Lead UX Researcher

Placements24; Upington; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity potential

Fully remote

Health insurance

Professional development

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead UX Researcher to guide a remote product development team in delivering user-centered insights that inform strategy and design. You will lead mixed-method research programs, develop personas and journey maps, and drive actionable recommendations across product and engineering functions.

The role emphasizes mentoring junior researchers, collaborating with product managers, and staying ahead of evolving UX research methodologies in a remote-first environment.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience conducting user research in a product development context.
• Proven experience leading research projects and mentoring other researchers.
• Expertise in a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Proficiency with research tools and analytics platforms.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to convey complex findings clearly to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute a variety of qualitative and quantitative user research methods, including user interviews, surveys, usability testing, and ethnographic studies.
• Translate research findings into actionable insights, personas, journey maps, and design recommendations for product and design teams.
• Collaborate with product managers and designers to define research objectives and integrate user feedback throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Lead and mentor junior UX researchers, fostering a culture of rigorous and impactful user research.
• Present research findings and strategic recommendations to cross-functional teams and executive leadership.
• Stay current with the latest UX research methodologies, tools, and industry best practices.

Skills

UX Research

Leadership

Communication

Qualitative & Quantitative methods

Education

Masters/PhD in HCI/Psychology/Sociology/Anthropology or related field

Tools

Research tools

Analytics platforms

Job description

About the Role

Our client is actively seeking a passionate and experienced Lead UX Researcher to join their fully remote product development team. This critical role involves leading user research initiatives to gain deep insights into user behaviors, needs, and motivations, directly informing product strategy and design decisions. You will champion a user-centered approach, working closely with design, product, and engineering teams to ensure our products are intuitive, accessible, and meet the evolving needs of our diverse user base. This is an exceptional opportunity to influence product direction and drive impactful research outcomes in a remote-first setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute a variety of qualitative and quantitative user research methods, including user interviews, surveys, usability testing, and ethnographic studies.
• Translate research findings into actionable insights, personas, journey maps, and design recommendations for product and design teams.
• Collaborate with product managers and designers to define research objectives and integrate user feedback throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Lead and mentor junior UX researchers, fostering a culture of rigorous and impactful user research.
• Present research findings and strategic recommendations to cross-functional teams and executive leadership.
• Stay current with the latest UX research methodologies, tools, and industry best practices.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience conducting user research in a product development context.
• Proven experience leading research projects and mentoring other researchers.
• Expertise in a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Proficiency with research tools and analytics platforms.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to convey complex findings clearly to diverse audiences.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and potential for equity in a growing company.
• Fully remote position offering exceptional work-life balance and flexibility.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous budget for professional development, including conferences and training.
• A collaborative, innovative, and user-focused company culture.