UX Researcher-CNBC, MS NOW and E! Online

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher - CNBC, MS NOW and E! Online

Company: Versant

Location: Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience Research / Digital Product Development

Date Posted: June 12, 2026

Experience Level: 3-5 Years (based on 3+ years requirement and typical career progression for a researcher)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive exceptional digital product experiences by uncovering actionable user insights through comprehensive UX research methodologies.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers to translate user needs and behaviors into data-driven product strategies for leading news and entertainment brands.

• Develop and execute research strategies aligned with business objectives and product roadmaps for platforms including CNBC, MS NOW, and E! Online.

• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative research findings into compelling narratives, personas, and journey maps to advocate for user needs across the product lifecycle.

• Partner with data analysts to integrate behavioral analytics with qualitative insights, fostering a culture of evidence-based decision-making and user empathy.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a newly created product and tech unit supporting ambitious digital goals, indicating a high-impact opportunity for a UX Researcher to shape user-centric strategies from the ground up for prominent media brands. The emphasis on journalistic content and consumer news consumption suggests a need for a researcher deeply familiar with media consumption habits and digital content engagement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and conduct qualitative and quantitative user research studies (e.g., usability testing, user interviews, surveys, ethnographic studies) to inform product decisions.

• Develop robust research strategies that align with overarching business goals and specific product roadmaps for digital platforms.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers, to define research questions, hypotheses, and key performance indicators.

• Synthesize complex research findings into clear, actionable insights and recommendations that guide design iterations and product development.

• Create and present compelling research artifacts such as detailed reports, user personas, and comprehensive journey maps to executive stakeholders and product teams.

• Act as a primary advocate for user needs and perspectives throughout all phases of the product development lifecycle.

• Partner effectively with data analysts to integrate quantitative behavioral analytics with qualitative research findings for a holistic understanding of user behavior.

• Present research insights and strategic recommendations to senior management and key stakeholders to influence critical strategic decisions.

• Continuously stay abreast of emergent UX research methodologies, tools, and best practices within the digital media industry.

• Champion and foster a company-wide culture of evidence-based decision-making and deep empathy for users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "advocate for user needs across all stages of the product lifecycle" and "present findings to executives and stakeholders to influence strategic decisions" highlights the strategic importance of this role, requiring strong communication and influencing skills beyond just research execution. The mention of "subscription business, a news organization or a content company / publisher" as desired qualifications further refines the expected expertise.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or a related discipline, is desired.

• MBA or postgraduate degree in a related field is a plus. Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of dedicated UX research experience, with a strong focus on digital media products and platforms.

• Proven track record of applying a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods to solve complex product challenges and drive product innovation.

• Experience working within consumer-facing (B2C) digital environments, particularly in media, publishing, or subscription-based business models. Required Skills:

• Qualitative Research Expertise: Mastery of methods such as user interviews, contextual inquiries, ethnographic studies, and focus groups.

• Quantitative Research Proficiency: Skilled in survey design, A/B testing analysis, and interpreting behavioral analytics data.

• Usability Testing: Experience planning, conducting, and analyzing results from various forms of usability testing (moderated, unmoderated, remote, in-person).

• Data Synthesis & Insight Generation: Ability to consolidate diverse data points into cohesive, actionable insights that inform product strategy.

• Persona & Journey Mapping: Demonstrated ability to create and utilize user personas and journey maps to represent user needs and experiences.

• Communication & Presentation: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to present complex findings persuasively to diverse audiences, including executives.

• Product Lifecycle Understanding: Familiarity with web, mobile applications, and Over-The-Top (OTT) products and their respective user experience considerations.

• Analytical Thinking: Strong ability to interpret behavioral data, identify patterns, and derive meaningful conclusions.

Preferred Skills:

• Subscription Business Acumen: Experience in research for subscription-based models, understanding user retention and engagement drivers.

• News/Content Industry Experience: Direct experience researching for news organizations or digital content publishers, with an understanding of journalistic content consumption.

• Accessibility & Inclusive Design: Knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and inclusive design principles to ensure products are usable by all.

• Stakeholder Management: Ability to effectively manage relationships and communication with senior management and cross-functional teams.

• Evangelizing User Needs: Proven experience in championing the customer perspective through research and data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 3 years of experience, combined with the desired qualifications and the nature of the role, suggests that candidates with 3-5 years of experience would be well-suited. The emphasis on "journalistic content" and "subscription business" indicates a need for domain-specific understanding beyond general UX research skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Research Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating end-to-end UX research projects, from problem definition to actionable insights and impact.

