Senior UX Research and Design Manager

About PeopleGrove

We are a rapidly growing SaaS company focused on delivering complex workflow tools to the higher education sector, including solutions for alumni relations management and clinical experiential learning. Our mission is to empower educational institutions with technology that streamlines workflows, fosters meaningful alumni engagement, and supports the growth of clinical programs. Our approach to product discovery, UX, and feature development is heavily influenced by the principles described in Inspired by Marty Cagan, emphasizing cross-functional collaboration and continuous validation. We operate in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with product teams based in the United States and India.

Position Overview

As the Senior UX Research and Design Manager, you will drive user research initiatives that inform and shape the user experience for both existing product enhancements and new product innovations. You will be pivotal in defining and executing the research strategy, synthesizing insights, and creating product designs that are grounded in a deep understanding of our users’ needs and behaviors. You will serve as a strategic partner to Product, Engineering, and Design, guiding research methodologies, championing user-centered design, and mentoring team members on best practices in user discovery.

Key Responsibilities

• Own UX Research Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive UX research strategy to guide product innovation and iterative improvements.
• Contribute to Product Strategy: Collaborate with product managers to prioritize research questions, align on objectives, and inform product roadmaps with user-centric insights.
• Plan and Execute User Research: Plan and conduct user research using a variety of methods (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, surveys, field studies, concept validation) to uncover user behaviors, motivations, and pain points.
• Translate Data into Actionable Insights: Analyze and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights and recommendations.
• Ideate, Prototype, and Test: Partner with UX designers and product teams to ideate, prototype, and test new product experiences and workflow improvements.
• Integrate Research into Discovery and Development: Work closely with product managers in the US and India to ensure research findings are integrated into product discovery and development cycles.
• Create High Fidelity Designs: Create high fidelity designs for product and engineering teams based on insights generated from user and market research.
• Champion a User-Centric Mindset: Champion a user-centric mindset throughout the organization by focusing on continuous discovery, iteration, and user validation.
• Set a New Standard: Mentor and coach product team members on research best practices, ensuring a consistent and effective approach to user discovery.
• Standardize Research Process: Define, refine, and standardize research processes, tools, and documentation to improve efficiency and transparency across teams.
• Drive Continuous Discovery: Introduce and maintain frameworks for continuous discovery, ensuring the product team remains in constant communication with users.
• Measure Impact: Work with product and analytics teams to measure the impact of UX improvements on user engagement, satisfaction, and product adoption.
• Present Findings: Present clear and compelling findings to stakeholders, including executives, that demonstrate how research translates to user and business value.
• Manage Design Team: Manage a design team, overseeing all aspects from hiring and training to guiding day-to-day operations and long-term strategic planning.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Anthropology, Design, or a related field.
• Experience: 7+ years of hands-on UX research experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership role. Proven track record in a SaaS environment, ideally with complex workflow products. Experience in a similar-sized enterprise (e.g., mid-market SaaS business) is highly desirable. Highly Desirable: Experience in the Higher Education EdTech space or with B2B SaaS workflow tools.
• Research Skills: Proficiency in a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into user-centric insights.
• Product Mindset: Comfort working in agile and lean development environments, partnering closely with product managers, designers, and engineers.
• Communication & Leadership: Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills. Ability to influence and persuade key stakeholders, from executive leadership to engineering teams. Experience mentoring or managing research teams or cross-functional pods.
• Culture & Values: Highly collaborative and user-focused. Passion for higher education and improving the experiences of students, alumni, and administrators.

Why Join PeopleGrove?

Impactful Work: Shape the UX of products used by Higher Education Institutions across the United States helping them train the next generation of high impact graduates in fields like Nursing, Allied Health, Engineering, and Social work.

Growth Opportunities: Lead a multi-regional design team, defining best practices for UX research and discovery while mentoring others in research methodologies.

Remote Flexibility: Work from anywhere in the US, with periodic travel as needed for team offsites or user research sessions.

Innovative Environment: Join a company committed to product excellence, cross-functional collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Collaborative Culture: Work alongside passionate professionals who value empathy, innovation, and user-centric design.