UX Research Manager

Job Description

What You'll Do:

• Team Leadership: Manage, mentor, and support a small team of UX researchers. Encourage growth through regular feedback, skill-building opportunities, and fostering a collaborative team environment.

• Research Strategy: Develop and execute a strategic UX research plan in line with product and business goals. Prioritize research efforts, aligning team capacity with project needs.

• Research Execution: Oversee and occasionally conduct user research, including but not limited to usability testing, user interviews, ethnographic studies, and surveys. Ensure that research methodologies align with project goals and yield valuable insights.

• Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner closely with product managers, designers, and other cross-functional stakeholders to translate business objectives into research needs and ensure findings inform product development.

• Research Advocacy: Reinforce the strategic, financial, and time-saving implications of research through share-outs, trainings, etc.

• Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement best practices, tools, and processes to elevate the research team’s impact and efficiency.

• Administrate Testing Tools: Manage the contract and relationship with Usertesting.com, administer users, perform quarterly audits, expand toolset when necessary.

• Manage Research Repository: Work with your team to ensure that insights are added to our research repository so UXers and partners can have access.

• Measuring and Socializing Impact: Establishing and reporting on KPIs around UX and UXR and the business value it enables.

What You'll Bring (Hiring Requirements):

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Anthropology, or a related field.

• 8+ years of experience in UX research (In lieu of degree, 10+ years of experience), with at least 2 years in a managerial or team lead role.

• Proven expertise in the full spectrum of research methodologies, including qualitative/quantitative, in-person/remote, moderated/unmoderated. This would include generative, competitive, evaluative, concept testing, usability, etc.

• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to distill complex findings into clear, actionable insights.

• Experience in leading small, agile teams, and a track record of fostering a collaborative and motivating environment.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to balance multiple projects and priorities.

• Strong acumen and skilled at bridging the gap between business and IT.

The Ideal Candidate Will Be:

• Experienced and Skilled: A seasoned practitioner with hands-on expertise in user experience research.

• Pragmatic and Strategic: Able to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment, focusing on what delivers the most business value.

• A Mentor and Collaborator: Someone who can guide and upskill UX researchers while also supporting and educating cross-functional partners, including product and content designers, product managers, and executive leaders.

• Approachable and Collaborative: Brings expertise with humility, fostering a supportive environment that encourages growth and collaboration without ego. Builds others up and promotes team success.

• Constructive and Persuasive: Capable of delivering guidance and feedback—even when challenging—while maintaining positive relationships and building trust.

• Calm and Influential: Communicates with confidence and clarity, leveraging insights and evidence to inspire action and drive alignment without being confrontational or inflexible.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with research in health insurance, healthcare, insurance, or financial services.

• Familiarity with UX and research tools such as UserZoom/UserTesting, Figma, etc.

• Knowledge of design thinking principles and experience working closely with UX design teams.

Salary Range

At Blue Cross NC, we take great pride in a fair and equitable compensation package that reflects market-price and our starting salaries are typically planned near the middle of the range listed. Compensation decisions are driven by factors including experience and training, specialized skill sets,  licensure and certifications and other business and organizational needs. Our base salary is part of a robust Total Rewards package that includes an Annual Incentive Bonus*, 401(k) with employer match, Paid Time Off (PTO), and competitive health benefits and wellness programs. 

*Based on annual corporate goal achievement and individual performance.