Lead UX Researcher

Wikimedia Foundation

Lead mixed-methods UX research for Wikimedia’s Wikipedia and free-knowledge products. Inform audience-growth strategy through studies spanning users, search engines, AI chatbots, and emerging platforms.

Posted 8/6/2026full-timeRemote • Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $131,939 - $204,803 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates extensive experience in leading qualitative and quantitative UX research, with a strong ability to translate insights into actionable recommendations for product teams. Proven expertise in mentoring and collaborating with diverse, multidisciplinary teams while evolving best practices in UX research.

Highest-signal resume keywords

6+ Years UX Research ExperienceQualitative Research MethodsQuantitative Research End-to-EndMaster's or PhD in Relevant FieldExcellent Communication Skills

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

Qualitative ResearchQuantitative ResearchExperimental DesignStatistical AnalysisUser InterviewsContextual InquiryDiary StudiesSurveysLarge-Scale TestingUX Benchmarking

Soft Skills

Communication SkillsMentoringCollaborationCultural SensitivityAdaptability

Industry Keywords

Human-Computer InteractionCognitive ScienceBehavioral EconomicsLinguisticsPsychologyAnthropologyWikimedia ProjectsGlobal ResearchMultidisciplinary TeamsSynchronous Communication

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead qualitative and quantitative UX research studies informing product teams
Identify, define, and secure buy-in for strategic research projects
Communicate research findings and recommendations to stakeholders
Partner strategically with cross-functional leads and support adoption of human-centered recommendations
Inform planning and strategy through analysis and synthesis of user, product, service, and organizational needs
Evolve UX research best practices and improve team processes
Mentor junior individual contributors and guide contractors
Document and communicate research processes and results publicly with the Wikimedia community
Conduct foundational and evaluative research for the “Increase our Reach” focus area
Research users beyond Wikipedia, perceptions of Wikipedia results across search engines and AI chatbots, content attribution designs, and future audience experiments

Requirements

What you’ll need

6 or more years of experience conducting UX research within a product organization
Proven track record leading impactful research projects in fast-paced environments and driving organizational outcomes
Deep expertise in qualitative methods, including interviews, contextual inquiry, and diary studies
Ability to conduct quantitative research end-to-end, including surveys, large-scale unmoderated testing, large-scale diary studies, or quantitative UX benchmarking
Expertise with experimental design and statistical analysis
Ability to translate research insights into actionable recommendations with product teams
Master's or PhD degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Statistics, Behavioral Economics, Linguistics, Psychology, Anthropology, or a related field
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and asynchronous communication
Ability to work across diverse, multicultural, and multidisciplinary teams and communities
Fluency in languages beyond English is a plus
Experience contributing to Wikimedia projects is a plus
Experience conducting research with global reach is a plus
Experience working with international vendors, contractors, volunteer communities, and projects is a plus
Availability for critical meetings and synchronous work from 15:00 to 19:00 UTC
Openness to traveling up to four times per year
Non-US employees must have current work authorization in their location

Benefits

Comp & perks

Remote-first organization
Ability to work remotely
Salary adjusted to country of hire for applicants outside the US
Individualized pay based on cost of living, skills, experience, and location
Employer of Record hiring for non-US employees
Equal opportunity and inclusive workplace
Assistance or accommodation during the application process for qualified applicants with disabilities