Senior User Researcher [AQ-24467]

Aquent; Bentonville (AR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent’s client, a retail and ecommerce leader, is seeking a Senior User Researcher for a full-time role in Bentonville, AR. Relocation assistance will be provided.

The role focuses on user discovery, research methods, stakeholder alignment, and usability testing to inform design decisions and business strategy. Collaboration across teams and clear reporting are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience in Human-Computer Interaction, Design, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field.
• Experience in user research, design research, or a similar role, roughly 3+ years.
• Able to work 5 days/week in Bentonville, AR (relocation assistance will be provided).

Responsibilities

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative user research (interviews, surveys, contextual inquiries) to uncover user behaviors, needs, and pain points.
• Develop user journeys, storyboards, and mapping techniques to visualize research findings.
• Analyze data sources to identify gaps between business expectations and user experience.
• Propose and refine research hypotheses to guide project planning and execution.
• Translate research insights into clear recommendations for design decisions and business strategies.
• Identify, map, and analyze stakeholders and collaborate with internal and external partners.
• Prepare concise, fact-based reports to build consensus across teams.
• Plan and run usability and user acceptance tests to validate design assumptions.
• Communicate research insights clearly to diverse audiences and advocate data-informed decisions.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience in HCI / Design / Psychology / Sociology / related field

3+ years in user research or design research

Willing to work 5 days/week in Bentonville, AR

Job description

Aquent’s client, a retail and ecommerce leader, is looking to hire a Senior User Researcher on a full-time basis in Bentonville, AR (relocation assistance will be provided).

What You’ll Be Doing

User Discovery & Research

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative user research (interviews, surveys, contextual inquiries) to uncover user behaviors, needs, and pain points.
• Develop user journeys, storyboards, and mapping techniques to visualize research findings.
• Analyze existing data sources (e.g., web analytics, user surveys, customer support interactions) to identify gaps between business expectations and user experience.

Design Research & Data Analysis

• Propose and refine research hypotheses to guide project planning and execution.
• Use data validation practices to help ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Translate research insights into clear recommendations that inform design decisions and business strategies.

Stakeholder Management & Functional Partnership

• Identify, map, and analyze key stakeholders, learning about their needs and business contexts.
• Work with internal and external partners to share insights and align on research objectives.
• Prepare clear, concise, fact-based reports that build consensus and support cross-functional collaboration.

Usability Testing & Iteration

• Plan and run usability and user acceptance tests (such as alpha and beta) to validate design assumptions.
• Develop testing scenarios, documentation, and guidelines to support iterative design improvements.
• Use testing outcomes to improve the user experience and team processes.

Influence & Collaboration

• Communicate research insights clearly through written, verbal, and visual formats, adapting to different audiences and accessibility needs.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with team members and business partners.
• Contribute to a culture of respect, integrity, and continuous learning.
• Support peers through mentoring, guidance, and sharing of best practices.

Customer Focus & Strategic Impact

• Understand customer and business problems through journey mapping and process improvement.
• Identify risks and opportunities in the user experience to inform future product enhancements.
• Deliver insights that support the company’s mission of customer-centric innovation and operational excellence.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience in Human-Computer Interaction, Design, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field.
• Experience in user research, design research, or a similar role, ideally in a multi-stakeholder environment. Roughly 3+ years is typical, but we welcome equivalent experience gained through other paths.
• Able to work 5 days/week in Bentonville, AR (relocation assistance will be provided).

Technical & Research Skills

• Working knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including user interviews, surveys, and usability testing.
• Experience analyzing web analytics, user data, and customer feedback.
• Familiarity with tools and frameworks for mapping user journeys and creating storyboards.

Stakeholder & Communication Skills

• Ability to identify and engage stakeholders across different functional areas.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex insights concisely.
• Experience building consensus and influencing cross-functional teams to use data-informed insights.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Experience working in fast-moving environments with many partners.