Lead UX Researcher

Lead UX Researcher Role Summary: About the UX Team Come and join the Tax UX Research Team as we work to transform Thomson Reuters into a truly Digital company. We are not just changing the way customers engage with us — we are transforming and re‑imagining our business by focusing on the individual user. We are looking for curious, smart, self‑driven UX professionals who love the challenge of turning complex problems and constraints into elegant solutions that meet our users' needs. Our team promotes an agile, collaborative, supportive environment where diverse thinking, innovative design, and experimentation is welcomed and encouraged. Our work focuses on a large portfolio of transformational efforts as we work together to deliver on the promise of making it easy to do business with Thomson Reuters. About the Role In this Lead position, you will drive the end‑to‑end UX research practice for a complex, high‑impact product portfolio. You will be expected to lead both strategic generative research and evaluative studies, shaping how the team uncovers and acts on deep user insights. As a Lead, you will go beyond execution — you will form key partnerships with product, engineering, and design to surface deeply impactful research opportunities, advocate for user‑centered decisions in product roadmaps, and provide strategic and thought leadership on UX research practices and methods. You will support less experienced researchers on the team through coaching, peer review, and by continuously raising the bar for research quality and influence. About You You are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the end‑to‑end product development process, with a special emphasis on demonstrating the business impact of UX research and insights. You think beyond the click and ask: Why would anyone want to push this button in the first place? You are an experienced leader who has worked side by side with Product, Design, and Engineering leaders to solve the right problems at scale. Can write about research findings in a way that does not require voice‑over — clear, compelling, and self‑contained. Can sketch in a collaborative way to illustrate a flow or make a point. Research Methods Expertise Qualitative analysis and reporting; interviewing and group facilitation techniques. Contextual inquiries, remote usability testing, parallel prototyping, persona development. Un‑moderated feedback tools (e.g., UserZoom). Ability to triangulate data from many sources. Other user‑centered design methods to develop user insights. Deep knowledge and practical experience structuring user needs through fundamental UX frameworks such as Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) and Customer Experience Outcomes (CXOs). Use these frameworks not just to describe user behavior, but to connect research insights directly to business and product decisions. Can keep pace with agile testing while maintaining the strategic perspective needed to give design teams long‑term goals for hitting user objectives. Influence decisions and next steps with product and design partners, are comfortable navigating trade‑offs, and advocate for user‑centered outcomes in roadmap prioritization. AI & Research Acceleration Experience building, using, or experimenting with AI tools (e.g., Claude and other AI platforms). Practical experience applying AI to accelerate research. Experience building prototypes with AI tools that pull directly from a body of insights to illustrate recommendations. A mindset focused on responsible, thoughtful adoption of AI to raise the efficiency and impact of UX research. Lead Expectations in an Embedded Model Proactive and self‑directed – identifies opportunities and acts without waiting for direction. Provides strategic and thought leadership on UX research practices, methods, and the team's overall research approach. Partners with other customer insight functions, including Product Marketing and Customer Experience teams, to create a more holistic research roadmap and triangulate data. Takes initiative to shape research strategy, not just execute studies. Forms key partnerships with product, engineering, and design to unearth deeply impactful research opportunities. Advocates for user‑centered decisions in roadmaps and influences next steps with product and design partners. Navigates trade‑offs thoughtfully and helps teams make informed, user‑grounded decisions under constraints. Supports less experienced UX researchers through coaching, peer review, and mentorship. Continuously raises the bar for what a Lead‑level research looks like in quality, influence, and outcomes. Is a strong team player who collaborates naturally while operating autonomously and owning results end to end. Responsibilities Own the full research lifecycle – from intake and scoping through execution to demonstrating measurable business impact. Quickly synthesize business objectives and customer needs to define the right research scope. Develop a UX research approach, schedule, and detailed test plan. Plan and partner with Research Ops on recruiting strategies, scripting, facilitation, data collection, analysis, and documentation. Lead strategic generative research to identify unmet user needs and long‑horizon product opportunities. Identify and articulate user needs first, and then potential usability issues, both verbally and through documentation. Transform data into prioritized, actionable recommendations within a short turnaround time. Influence product and design decisions – not just report findings but drive next steps. Clearly communicate qualitative analysis, recommendations, and potential design solutions. Create persuasive presentations for product owners, developers, visual designers, other UX team members, and C‑level executives. Facilitate internal meetings to triage and manage research findings. Demonstrate the business impact of research through clear before/after framing, behavioral outcomes, or measurable product changes. Previous experience with design or research projects involving complex workflows, visualization of large datasets, operating system‑level tools, and both web and software environments is a plus. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor's degree in a Social Science, or Master's degree in Social Sciences, Interaction Design, Human Factors, Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Science, or a related field. 8+ years of experience applying research to high‑volume, interactive B2B and B2C applications, rich web‑based applications, or websites. Strong analytical problem‑solving, decision‑making, and leadership skills. In‑depth understanding of user‑centered design principles and tools. Familiarity with SharePoint and project management tools such as Jira. Familiarity performing studies in a virtual lab environment. Familiarity with data‑logging tools and systems such as Tableau, Qualtrics, Adobe Analytics, or other BI analytic programs. What's in it For You? Hybrid Work Model: A flexible hybrid working environment (2–3 days a week in the office depending on the role) for our office‑based roles while delivering a seamless experience that is digitally and physically connected. Flexibility & Work‑Life Balance: Flex My Way policies designed to help manage personal and professional responsibilities, including caring for family, giving back to the community, or finding time to refresh and reset. This builds upon flexible work arrangements, including work from anywhere for up to 8 weeks per year. Career Development and Growth: A culture of continuous learning and skill development, with Grow My Way programming and a skills‑first approach to grow, lead, and thrive in an AI‑enabled future. Industry Competitive Benefits: Comprehensive benefit plans that include flexible vacation, two company‑wide mental health days off, access to the Headspace app, retirement savings, tuition reimbursement, employee incentive programs, and resources for mental, physical, and financial wellbeing. Culture: A globally recognized, award‑winning reputation for inclusion and belonging, flexibility, work‑life balance, and more. We live by our values: Obsess over our Customers, Compete to Win, Challenge your Thinking, Act Fast / Learn Fast, and Stronger Together. Social Impact: Make an impact in your community with our Social Impact Institute. Two paid volunteer days off annually and opportunities to get involved with pro‑bono consulting projects and ESG initiatives. Making a Real‑World Impact: We help our customers pursue justice, truth, and transparency, and uphold the rule of law, turning the wheels of commerce, catching bad actors, and providing trusted, unbiased information worldwide. Compensation: Base pay ranges vary by location. Eligible US locations: New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Irvine, CA; McLean, VA; Washington, DC. Base compensation range $146,800 USD – $272,600 USD (locally) or for most US locations $127,400 USD – $236,600 USD. For Ontario, Canada: $132,800 CAD – $182,800 CAD. Roles may also qualify for an annual bonus based on enterprise and individual performance. Thomson Reuters is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer providing a drug‑free workplace. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. #J-18808-Ljbffr