UX Researcher II

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher II

Company: Bellese

Location: United States

Job Type: Full Time

Category: User Experience Research / Service Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-28

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive user-centric product development by conducting in-depth qualitative and quantitative UX research to deeply understand user needs, pain points, and behaviors within the civic healthcare domain.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Owners and Designers, to translate research findings into actionable insights and inform the design of user-friendly, impactful digital solutions for government healthcare programs.

• Facilitate and analyze various research methodologies, such as user interviews, usability testing, surveys, and card sorting, to validate hypotheses and ensure the effectiveness and usability of the Unified Case Management (UCM) system.

• Act as the voice of the user, advocating for their needs throughout the product development lifecycle, and contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making within an agile environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is categorized under User Experience Research and Service Design, focusing on applying human-centered design principles to complex government healthcare systems. The emphasis on "civic healthcare" and "public health outcomes" indicates a strong mission-driven aspect, requiring researchers to empathize with diverse user groups including patients, caregivers, providers, payers, and policymakers. The "Unified Case Management (UCM)" system context suggests a need for research in areas of fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA) detection and prevention within Medicare and Medicaid programs.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive user research using a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods, including in-depth interviews, contextual inquiries, usability testing, surveys, card sorting, and tree testing, to uncover user needs and pain points related to government healthcare program integrity.

• Develop and execute detailed research plans, define hypotheses, and select appropriate methodologies to address complex user problems and policy requirements within the Medicare and Medicaid ecosystem.

• Analyze research data to identify actionable insights, patterns, and user behaviors, and effectively communicate these findings to product owners, stakeholders, and design teams through compelling reports, presentations, and workshops.

• Collaborate with designers and product managers to translate research insights into user stories, functional requirements, and design recommendations, ensuring that solutions are user-centered, viable, and technically feasible.

• Facilitate participatory design sessions, ideation workshops, and co-creation activities with users and stakeholders to ensure a deep understanding of user journeys and to co-design effective solutions.

• Define and track key success metrics (KPIs) to evaluate the performance and impact of product features post-launch, using data to iterate and improve user experience.

• Work iteratively within an agile software development team, contributing to sprint planning, backlog refinement, and the continuous delivery of user-centered product enhancements.

• Translate complex policy documents and regulatory requirements into clear, concise technical requirements and user needs that guide the development of the Unified Case Management (UCM) system.

• Advocate for user needs and best practices in UX research and service design across the organization, contributing to the development of a robust knowledge base about CMS service users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of foundational UX research techniques and a strong emphasis on translating complex governmental policies and technical requirements into user-focused solutions. The mention of "program integrity," "fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA)," and "Medicare and Medicaid" signifies a need for researchers to understand intricate regulatory environments and the specific needs of users operating within them, such as program integrity contractors, auditors, and investigators. The role requires not just data collection but also significant analytical and communication skills to influence product direction.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, Design, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) Research, Service Design, or Human-Centered Design, with a proven track record of applying research methodologies to inform product development.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated proficiency in a wide range of qualitative and quantitative UX research methodologies, including user interviews, usability testing (moderated and unmoderated), surveys, persona development, journey mapping, and heuristic evaluations.

• Experience in translating complex research findings into actionable insights, product requirements, and design recommendations for technical and non-technical audiences.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesize data from multiple sources to identify root causes and propose effective solutions.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate research findings clearly and persuasively to diverse stakeholders, including product managers, designers, engineers, and leadership.

• Experience working within agile software development environments, collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Familiarity with translating complex policy documents and regulatory frameworks into user needs and technical requirements.

• Ability to manage multiple research projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Preferred Skills:

• Previous experience working in Civic Tech, government contracting, or with public sector clients, particularly within healthcare or related domains.

• Experience with research and collaboration tools such as Figma, Confluence, and Jira.

• Familiarity with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) systems, policies, or user groups.

• Experience conducting research with technical audiences and translating findings into technical specifications.

• Proficiency in data analysis tools and statistical software.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Must have" section specifies a Bachelor's degree and at least 3 years of experience, aligning with a mid-level UX Researcher (II) role. The requirement for a portfolio or case studies is crucial for demonstrating practical application of UX research skills. The "Nice to have" skills point towards a preference for candidates with specific domain experience (Civic Tech, CMS) and tool proficiency (Figma, Confluence, Jira), which are common in government contracting environments. The security clearance requirement is a significant factor for this role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive case study or portfolio demonstrating successful product design work that clearly showcases sound UX research skills and impact.

• Case studies should detail the research process from problem definition to solution implementation, highlighting the methodologies used, challenges encountered, and the resulting outcomes or improvements.

