Senior UX Researcher (Chicagoland-based Contractor)

Our study pipeline is growing, and we are adding a Chicagoland‑based Senior UX Researcher to guide engagements from plan to readout. Join us on a project basis, lead in‑person work at our Downers Grove lab, and deliver layered reports that land with executives and research teams.

Why this role matters

We partner with product, design, and strategy teams to shape experiences. As a Senior UX Researcher, you’ll lead research that moves work forward, lowers risk, supports successful product launches, and builds trust with clients. Your impact shows up in two places: the decisions our clients make and the experience they have working with us.

What you’ll do

Lead end-to-end research in close partnership with client stakeholders and a cross-functional project team. You will:

• Manage projects and project teams to deliver on those plans while exceeding client expectations at each touchpoint.
• Define inclusion/exclusion criteria and convert them into effective recruitment screeners; manage external recruiters to hit quotas and quality standards.
• Specify research lab requirements and coordinate with external facilities when needed.
• Design and field surveys to complement qualitative work.
• Moderate sessions (remote and in person) and ensure accurate, reliable data capture.
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data and connect findings to clear product and design recommendations.
• Produce layered deliverables: concise executive summaries for C level audiences, decision-ready headlines for product leaders, and detailed evidence and artifacts for research and design teams.
• Present findings clearly, facilitate debriefs, and maintain open, respectful communication throughout the engagement.
• Use Office 365 and Google Workspace to collaborate, document, and deliver with polish.

What you’ll bring

• Depth in behavioral research design and user-centered principles.
• Proven ability to manage the full research lifecycle—from kickoff through readout—while balancing rigor with momentum.
• Skill in turning observations into a compelling narrative with prioritized recommendations.
• Expertise in executing methods across interviews, usability testing, ethnography/fieldwork, concept testing, and survey research.
• Strength in stakeholder management: you set expectations, communicate trade-offs, and keep teams aligned.
• Commitment to hospitality and ethics. Project teams and participants feel respected, and clients feel genuinely cared for.
• Proficiency with Office 365 and Google Workspace.

Experience

• Prior hands-on experience with behavioral research methods (industry or academic) and a track record of translating data into content strategy and clear, actionable recommendations.
• Master’s degree in behavioral research or related field preferred (or equivalent professional experience in UX research, human factors, industrial/cognitive engineering, information architecture, or similar).
• 6+ years in UX research, including 3+ years leading complex studies or project teams.

Requirements

• Available to conduct in-person research at our Downers Grove, IL research lab multiple times per month.
• Must have a current driver’s license and vehicle.