Lead Design Researcher (M/F/X)

Hager Group; Obernai; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onboarding program

HiUniversity

Internal mobility opportunities

Job summary

Hager Group in Obernai, France is seeking a Lead Design Researcher to drive user insights across physical, digital and system experiences.

This permanent role requires deep research expertise, with the ability to lead complex programmes, coach teammates and translate behavioural observations into strategic recommendations for products, services and roadmaps. Fluency in English (C1) is required; German (C1) is strongly preferred.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required in a relevant field (Anthropology, Design Research, Service Design or Sociology).
• 12+ years of experience in Design Research or related fields.
• Deep expertise in qualitative, exploratory and contextual methods.
• Excellent synthesis capabilities and ability to translate observations into strategic recommendations.
• Proven experience leading complex research programmes and coaching teams.
• Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills; English (C1) required; German (C1) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex research programmes from vision to activation across products, services, systems and customer experiences.
• Conduct exploratory, generative and evaluative research with qualitative, contextual approaches.
• Translate findings into actionable insights and strategic recommendations for product portfolios and roadmaps.
• Identify patterns across customer segments and ensure research informs strategy and development.
• Coordinate and coach team members to strengthen research rigour and knowledge sharing across the Design Studio.
• Contribute complementary expertise in Service Design, Design Strategy or Business Strategy.

Skills

Qualitative research

Synthesis

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Design strategy

English C1

German C1

Education

Master's degree in Anthropology, Design Research, Service Design, Sociology

Job description

Why join our Design Studio?

What if your next role was about understanding what people need before they can even articulate it themselves?

At Hager Group, Design Research helps us uncover behaviours, motivations and unmet needs that will shape the products, services and experiences of tomorrow. Our approach goes beyond evaluating existing solutions: we explore how people behave in real-world contexts and translate this understanding into meaningful opportunities for innovation.

We are looking for an experienced Lead Design Researcher (M/F/X)who combines deep research expertise with the ability to lead complex initiatives, develop other experts and turn an understanding of human behaviour into strategic and actionable decisions.

As aLead Design Researcher (M/F/X), you will report to the Offer Testing Center Manager based in Obernai, France, on a permanent contract. You will work across physical, digital and system experiences in close collaboration with Design, Product, Engineering and other functions across the Group.

What You Will Do

• Lead complex research programmes, from defining the research vision and planning through fieldwork, synthesis and activation of findings across our products, services, systems and customer experiences.
• Conductexploratory, generative and evaluative research, with a strong emphasis on qualitative and contextual approaches such as observation, ethnography, contextual inquiry and shadowing.
• Translate behaviours, motivations and unmet needs intoactionable insights, opportunities and recommendations influencing product, service, portfolio and roadmap decisions.
• Identify patterns and emerging opportunities across customer segments and business models, ensuring that research meaningfully informsstrategy, design and development.
• Coordinate and coach team members in support of the manager, strengthening methodological rigour, synthesis quality, research capabilities and knowledge sharing across the Design Studio.
• Bring complementary expertise such asService Design, Design Strategy or Business Strategy, influence cross-functional teams and contribute to advancing Hager's Research & Testing practice.

Your Profile

• Master's degreein Anthropology, Design Research, Service Design, Sociology or a similar discipline focused on human behaviour.
• At least 12 years of relevant experiencein Design Research or closely related fields such as applied Anthropology, Service Design, Strategic UX Research or Innovation Strategy, with solid experience applying research in a professional environment.
• Deep expertise in qualitative, exploratory and contextual research, with hands-on experience of methods such as observation, ethnography, contextual inquiry or shadowing in users' real-world environments.
• Excellent synthesis capabilities, translating complex behavioural observations into actionable insights, opportunities and strategic recommendations for products and services.
• Proven experience leading complex research programmes, coordinating and coaching multiple contributors; complementary expertise in Service Design, Design Strategy, Business Strategy or Innovation Strategy is a strong asset.
• Excellent communication, collaboration and influencing skillsin an international and multidisciplinary environment, combined withC1-level English;C1-level German is strongly preferred, while other European languages are an asset.

What we offer?

• Personalized onboarding experience programdesigned to make your first dayssmooth
• Opportunities to learn and grow through Hager Group's awarded HiUniversity.
• Internal career opportunities, over 25% of our recruitments are through internal mobility