• The portfolio should illustrate the ability to translate research findings into concrete product features and design decisions.

• If an online portfolio is not available, an accessible PDF document containing detailed case studies and a body of work is required. Process Documentation:

• Examples of research plans, including objectives, target participants, methodologies, and timelines.

• Documentation of analysis techniques used to synthesize qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights.

• Evidence of collaboration with design and development teams to implement research recommendations.

• Demonstrated ability to define and track success metrics for product features based on user research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirement is central to this role, emphasizing practical application of UX research. Candidates are expected to showcase their end-to-end research process, from planning and execution to analysis and impact. This implies a need for documentation that clearly articulates the "why," "how," and "what" of their research efforts, particularly in the context of complex systems and policy-driven requirements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $109,400 - $142,800 per year

Benefits:

• Remote First, Remote Only Culture: Full commitment to a remote work environment.

• Generous Paid Time Off: Four weeks of paid time off (PTO) annually, prorated for the first year.

• Paid Company Holidays: 10 paid floating company holidays.

• Flexible Schedule: Ability to manage work hours flexibly.

• Work from Home Setup: Provision of a Macbook and setup for a productive remote workspace.

• Collaborative, Learning Environment: Fosters professional growth and knowledge sharing.

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and company-paid vision insurance.

• Health Savings Account (HSA): Optional HSA with company contributions for certain medical plans.

• Company-Paid Insurance: Basic life and AD&D insurance coverage, as well as short and long-term disability insurance.

• Optional Insurance: Critical illness and accident insurance.

• Retirement Savings: 401K plan with a 3% safe harbor contribution.

• Wellness Resources: Access to wellness resources and virtual care services.

• Employee Discounts: Perks Plus employee discount program.

Working Hours: Full-time, with a flexible schedule accommodating a standard 40-hour work week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a UX Researcher II role in the US, especially considering the fully remote nature and the specific domain (government contracting, healthcare IT). The extensive benefits package, including a robust work-from-home setup, flexible hours, and comprehensive insurance, reflects a company culture that prioritizes employee well-being and productivity in a remote setting.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Services Company, Healthcare Technology, Government Contracting.

Company Size: Bellese is a growing company, likely with a focus on innovation and impact within its niche. The description suggests a lean, agile team structure.

Founded: Bellese was founded in 2014, indicating established expertise and a track record in the digital services space.

Team Structure:

• The UX Researcher will be part of the team supporting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) modernization efforts. This team likely includes Product Owners, Designers, Developers, and potentially other researchers or analysts.

• Collaboration is expected within an agile software development team, suggesting a flat or matrixed reporting structure for project-specific work.

• The "Remote First" culture indicates a distributed team where communication and collaboration tools are paramount. Methodology:

• Service Design & User-Centered Approach: Bellese emphasizes understanding the "Why" behind user needs to design solutions that improve healthcare journeys for all stakeholders.

• Agile Software Development: The team operates within an agile framework, prioritizing iterative development, continuous feedback, and adaptability.

• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Research findings are used to inform product strategy, design decisions, and performance evaluation, ensuring solutions are effective and efficient.

• Mission-Driven Innovation: A strong focus on improving public health outcomes and making a meaningful impact in civic healthcare.

Company Website: https://www.bellese.io/

📝 Enhancement Note: Bellese positions itself as a mission-driven company focused on innovation in civic healthcare. The emphasis on service design and understanding user journeys is a key differentiator. The company's focus on government contracting, particularly with CMS, means that understanding regulatory environments and the specific needs of government stakeholders is crucial. The "Remote First" culture is a significant aspect of their operational model.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a UX Researcher II position, typically considered a mid-level role. It implies a solid foundation in UX research methodologies and the ability to work independently on defined research projects, contributing significantly to product design and strategy. The role requires translating complex requirements and advocating for user needs within a cross-functional team.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will likely report to a UX Lead, Research Manager, or a Product Lead within the CMS UCM project team. They will work closely with Product Owners and Designers, indicating a collaborative, cross-functional reporting dynamic for project execution.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is directly tied to improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and usability of critical government healthcare systems like UCM. By ensuring these systems meet the needs of program integrity contractors, auditors, and investigators, the researcher contributes to combating fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid, ultimately impacting public health outcomes and resource allocation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX research for government health programs, becoming a subject matter expert in the civic tech or healthcare IT domain.

• Leadership: Progress to a Senior UX Researcher or UX Lead role, mentoring junior researchers and taking ownership of larger, more complex research initiatives.

• Skill Expansion: Develop skills in areas like service design strategy, qualitative data analysis, advanced statistical analysis, or UX leadership.

