Principal Researcher, Product Advisory Councils

To get the best candidate experience, please consider applying for a maximum of 3 roles within 12 months to ensure you are not duplicating efforts.Job CategoryUser ExperienceJob DetailsAbout SalesforceSalesforce is the #1 AI CRM, where humans with agents drive customer success together. Here, ambition meets action. Tech meets trust. And innovation isn’t a buzzword — it’s a way of life. The world of work as we know it is changing and we're looking for Trailblazers who are passionate about bettering business and the world through AI, driving innovation, and keeping Salesforce's core values at the heart of it all.Ready to level-up your career at the company leading workforce transformation in the agentic era? You’re in the right place! Agentforce is the future of AI, and you are the future of Salesforce.Research & Insights (R&I) is a strategic pillar within the broader Experience Design organization, which has a clear focus: defining what Salesforce experiences should be.R&I focuses on unearthing and prioritizing customer truth, and working with our partners to shape experiences people can understand, trust, and love. We pair research and data-driven insights with subject matter opinionation, and leverage AI and emerging technology to ensure the voice of the customer exists across our full product lifecycle. We balance big-picture thinking with detailed craft, collaborating along the way with product managers, designers, engineers, content writers, marketers, sales, strategy and operations.We're looking for a Principal Researcher to join our Research & Insights team, leading end-to-end product and design innovation research with our executive Product Advisory Council (PAC) program. PACs are typically day-long workshop-style events. They operate as insight engines that translate the voice of the customer directly into product and experience strategy, roadmap planning, and go to market motions.PAC researchers wear many hats. You’ll drive PAC strategy (which PACs, when, and how), PAC facilitation, content development in partnership with product and design, and insight development, alongside product-specific research partners.You bring a deep understanding of how executives think and engage, to reveal where their organizations and industries are headed and how our products need to evolve. You’ll partner closely with cross-functional teams and operations to deliver the best possible experience for customers.Responsibilities:Craft the multi-year strategy for the PAC program: Proactively architect how we engage executives in the agentic era, identifying necessary pivots from past models to drive forward-looking innovation across our portfolio.Triangulate PAC insights: Act as the primary connective tissue between executive foresight and our overarching product intelligence, combining PAC sessions with other strategic research initiatives.Develop executive content: Create workshop activities that will fuel customer insights and help us understand where specific industries and markets are headed 3+ years out.Facilitate executive sessions: Partner with product and research teams across multiple verticals to lead sessions (primarily in-person, some virtual).Scale the PAC ecosystem leveraging AI and emerging tech: Design self-service models, asynchronous feedback loops, and AI-driven insight distribution systems to scale the program's reach beyond traditional in-person events.Architect the 'Closed-Loop' Strategy: Define and execute a systematic process for reporting back to our executive members, clearly demonstrating how their time and insights have directly shaped our product roadmaps, investments, and business outcomes.Craft our cohorts: Partner closely with Salesforce executives to identify key customers to join and retain as part of our PAC cohorts.Define and measure program success: Evaluate the strategic effectiveness and ROI for program efforts; revise and adjust course where necessary.Mentor junior team members: Support research & insights initiatives and elevate the practice across the organization.Required Experience and Skills10+ years of relevant work experience in research, product strategy, design strategy, or executive engagement.Ability to work confidently and creatively on ambiguous problems.AI-driven Operations: Proven experience implementing AI and emerging technologies to scale operations, accelerate synthesis, and create innovative feedback channels.Experience designing and managing closed-loop customer feedback programs, particularly at the C-suite or Enterprise level.Proven track record of influencing cross-functional leaders (Product, Design, GTM) to translate qualitative insights into measurable business outcomes and product strategy.Willingness to travel upwards of 25% of the time across North America and/or Europe to lead in-person PAC sessions.Exceptional knowledge and experience in conducting research (qualitative and quantitative) in user experience, product design, or technology contexts.Ability to use data visualization tools to present research findings in a clear and actionable format.Excellent project management, communication, and presentation skills.B.A./B.S., M.A./M.S. or Ph.D. in a research- or business-focused discipline or in a field emphasizing human behavior (e.g., Psychology, Anthropology, HCI, Business, Research Methodology, Experimental Design, Design Research).Preferred: Previous research experience in enterprise SaaS and/or technology.In office expectations are 36 days/a quarter to support customers and/or collaborate with their teams.Unleash Your PotentialWhen you join Salesforce, you’ll be limitless in all areas of your life. Our benefits and resources support you to find balance and be your best, and our AI agents accelerate your impact so you can do your best. Together, we’ll bring the power of Agentforce to organizations of all sizes and deliver amazing experiences that customers love. Apply today to not only shape the future — but to redefine what’s possible — for yourself, for AI, and the world.AccommodationsIf you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request via this Accommodations Request Form.Please note that Salesforce uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help our recruiters assess and evaluate candidates’ resumes and qualifications throughout the recruiting process. Humans will always make any candidate selection and hiring decisions. Please see our Candidate Privacy Statement for more information about how we use your personal data and your rights, including with regard to use of AI tools and opt out options.Posting StatementSalesforce is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non-discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. What does that mean exactly? It means that at Salesforce, we believe in equality for all. And we believe we can lead the path to equality in part by creating a workplace that’s inclusive, and free from discrimination. Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal. Any employee or potential employee will be assessed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications – without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran or marital status, political viewpoint, or other classifications protected by law. This policy applies to current and prospective employees, no matter where they are in their Salesforce employment journey. It also applies to recruiting, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, assessment of job performance, discipline, termination, and everything in between. Recruiting, hiring, and promotion decisions at Salesforce are fair and based on merit. The same goes for compensation, benefits, promotions, transfers, reduction in workforce, recall, training, and education.In the United States, compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, job level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, and benefits. Salesforce offers a variety of benefits to help you live well including: time off programs, medical, dental, vision, mental health support, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and an employee stock purchasing program. More details about company benefits can be found at the following link: to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, Salesforce will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.At Salesforce, we believe in equitable compensation practices that reflect the dynamic nature of labor markets across various regions. The typical base salary range for this position is $197,300 - $313,700 annually. In select cities within the San Francisco and New York City metropolitan area, the base salary range for this role is $237,700 - $344,700 annually. The range represents base salary only, and does not include company bonus, incentive for sales roles, equity or benefits, as applicable.SummaryLocation: California - San Francisco; Washington - Seattle; Illinois - ChicagoType: Full time