Principal UX Researcher

$169,000 - $197,000/Yr

Udemy

Full-time - Principal

501-1,000 employees

Educational Services

About the position

As the Principal Strategic User Researcher at Udemy, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategy and execution of Udemy's global consumer and B2B learning products. Your insights will drive product development by uncovering user mental models, mindsets, and behaviors, ensuring that user needs are prioritized in business decisions. You will mentor fellow researchers, pioneer strategic UX research methods, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to create impactful learning products.

Responsibilities

• Provide insights that drive strategy and execution for Udemy's global consumer and B2B learning products.
• Uncover mental models, mindsets, and behaviors of customers and communicate findings to partners.
• Guide and mentor fellow researchers in applying a strategic lens across all research efforts.
• Pioneer processes and programs for advancing strategic UX research methods.
• Socialize a strategic approach for delivering impactful and actionable insights.
• Serve as a bridge between product, product design, and business-focused partners to ensure user goals are prioritized.
• Lead, manage, and coach other researchers to deliver impactful insights.
• Build alliances with Design & Product teams to understand and quantify user behavior, needs, and goals.
• Collaborate with the Inclusive Design team to apply inclusive practices in strategic research.
• Create frameworks for strategic methods of synthesis and storytelling for researchers and partners.
• Design and execute a variety of research projects from discovery to design validation.
• Generate insights and presentations to influence product decisions and designs.
• Mentor colleagues in conducting effective user research.
• Pioneer and codify innovative research methods for the team.
• Design engaging workshops for cross-functional alignment and ideation.
• Run co-creation workshops with users to develop future concepts and solutions.
• Develop impactful presentation decks to visualize user stories and increase research understanding.

Requirements

• 7+ years experience in applied product/design research, design strategy, or equivalent education.
• Demonstrable track record of a variety of generative and/or evaluative research methods.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Human Factors, HCI, Psychology, Sociology, Cognitive Science, Research & Strategy, Anthropology or related field.
• Ph.D. or Master's degree is a plus.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity that brings user, technology, and business together.

Nice-to-haves

• Expert in a wide range of strategic and generative design research methods, including ethnographic field studies, contextual inquiries, diary studies, survey design, and qualitative concept testing.
• Familiar with quantitative concept testing, card sorting, A/B testing, usability, benchmarking, competitive analysis, etc.
• A strong storyteller, able to articulate research insights in unique ways for different audiences.
• Excellent English oral and written communication skills.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D, and disability coverage.
• Pre-tax savings/spending plans, including HSA employer contributions.
• Expanded medical coverage for gender-affirming care.
• Financial assistance for fertility, adoption, and surrogacy expenses.
• Twelve weeks of paid family bonding for birth, surrogacy, adoption, and foster placement.
• Fully paid memberships for meditation/mindfulness, therapy/coaching visits, and financial planning.
• Free access to Udemy and Udemy Business plus a yearly stipend for professional development.
• Pre-tax and Roth 401(k) plan with an employer contribution.
• Flexible vacation for salaried Udemates and fifteen days per year for hourly employees.
• Twelve paid holidays throughout the year.