The Manager of User Research leads a team of researchers to deliver high-quality, actionable insights that improve product outcomes and reduce delivery risk. This role converts product objectives into learning agendas, selects and sequences mixed methods studies, and ensures that ethical standards, privacy, and Research Operations practices are consistently applied. The manager partners closely with Product, Design, and Engineering leaders to set priorities, remove blockers, and translate research findings into clear decisions with measurable impact. The ideal candidate balances hands-on research leadership, people development, and operational excellence in an agile environment.
Position Responsibilities:
- Translate business and product objectives into research roadmaps with clear goals, hypotheses, and success criteria.
- Scope, staff, and schedule studies; manage team workload, priorities, and dependencies across concurrent initiatives.
- Review and elevate study plans, instruments, and analyses; ensure method fit, quality, and reproducibility.
- Ensure rigorous application of mixed methods (e.g., interviews, moderated/unmoderated usability, card/tree tests, diary studies, surveys, ethnography) with appropriate sample strategies.
- Integrate survey data and behavioral data with qualitative insight; drive triangulation and clear recommendations.
- Partner with Research Operations to scale quality research practices in recruiting, incentives, consent, privacy compliance, and accessibility.
- Establish issue logs, risk assessments, and evidence trails that link insights to decisions, design changes, and KPIs.
- Partner with Design, Product, and Engineering to align research to release milestones; communicate progress, risks, and trade‑offs.
- Maintain repository hygiene (tagging, metadata, insight durability); promote re‑use and reduce duplicate research.
- Apply agentic AI responsibly for note‑taking, coding, clustering, and synthesis with human QA and bias checks.
- Set clear expectations, provide coaching and timely feedback, and run effective 1:1s and growth plans.
- Build interviewing/facilitation excellence; conduct calibrations and peer reviews; model inclusive research practices.
- Recruit, onboard, and develop researchers; recognize performance and address gaps early.
- Improve time‑to‑insight, adoption of research‑backed decisions, and reduction in post‑release defects tied to UX.
- Track repository re‑use, study cycle time, and stakeholder satisfaction; share outcomes transparently.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree and 6 years’ experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master's degree and 4 years’ experience; a Ph.D. and 1 year experience in a related field; or 10 years’ experience in a related field
- 1+ year of experience in management or lead role
- 6+ years of applied UX research experience, including 1–2 years mentoring or leading researchers or cross‑functional initiatives
- Proficiency across generative and evaluative methods; working knowledge of survey design and basic statistics
- Experience operating within agile product development; proven ability to influence prioritization and scope
- Strong communication and storytelling skills for cross‑functional and leadership audiences
- Use of general‑purpose LLM tools to analyze and synthesize user behavior, identify patterns, and prioritize opportunities
- Use AI to accelerate discovery, experimentation, development, and recommend improvements throughout the product design process
- Bachelor’s degree in HCI, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Human Factors, or related field; advanced degree preferred
Additional Information:
- May require up to 25% travel for portfolio alignment, fieldwork, and leadership forums
Drug Testing:
To be employed in this role, you'll need to clear a pre-employment drug test. Cox Automotive does not currently administer a pre-employment drug test for marijuana for this position. However, we are a drug-free workplace, so the possession, use or being under the influence of drugs illegal under federal or state law during work hours, on company property and/or in company vehicles is prohibited.
Compensation:
Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $122,600.00 - $204,400.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.
Benefits:
The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company’s needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.
Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship.
EOE, including disability/vets
