology investments that yield the highest operational and client value. Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in specific research methodologies (e.g., advanced qualitative analysis, statistical modeling for quantitative data) and gain exposure to different areas of wealth management technology.

• Specialization: Develop expertise in specific user segments within wealth management (e.g., financial advisors, client support, end-investors) or in particular technology platforms.

• Leadership Potential: Progress to a Senior UX Researcher role, leading research initiatives, mentoring junior researchers, and contributing to UX strategy. Opportunities may also exist to move into Product Management or UX Design leadership roles, leveraging a deep understanding of user needs and operational workflows.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Potential to move into Product Owner or Business Analyst roles within the technology organization, applying UX research insights to strategic product planning and execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities highlight the strategic value of UX research in a technology-driven operations environment. The ability to understand and influence user experience directly translates to operational efficiency and business success, providing a solid foundation for career advancement within RBC.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," indicating a requirement to work from the RBC office located at 250 Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, MN. This suggests a traditional corporate office environment.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is 250 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN. This central location in a major metropolitan area offers accessibility via public transportation and proximity to various amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The Minneapolis office likely provides a collaborative workspace designed to facilitate interaction among team members. This would include meeting rooms, common areas, and potentially open-plan seating arrangements conducive to team discussions and brainstorming sessions.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to standard office technology, including reliable internet, presentation equipment, and potentially specialized UX research software and hardware (e.g., recording equipment, usability testing platforms). The role requires proficiency with MS Office and other web-based tools.

• Team Interaction: The on-site nature promotes spontaneous interactions with UX designers, product managers, developers, and other stakeholders, fostering a strong sense of team cohesion and facilitating efficient communication and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, the nature of research projects may sometimes require flexibility to accommodate user availability or urgent project needs, though this would typically be managed within reasonable working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement at a specific corporate address in Minneapolis suggests a structured work environment focused on in-person collaboration. This is beneficial for a UX Researcher who relies on direct interaction with team members and stakeholders to effectively gather insights and advocate for user needs.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements. Be prepared to discuss your experience with specific research methodologies and your impact on previous projects.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, approach to UX research, understanding of user-centered design principles, and how you handle challenges. Expect questions about your portfolio projects.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential colleagues, including UX designers, product owners, and possibly business stakeholders. These interviews will assess your collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to integrate into the team dynamic. You may be asked to present a case study from your portfolio.

• Case Study Presentation (Potential): You might be asked to prepare and present a detailed case study from your portfolio, demonstrating your research process, findings, and the impact of your work. Focus on storytelling and clear articulation of your contribution.

• Final Interview: Typically with a senior leader, focusing on cultural fit, strategic thinking, and long-term potential within RBC.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant UX research projects that showcase a breadth of methodologies and demonstrable impact. Prioritize projects that align with financial services or complex technology platforms if possible.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role and responsibilities, the research methods employed, key findings, the design/product recommendations derived, and any measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Process & Impact: Emphasize your thought process, the rationale behind your methodological choices, and how your insights directly influenced design decisions and business objectives. Quantify impact whenever possible.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is visually appealing, well-organized, and easy to navigate. Use clear headings, concise language, and relevant visuals (e.g., personas, journey maps, wireframes).

• Be Prepared to Discuss: Be ready to walk through your portfolio projects in detail, answer specific questions about your process, and discuss any challenges you encountered and how you overcame them.

Challenge Preparation:

• Methodology Deep Dive: Be prepared to discuss the pros and cons of various research methods and articulate why you would choose specific methods for hypothetical scenarios relevant to wealth management technology.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Anticipate questions that require you to think critically about user problems, design solutions, and outline how you would research and validate them.

• Collaboration & Communication: Prepare examples of how you effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and communicate complex research findings to diverse audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and case studies is critical for UX roles. This section provides actionable advice on how candidates can best showcase their skills and experience to align with RBC's expectations for data-driven decision-making and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Research Platforms: Proficiency with tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, surveys, and data analysis. Examples include UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, and potentially internal RBC platforms.

• Design & Prototyping Tools (Familiarity): While not a designer, understanding and potentially interacting with tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD is beneficial for collaboration with UX designers.

• Collaboration & Documentation: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is explicitly mentioned. Experience with collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, Confluence, or Jira is highly probable for project management and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Ability to analyze qualitative data (thematic analysis, affinity mapping) and quantitative data (survey results, usability metrics). Familiarity with statistical analysis tools may be a plus.

• Reporting & Visualization: Creating clear, concise reports and presentations using PowerPoint and potentially dashboarding tools if available for presenting research findings to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM (Contextual Understanding): While not directly managing a CRM, understanding how user data is captured and utilized within systems like Salesforce or internal RBC systems can provide valuable context for research.

