Lead Design Research & Insight Strategy

Runyon Design; United States; On-site; USD 138,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Runyon Design is seeking a Design Research Lead to guide research across six-week sprints, translating insights into opportunities for partners and inspiring the design team. You will lead with empathy, ask thoughtful questions, and shape strategies that elevate user perspectives.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years in UX research with a strong portfolio, and a talent for storytelling. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to create human-centered, value-creating products in a

Qualifications

• 6+ years in UX research in a design studio or product team.
• Portfolio demonstrating how research translates into generative outcomes across UX/UI, service design, product design, etc.
• Clear opinion on the role of research in the design process today and its future impact.
• Experience with traditional usability testing methods like problem discovery, benchmarking, and competitive analysis.
• Appreciation for storytelling and presenting insights to stakeholders.
• Desire to lead and engage with multidisciplinary teams including partners.
• Thrive in ambiguity and experiment with generative ideas to find innovative solutions.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the team in research and engage partners throughout the six-week sprint.
• A point of view on designing and implementing methods of prototype and UX feedback capture.
• Planning, building and running design-led methods of inquiry beyond typical user interviews.
• Crafting recruiting briefs, screeners, screen testing interactions and discussion guides.
• Capture stories and insights that strengthen design strategy and UX iterations.
• Lead the team to shape design ideas and execution informed by user research.
• Present user and UX research back to the client through concise storytelling to secure buy-in.
• Establish deep partnerships across cross-functional teams to enable idea flow.

Skills

UX research

Portfolio

Storytelling

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration

Ambiguity tolerance

Job description

Runyon Design is seeking a Design Research Lead to guide research across six-week sprints, translating insights into opportunities for partners and inspiring the design team. You will lead with empathy, ask thoughtful questions, and shape strategies that elevate user perspectives.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years in UX research with a strong portfolio, and a talent for storytelling. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to create human-centered, value-creating products in a