• Methodology Diversity: Clearly illustrate experience with a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methods applied to solve specific product challenges.

• Insight Translation: Provide concrete examples of how research findings were translated into design recommendations or product strategy adjustments.

• Impact Demonstration: Quantify the impact of your research where possible, showcasing improvements in user satisfaction, engagement, conversion rates, or other relevant metrics.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Highlight instances where your research facilitated collaboration and alignment among product, design, and engineering teams.

Process Documentation:

• Research Plan Development: Portfolios should include examples of well-structured research plans that outline objectives, methodologies, participant criteria, and timelines.

• Data Synthesis & Reporting: Demonstrate proficiency in synthesizing raw research data into clear, concise, and compelling reports, personas, or journey maps.

• Presentation Materials: Include examples of presentation decks used to communicate research findings and recommendations to stakeholders, showcasing storytelling ability.

• User-Centric Design Integration: Show how your research directly informed design iterations and product feature development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on informing product strategy and working across multiple brands, a portfolio that demonstrates the ability to manage multiple research streams and synthesize findings into cohesive strategic recommendations will be highly valued. The emphasis on influencing executives means presentation clarity and impact are critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $100,000 - $130,000 per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health coverage including Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.

• Retirement savings plan: 401(k).

• Paid time off (PTO) for vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Onsite amenities at the Englewood Cliffs, NJ headquarters:

  • Free onsite fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment and daily group classes.
  • Gourmet cafeteria offering daily specials and a soup and salad bar.
  • Additional perks such as dry cleaning services and exclusive sneak peeks.

• Free shuttle transportation services connecting to and from multiple locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Hoboken, and Jersey City. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time commitment, typically around 40 hours per week.

• While adherence to business hours is expected, the role's nature may require flexibility for certain research activities or urgent project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $100,000 - $130,000 is within the expected range for an experienced UX Researcher in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area, particularly for a role supporting major media brands. The extensive benefits package, including significant onsite amenities and transportation, reflects the company's investment in employee well-being and convenience at its headquarters.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Entertainment, News, Digital Publishing, Technology. Versant operates across political news, business news, golf, and sports/genre entertainment, leveraging iconic brands like CNBC, MS NOW, E!, SYFY, and digital assets like Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes. This diverse portfolio suggests a dynamic environment with a strong emphasis on content quality, audience engagement, and digital innovation.

Company Size: Versant is a significant player in the media landscape, implied by its Nasdaq listing and portfolio of well-known brands. The mention of a "newly created product and tech unit" suggests a blend of established corporate structure with entrepreneurial agility within this specific team.

Founded: While the exact founding date for "Versant" as a consolidated entity isn't provided, its constituent brands (like CNBC) have long histories, indicating a company with deep roots and established market presence, now focused on evolving its digital footprint.

Team Structure:

• Product & Tech Unit: This is a newly formed unit designed to support the digital ambitions of CNBC, MS NOW, and E! Online. The UX Researcher will be part of this core team.

• Reporting: The UX Researcher will report to the Director of Product Design and work closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Expect extensive collaboration with editorial, marketing, commercial, data analytics, and engineering teams to ensure user insights are integrated across all facets of product development and strategy.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: Emphasis on using both qualitative research and quantitative behavioral analytics to inform decisions.

• User-Centric Design: A core principle is understanding and advocating for user needs throughout the product lifecycle.

• Agile Development: Likely operates within an agile framework, requiring adaptability and iterative research approaches.

• Content & Commercial Alignment: The role requires balancing user needs with editorial integrity and commercial objectives.

Company Website: https://www.versantmedia.com/ (Inferred based on domain_derived and company description)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's structure, with a new product and tech unit, suggests an environment that values innovation and is willing to invest in new capabilities. The diverse brand portfolio indicates exposure to different audience segments and content types, offering rich research opportunities.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an experienced UX Researcher, likely mid-level, requiring at least 3 years of specialized experience. It's a critical individual contributor role focused on driving user-centric product development within a key digital unit.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher reports to the Director of Product Design, indicating a direct line into the design leadership and product strategy decision-making process. This structure allows for focused guidance and integration with design initiatives.

Operations Impact: The UX Researcher's work directly influences the success of digital products for major brands like CNBC, MS NOW, and E! Online. By uncovering user needs and validating product decisions, they play a vital role in enhancing user engagement, satisfaction, and ultimately, the commercial success of these platforms, potentially impacting subscription growth and advertising revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX research for media, news, or subscription models, potentially becoming a subject matter expert for these brands.

• Leadership: With demonstrated success and influence, opportunities may arise to lead research initiatives, mentor junior researchers, or take on more strategic product research roles.

