Experience Researcher – Qualitative Consumer Research

Experience Researcher – Qualitative Consumer Research

Location: Plano, TX – Hybrid
Employment Type: Contract

Position Overview

We are seeking experienced Qualitative Experience Researchers to lead consumer research efforts that inform and shape experiences across channels. This role is focused specifically on qualitative consumer research, with an emphasis on generative, exploratory, and strategic research rather than design or traditional digital usability testing.

The ideal candidate has experience conducting research that explores consumer needs, behaviors, motivations, challenges, and aspirations—often before prototypes, wireframes, or digital experiences have been developed. Candidates with research agency, consumer insights, or consulting backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end qualitative consumer and experience research, including research planning, methodology development, participant interviews, moderation, analysis, synthesis, and reporting.

• Conduct generative and exploratory research to uncover consumer needs, behaviors, motivations, challenges, aspirations, and ideal experiences.

• Design and facilitate moderated research using methodologies such as ethnography, contextual inquiry, co-creation, collaging, participatory interviews, priming exercises, concept exploration, and semi-structured discussions.

• Partner with stakeholders to define research objectives, align on business questions, and determine the appropriate research methodology.

• Analyze qualitative research data to identify patterns, themes, relationships, nuances, and meaningful insights.

• Translate complex research findings into clear, actionable recommendations that inform customer and business experience decisions.

• Create compelling research deliverables using strong written communication, storytelling, insight translation, and data visualization.

• Lead research debriefs and presentations with cross-functional stakeholders and provide an informed research point of view.

• Connect findings across research initiatives and leverage previous insights to inform new questions and opportunities.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create a shared understanding of consumer needs, business challenges, and potential solutions.

• Review unmoderated research and usability studies prior to launch as needed.

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of professional qualitative consumer, experience, or insights research experience.

• Demonstrated experience leading moderated generative, exploratory, and strategic research.

• Experience conducting research beyond digital usability testing and prototype evaluation.

• Strong knowledge of qualitative methodologies, including ethnography, contextual inquiry, co-creation, collaging, concept exploration, participatory research, and semi-structured interviewing.

• Demonstrated ability to synthesize broad qualitative conversations into pattern-based findings and actionable insights.

• Strong experience with insight translation, research storytelling, and data visualization.

• Ability to communicate complex research findings clearly to stakeholders at multiple levels, including senior and executive leaders.

• Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills with experience working across multidisciplinary teams.

• Ability to manage multiple research initiatives in a fast-paced environment while maintaining research rigor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience working within a research, insights, strategy, or consumer research agency/consultancy.

• Experience conducting Ideal Experience Research or similar future-state/generative research.

• Consumer research experience within industries such as consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, healthcare, financial services, or other consumer-focused environments.

• Experience translating qualitative research into visually compelling presentations and strategic recommendations.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, UX Research, Cognitive Science, Behavioral Science, Market Research, or a related field.

OR

Four additional years of relevant professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Technology

• FigJam

• Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint and Excel

• Maze