Lead User Researcher

Summary

Join Upwork, the world’s largest work marketplace, as a Lead UX Researcher to drive impactful insights shaping our platform's connection between clients and talent. Lead large-scale research efforts informing strategic product decisions and enhancing user experience for millions. Collaborate with Product, Design, Data Science, and Marketing teams to ensure user understanding underpins product development. Revolutionize search technology at Upwork and significantly impact our platform and users. This role involves leading cross-functional research initiatives, identifying research opportunities, designing and executing mixed-method research, translating findings into actionable insights, serving as the voice of the customer, presenting insights to teams and leadership, and mentoring junior researchers. Upwork offers a remote-first work environment and comprehensive benefits.

Requirements

• 8+ years of hands-on experience conducting UX research in a fast-paced product or technology environment, with demonstrated leadership on strategic projects
• Expertise across qualitative and quantitative methods, with a strong ability to match the right approach to the right problem
• Proven strength in synthesizing complex data into clear insights that guide product and design decisions
• Excellent communication skills and experience delivering presentations that drive action across cross-functional teams
• Experience producing foundational research artifacts like personas, journey maps, or ecosystem diagrams that support long-term product vision

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional research initiatives that shape the product strategy and user experience across critical journeys on the platform
• Identify research opportunities in collaboration with stakeholders from Product, Design, Data Science, and Marketing, aligning work to key business goals
• Design and execute mixed-method research using qualitative and quantitative approaches, including usability testing, interviews, and surveys
• Translate research findings into clear, actionable insights that influence product roadmaps, backed by compelling narratives and visual storytelling
• Serve as the voice of the customer across the product development lifecycle—from discovery through delivery and iteration
• Present insights to teams and leadership in ways that inspire decisions and foster alignment
• Mentor and support the development of junior researchers; help scale best practices across the research function

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical coverage for you and your family
• Unlimited PTO
• A 401(k) plan with matching
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• An Employee Stock Purchase Plan