• Skill Expansion: Opportunity to expand into product strategy, design thinking facilitation, or contribute to broader GTM strategies by understanding user adoption patterns.

• Cross-Brand Exposure: Gain experience across a diverse portfolio of media brands, broadening industry knowledge and research scope.

• Influence: Directly contribute to shaping the future digital products of well-known media entities, offering significant professional visibility and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The creation of a new product and tech unit suggests a growth trajectory for the team and its members. An individual who excels in this role can position themselves for increased responsibility as the unit matures and its impact grows.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at Versant's headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, which offers a comprehensive onsite experience with numerous employee amenities. This suggests a preference for a collaborative, in-person work environment.

Office Location(s):

• Primary location: 900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632.

• The company also offers free shuttle transportation from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Hoboken, and Jersey City, indicating accessibility and a desire to draw talent from a wider metropolitan area. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The onsite amenities like the fitness center, cafeteria, and the nature of a newly formed product unit suggest a dynamic, collaborative workspace where cross-functional teams interact frequently.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern UX research tools, analytics platforms, and design software will be standard. Collaboration tools for remote and in-office communication will be essential.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with designers, product managers, engineers, data analysts, and potentially editorial staff, fostering a rich learning and collaborative atmosphere.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected.

• While the role is on-site, a degree of flexibility might be available depending on specific research needs (e.g., scheduling participant interviews outside standard hours).

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on onsite amenities and shuttle services strongly indicates that this is an on-site position. The environment is designed to encourage employee presence and interaction, which is beneficial for collaborative roles like UX Research.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the Director of Product Design to delve deeper into experience, research philosophy, and alignment with team goals.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present 1-2 detailed case studies from their portfolio to the hiring manager and potentially other team members. This assesses research methodology, insight generation, presentation skills, and impact.

• Team Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers to evaluate collaboration skills, problem-solving approach, and ability to integrate research into the product development workflow.

• Executive/Stakeholder Interview: Potentially an interview with a senior leader to assess strategic thinking, ability to influence, and communication effectiveness with upper management.

• Offer: Extended to the selected candidate.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as narratives, clearly defining the problem, your approach, the challenges, your key insights, and the impact of your recommendations.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals – screenshots, diagrams, personas, journey maps, and anonymized research outputs – to illustrate your process and findings.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics that demonstrate the positive outcomes of your research (e.g., increased conversion, reduced error rates, improved satisfaction scores).

• Highlight Collaboration: Showcase how you worked with cross-functional teams and how your research influenced their decisions.

• Tailor to Media: If possible, emphasize experience with digital media, news consumption, or subscription models. Highlight your passion for journalistic content.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your methodology choices, how you handled conflicting data, and how you influenced stakeholders.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Strategy: Be ready to discuss how you would approach researching a new feature for CNBC, MS NOW, or E! Online, considering their specific audiences and business goals.

• Methodology Justification: Prepare to explain why you would choose certain research methods over others for specific problems.

• Ethical Considerations: Be prepared to discuss ethical considerations in user research, especially concerning sensitive news or personal finance topics.

• Synthesizing Diverse Data: Practice articulating how you would integrate qualitative insights with quantitative behavioral data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is likely a significant component of this process, given the role's emphasis on actionable insights and influencing strategy. Candidates should prepare to articulate the "why" behind their research choices and the tangible impact of their work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Qualitative Research Platforms: Tools for conducting remote moderated and unmoderated interviews and usability tests (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Dovetail).

• Survey Tools: Platforms for designing and distributing surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, Google Forms).

• Data Analysis & Synthesis: Software for organizing and analyzing qualitative data (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo, Excel/Google Sheets for thematic analysis).

• Prototyping & Wireframing Tools (for review): Familiarity with tools like Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch to understand design outputs and provide feedback.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web & Mobile Analytics: Proficiency in interpreting data from platforms like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar; understanding event tracking and user funnels.

• Behavioral Analytics: Experience with tools that track user interactions on digital platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Hotjar).

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to interpret dashboards and reports from tools like Tableau, Power BI, or internal reporting systems.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly a CRM role, but understanding how user data is managed and potential data capture for research purposes is beneficial.

• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello) for tracking research tasks and collaborating with product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is primarily research-focused, understanding how user data is collected and analyzed through analytics platforms is crucial for integrating qualitative findings with quantitative behavioral data. Experience with tools used in media analytics (e.g., Parse.ly) would be a significant plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Empathy: A fundamental value, ensuring that user needs, behaviors, and motivations are at the forefront of all product decisions.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Commitment to grounding insights and recommendations in robust research and analytics, fostering an evidence-based approach.

