Manager - User Experience Researcher

About Us:

At CompassX, our clients rely on us to lead high-priority strategic initiatives and transformational projects.  Our mission is to create a community of people who come up with innovative approaches and deliver the best outcomes for our clients.

You will have the opportunity to leverage your experience, creativity, and skills to impact your clients and influence the trajectory of our firm to achieve growth for the team and your career.

We are honored to be recognized as a “Best Place to Work” in Southern California and listed as one of INC.’s 5000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.

We are seeking a highly motivated Manager - User Experience Researcher to lead user experience (UX) research efforts for our Business Transformation team. This role will be instrumental in understanding user needs, behaviors, and pain points to inform the design and enhancement of workflows. The User Researcher will collaborate closely with UX designers, business analysts, and program leads to ensure an intuitive and seamless user experience.

What will you do?

The responsibilities for this role will likely cover the 3 main areas of: User Research & Insights, UX & Solution Design, and Client & Project Management.  

User Research & Insights 

- Conduct qualitative and quantitative user research to uncover user needs, behaviors, and pain points related to sourcing and procurement processes.

- Develop user personas, journey maps, and empathy maps to inform design decisions and enhance user-centricity.

Utilize usability testing and feedback loops to validate design concepts and identify areas for improvement.

- Embed UX principles within workstream solution design teams and integrate user insights into broader training and change management strategies.

- Leverage analytics and data-driven insights to measure user satisfaction and inform ongoing UX enhancements.

UX & Solution Design 

- Conduct Current State UX Audits to analyze existing systems and identify pain points.

- Develop pain point reports, themes, and opportunity areas for solution design.

- Create and refine User Personas, Journey Maps, and Service Blueprints to drive UX strategy.

- Design Business Process Flows, Navigation Flows, and Wireframes (both low-fidelity and high-fidelity).

- Ensure alignment of UX strategy with business goals, process improvements, and change management initiatives.

Client and Project Management 

- Conduct comprehensive analyses of client organizations, identifying key issues and opportunities for improvement in business processes, operations, and strategy.

- Develop and implement tailored solutions and strategic plans to address client challenges, improve performance, and drive organizational growth.

- Lead change management initiatives, including assessing organizational readiness, developing change strategies, and managing stakeholder communication to facilitate smooth transitions.

- Collaborate with client leadership and cross-functional teams to gather data, conduct workshops, and present findings and recommendations.

- Monitor project progress, measure outcomes, and adjust strategies as needed to ensure successful implementation and achievement of client objectives.

What do you bring?

• 7+ years of experience in user research, UX design, or human-centered design.
• 5+ years of experience in client-facing consulting engagements (reputable consulting firm on large clients + compelling projects).
• Strong expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys, data analysis).
• Proficiency in UX tools such as Figma, Miro, Axure, or Adobe XD.
• Experience developing user personas, journey maps, wireframes, and service blueprints.
• Ability to synthesize research findings into actionable UX and business process improvement recommendations.
• Strong project management and organizational change skills.
• Familiarity with procurement and sourcing workflows is a plus.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across multidisciplinary teams.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary plus a generous upside variable compensation model
• Annual performance reviews that are straightforward and transparent
• PTO plus holidays plus sick time
• Sabbatical program
• Health, dental, vision, term life, AD&D
• Retirement plan with company matching
• Continuous education investments to grow your skills & knowledge
• Small firm feel and direct relationships with the Executive Leadership Team
• Opportunity to design and build a firm
• Remote working options
• Opportunity to build a professional network in your community