• Cross-Functional Development: Gain exposure to product management, agile development processes, and policy translation, enhancing overall product development understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear growth path within UX research, particularly within the niche of government health technology. The "II" designation suggests potential for advancement to senior levels, with opportunities to lead initiatives and mentor others. The experience gained in translating complex policy into user-centric solutions is highly transferable and valuable.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a "Remote First, Remote Only Culture" position. There is no physical office requirement; the work is conducted entirely remotely.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the company is based in the United States, and candidates must be US residents. The mention of "America/Chicago" timezones for derived locations suggests that while remote, some alignment with US time zones might be beneficial for collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Autonomy: Employees are empowered to set up their preferred home workspace to maximize productivity.

• Technology Provision: Bellese provides a Macbook and supports work-from-home setups, ensuring employees have the necessary tools.

• Collaborative Tools: Expect extensive use of digital collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Miro, Confluence) to facilitate communication and teamwork among distributed team members.

• Flexible Environment: The flexible schedule and remote nature allow for a work environment tailored to individual needs, promoting work-life balance.

Work Schedule: A flexible schedule is offered, with the understanding that a standard 40-hour work week is expected. This allows for adaptation to personal needs while ensuring project deliverables are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote First, Remote Only" designation is a key differentiator, indicating a mature remote work culture. This environment requires strong self-discipline, excellent asynchronous communication skills, and comfort with digital collaboration tools. The provision of equipment and a flexible schedule aims to support a productive and balanced remote work experience.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Hiring Manager/Recruiter Call: An initial conversation to discuss your background, interest in the role and Bellese, and to answer any preliminary questions.

• Technical Interview / Portfolio Review: This is a critical stage where you will present your case studies from your portfolio. Expect to walk through your research process, methodologies, insights, and the impact of your work. Be prepared to discuss how you translated complex problems into user-centered solutions.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with potential colleagues, such as Product Owners, Designers, or other team members, to assess your collaboration style, problem-solving approach, and cultural fit within an agile, remote team.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership, focusing on strategic thinking, long-term vision, and alignment with Bellese's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the research methodologies used, the insights gained, the solutions proposed, and the measurable impact or outcomes.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, wireframes, user flows, data visualizations) to illustrate your process and findings.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, demonstrate the positive results of your research with data (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion times, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Address Complexity: Highlight examples where you translated complex policy or technical requirements into actionable user needs.

• Tailor to Bellese: If possible, subtly align your examples with the type of work Bellese does (civic tech, healthcare, government systems) to show relevance.

Challenge Preparation:

• Hypothetical Scenario: Be prepared for a hypothetical UX research challenge where you might be asked to outline a research plan for a given problem within the CMS UCM context.

• Problem Framing: Demonstrate your ability to ask clarifying questions and frame ambiguous problems effectively.

• Methodology Justification: Be ready to explain why you would choose specific research methods for a given scenario and what insights you would expect to gain.

• Communication Skills: Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, as if you were presenting to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh the candidate's portfolio and their ability to articulate their UX research process and impact. Given the context of government systems and complex policies, demonstrating the ability to translate these into user needs and practical solutions will be paramount. Preparation should focus on storytelling through case studies and understanding the specific challenges of UX research in the civic tech and healthcare IT sectors.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Research Tools: Proficiency in conducting user interviews, usability testing (e.g., via Lookback, UserTesting.com, or similar platforms), surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Google Forms), and potentially card sorting/tree testing tools (e.g., Optimal Workshop).

• Collaboration & Documentation: Strong experience with tools like Confluence for documentation, knowledge sharing, and team wiki, and Jira for agile project management, bug tracking, and workflow management.

• Prototyping & Design: Familiarity with design and prototyping tools such as Figma for reviewing designs, collaborating with designers, and potentially creating low-fidelity prototypes or user flows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Experience interpreting data from analytics platforms to understand user behavior trends.

• Ability to generate clear, concise reports and presentations that communicate research findings effectively to various stakeholders.

• Familiarity with tools that can help visualize data and user journey maps. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly CRM-focused, understanding how user data and feedback integrate into product development workflows is important.

• Familiarity with tools that support agile development processes and cross-functional team communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Nice to have" section specifically mentions Confluence, Jira, and Figma. These are critical tools for agile development teams in tech, especially in government contracting environments where documentation and project tracking are highly structured. Proficiency in these, alongside core UX research platforms, will be a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to improving public health outcomes and making a tangible impact in civic healthcare. This means valuing work that serves a greater purpose.

• User-Centricity: Deep empathy for users and a dedication to understanding their needs and pain points to drive product development.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering an environment of mutual respect, open communication, and shared problem-solving within cross-functional, remote teams.