• Workflow Automation (Awareness): Awareness of how technology and automation impact user workflows and experiences, which can inform research questions and recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of MS Office and web-based learning tools, combined with the general requirements of a UX Researcher, points towards a need for proficiency in standard enterprise software and specialized UX research platforms. An understanding of the broader technology ecosystem, including CRM and automation, is valuable for contextualizing research findings within the operational framework.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client First: All research efforts should be geared towards understanding and improving the experience for RBC's clients and internal users, ensuring technology solutions directly support client needs and business objectives.

• Integrity: Conducting research ethically, maintaining data privacy, and reporting findings accurately and without bias are paramount, especially within a regulated financial environment.

• Collaboration: Actively partnering with UX designers, product owners, developers, and business stakeholders to ensure research insights are understood, integrated, and acted upon effectively.

• Respect: Valuing diverse user perspectives and fostering an inclusive research environment, as well as respecting the input and expertise of cross-functional team members.

• Excellence: Striving for high-quality research, delivering actionable insights, and continuously improving research methodologies and processes to drive optimal outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The UX Researcher is expected to be a key collaborator, working seamlessly across technology, product, and business teams to ensure a holistic understanding of user needs and business goals.

• Process Review & Feedback: Actively participating in design reviews, providing constructive feedback based on research insights, and being open to feedback on research approaches.

• Knowledge Sharing: Proactively sharing research findings, methodologies, and best practices with the broader team and organization to foster a user-centered culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The alignment of the role's values with RBC's core values underscores the importance of a user-centric approach that is also ethical, collaborative, and results-oriented. This is essential for operations roles that interface directly with business outcomes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Navigating the varied priorities and perspectives of different stakeholders (Product, Engineering, Business, Compliance) while advocating for user needs.

• Complexity of Financial Services: Understanding and researching within a highly regulated and complex industry, ensuring compliance and data security are always considered.

• Translating Insights into Action: Ensuring research findings are not just reported but actively used to drive concrete changes in product design and operational processes.

• Rapid Technological Evolution: Staying current with emerging UX research tools, techniques, and the evolving technological landscape within wealth management.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Gaining deeper expertise in financial services operations, understanding the nuances of wealth management workflows, and how technology supports them.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Opportunities to attend relevant UX research or financial services technology conferences, and potentially pursue certifications to enhance professional credibility.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Access to mentorship from senior UX professionals or leaders within RBC, and pathways to develop leadership skills for future senior or management roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying these challenges and growth opportunities provides candidates with a realistic preview of the role and the support available for their professional development. The emphasis on navigating complexity and translating insights into action is key for operations-focused roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting user needs with business requirements. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, negotiation skills, and ability to find solutions.)

• "Walk me through a complex research project from your portfolio. What was the problem, your methodology, key findings, and the impact on the product or business?" (Prepare a concise narrative that highlights your end-to-end process and quantifiable results.)

• "How do you ensure your research findings are actionable and implemented by design and development teams?" (Discuss your communication strategies, collaboration methods, and follow-up processes.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about RBC and the Wealth Management technology space?" (Research RBC's mission, values, and recent news; connect your passion for UX to their goals.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with cross-functional teams, especially those with different priorities (e.g., developers, product owners, compliance)?" (Provide examples of successful collaborations and your strategies for building consensus.)

• "How do you measure the success and impact of your UX research?" (Discuss metrics, ROI, and how you tie research outcomes to business objectives.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Structure your case study presentation with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process and findings), and end (solution and impact).

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., "improved task completion by X%", "reduced user errors by Y%," "informed a feature that increased adoption by Z%").

• Be Interactive: Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your methodology, decision-making, and challenges. Engage the interviewers in a discussion about your work.

• Tailor to RBC: If possible, subtly weave in how your past work or approach aligns with RBC's stated values (Client First, Integrity, Collaboration, Respect, Excellence).

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides targeted advice for preparing for the interview, focusing on the types of questions an operations-focused UX Researcher might face, and how to leverage their portfolio effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-aligned UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the RBC careers portal via the provided URL.

• Portfolio Customization: Review your existing portfolio and select 2-3 case studies that best demonstrate your ability to conduct end-to-end UX research, analyze complex user needs, and translate findings into actionable insights that drive product improvements and operational efficiency. Tailor your presentation of these case studies to highlight your impact on business objectives.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your experience with key UX research methodologies, your proficiency in relevant tools, and any experience within the financial services industry. Quantify achievements and responsibilities using action verbs and data where possible, focusing on contributions to user experience and operational effectiveness.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your research process, findings, and impact using the STAR method. Prepare to discuss your portfolio projects in detail and be ready to answer behavioral and situational questions that assess your problem-solving skills, collaboration abilities, and understanding of user-centered design within a corporate technology context.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research RBC, its US Wealth Management division, its core values, and recent industry news. Understand how UX research contributes to their business goals and client-centric approach. Prepare thoughtful questions about the team, projects, and company culture.

⚠️ 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.