• Collaboration & Communication: Emphasis on working effectively with diverse teams (product, design, engineering, editorial, marketing) and communicating findings clearly and persuasively.

• Curiosity & Continuous Learning: A drive to explore and understand user behaviors, staying current with research methodologies and industry trends.

• Impact Orientation: Focus on delivering research that leads to tangible improvements in product quality, user satisfaction, and business outcomes.

• Passion for Media & News: A genuine interest in digital content, news consumption, and the media landscape is essential for understanding the target audience and product context.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Proactive engagement with Product Managers to define research scope, Designers to iterate on solutions, and Engineers to understand technical constraints and feasibility.

• Feedback Loops: Fostering an environment where research findings are openly discussed, debated, and integrated into the product development cycle.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing research insights and best practices across teams to build a collective understanding of the user.

• Agile Adaptability: Working within an agile framework requires flexibility, responsiveness, and the ability to pivot research efforts as project needs evolve.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "passion for digital or journalistic content" and being a "huge consumer of news and media" suggests that cultural fit will also involve a genuine interest in the company's core business and content.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Multiple Brands: Researching for distinct brands (CNBC, MS NOW, E! Online) with potentially different target audiences and editorial goals requires adaptability and segmented research strategies.

• Integrating Qualitative & Quantitative Data: Effectively synthesizing diverse data streams (interviews, surveys, analytics) into a cohesive narrative can be complex.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Persuading senior leadership and cross-functional teams to adopt user-centric recommendations, especially when commercial pressures exist.

• Fast-Paced Digital Environment: Keeping pace with rapid product development cycles and evolving user expectations in the digital media space.

• Defining Success Metrics: Establishing clear, measurable objectives for research and demonstrating its ROI.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge in media consumption, news delivery, and digital content engagement strategies.

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunity to explore and implement cutting-edge research techniques, potentially including generative AI applications in research.

• Strategic Influence: Develop stronger skills in influencing product strategy and executive decision-making through impactful research advocacy.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Gain a deeper understanding of product management, design, and engineering processes within a large media organization.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Potential for attending industry events (e.g., UXPA, CHI) and pursuing specialized certifications relevant to UX research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The creation of a new product and technology unit presents an opportunity to shape processes and methodologies from the ground up, offering significant potential for impact and personal growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a user need that conflicted with business goals. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on balancing user needs with business objectives, data-driven persuasion).

• "How would you design a research plan to understand user engagement with a new video feature on the CNBC app?" (Assess research planning, methodology selection, audience segmentation).

• "Walk us through a complex research project from your portfolio. What was the problem, your approach, key findings, and the impact?" (Demonstrate end-to-end research capability, synthesis, and impact articulation). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about researching for news and entertainment brands like CNBC, MS NOW, and E! Online?" (Assess passion for the industry and understanding of the brands).

• "How do you foster empathy for users within a product team?" (Evaluate understanding of user-centric culture and advocacy skills).

• "How do you stay current with the latest UX research trends and methodologies?" (Gauge commitment to continuous learning). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a brief overview of the company/product context, clearly state the research problem and your objectives.

• Methodology: Detail the specific methods used and why you chose them.

• Process: Explain your approach to data collection, analysis, and synthesis.

• Insights: Present your key findings clearly and concisely, using visuals to support them.

• Recommendations: Outline your actionable recommendations for design or strategy.

• Impact: Quantify the results or potential impact of your recommendations, if possible.

• Key Takeaways: End with 2-3 overarching lessons learned or key insights.

• Engagement: Be prepared for interactive discussion and questions throughout your presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss how your research experience aligns with the specific needs of digital media and news consumption. Demonstrating an understanding of the target audiences for CNBC, MS NOW, and E! Online will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided SmartRecruiters link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to highlight 2-3 strong case studies that best showcase your experience with qualitative and quantitative research, particularly in digital media or B2C product environments. Tailor your presentation to emphasize how your research drove product improvements and influenced decision-making.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, specific research methodologies employed, and the impact of your work. Use keywords from the job description such as "UX Research," "digital media," "qualitative," "quantitative," "usability testing," "persona development," and "stakeholder management."

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies concisely and persuasively. Prepare to answer behavioral and situational questions related to research strategy, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration. Research Versant and its brands to demonstrate genuine interest.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with CNBC, MS NOW, and E! Online – their content, target audiences, and recent digital initiatives. Understand the competitive landscape in digital news and entertainment media.

⚠️ 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.