• Innovation & Curiosity: Encouraging out-of-the-box thinking, a desire to understand the "why," and a proactive approach to finding better solutions.

• Integrity & Excellence: Upholding high standards in research, design, and delivery, particularly in the sensitive domain of government healthcare.

Collaboration Style:

• Remote-First & Asynchronous: Expect a heavy reliance on digital tools for communication and collaboration, with an emphasis on clear, concise written communication and effective use of asynchronous methods.

• Cross-Functional Integration: The UX Researcher will be embedded within agile teams, working closely with Product Owners, Designers, Developers, and potentially policy experts.

• Open Feedback Culture: The environment likely encourages constructive feedback, iterative improvements, and a shared responsibility for product success.

📝 Enhancement Note: Bellese's stated values emphasize a mission-driven approach and user-centricity, which are core to effective UX research. The "out of the box thinker" and "know the why" ethos suggests a culture that values deep inquiry and creative problem-solving. The remote-first, collaborative environment requires strong communication and interpersonal skills.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complex Policy Environments: Translating intricate government policies, regulations, and legal requirements (e.g., for Medicare/Medicaid program integrity) into understandable user needs and actionable product features.

• Diverse User Groups: Researching and understanding the needs of a wide range of users, from technical investigators to potentially less tech-savvy providers or patients, within a government system.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion, effective communication, and efficient workflow in a fully remote setting, especially when dealing with sensitive government data and systems.

• Demonstrating ROI: Clearly articulating the value and return on investment of UX research efforts to stakeholders who may prioritize technical or policy compliance.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge in healthcare policy, government IT modernization, and program integrity within Medicare and Medicaid.

• Advanced Research Techniques: Opportunity to explore and implement more advanced qualitative and quantitative research methods, potentially including ethnographic studies or advanced statistical analysis.

• Service Design Integration: Further develop skills in service design, focusing on end-to-end user journeys and stakeholder experiences across multiple touchpoints.

• Leadership and Mentorship: As a mid-level researcher, there's an opportunity to mentor junior team members and take on lead roles in research projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the unique context of government contracting and healthcare IT. Successfully navigating these requires a combination of strong research skills, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the domain. The growth opportunities are aligned with career progression in UX research, with a specific emphasis on specialization within a valuable niche.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a complex policy document or technical requirement into user needs. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your ability to bridge policy/tech and user needs).

• "Walk me through a challenging UX research project where you encountered significant obstacles. How did you overcome them, and what did you learn?" (Assess problem-solving, resilience, and learning agility).

• "How do you approach research for a system like UCM, which serves critical functions for program integrity? What would be your initial research questions?" (Test your understanding of the domain and your strategic thinking).

• "Imagine you have limited time and resources for research. How would you prioritize your research efforts to have the most impact on the UCM system?" (Evaluate prioritization and resourcefulness). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for Bellese, and specifically on a project with CMS?" (Assess alignment with mission and domain).

• "How do you foster collaboration and communicate research insights effectively within a remote, agile team?" (Evaluate communication and teamwork skills).

• "How do you ensure your research is user-centered while also meeting technical and policy constraints?" (Gauge ability to balance user needs with project realities). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly state the problem or opportunity your research addressed.

• Detail Your Process: Explain the specific research methods you chose and why they were appropriate.

• Showcase Insights: Present the key findings and how they informed design decisions. Use visuals to support your points.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify the results of your work whenever possible (e.g., "This change led to a 15% reduction in errors").

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your methodology, decision-making, and the challenges you faced.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of the UX research process, the ability to translate complex requirements, and a collaborative, user-centric mindset. The portfolio presentation is crucial, so practice telling compelling stories about your past work that highlight impact and problem-solving skills relevant to civic tech and government projects.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Lever.co link, ensuring your resume and portfolio are attached.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful UX research case studies. Prioritize those that demonstrate your ability to tackle complex problems, translate findings into actionable solutions, and quantify results. Ensure the case studies clearly outline the problem, your process, key insights, and the impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords and experiences directly related to UX research, service design, human-centered design, agile methodologies, and any experience with government or healthcare projects. Quantify your achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your chosen case studies. Be ready to articulate your thought process, defend your methodological choices, and discuss the challenges and outcomes in detail. Rehearse your delivery to ensure clarity and conciseness.

• Research Bellese and CMS: Understand Bellese's mission, values, and work in civic healthcare. Familiarize yourself with the general goals of CMS and the Unified Case Management system to demonstrate genuine interest and contextual understanding during interviews.

⚠️ 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.