Staff User Experience Researcher,… at Khan Academy · Mountain…

Summary: Khan Academy is a nonprofit dedicated to providing a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere. The Staff UX Researcher will lead the 'People Who Do Research' program, empowering the Design team to conduct their own research while ensuring methodological rigor and strategic oversight. This role involves developing AI-enhanced research operations and serving as a consultant to product teams navigating the complexities of U.S. school districts. Responsibilities: - Refine and scale our 'People Who Do Research' program - Empower designers and product triads to conduct high-quality tactical UXR research (both qual and quant) by providing the playbooks, training, and mentorship necessary to maintain rigorous standards across the team - Design, propose, and manage a research tech stack (including Dovetail) powered by responsible AI - Implement automated workflows for recruiting, synthesis, and insight distribution - Serve as the UXR 'Human-in-the-Loop' authority to ensure AI-generated outputs are grounded, ethical, and accurate - Act as the Design Leadership Team’s expert on customer and user profiles, end-to-end user journeys, and forward-looking research - Synthesize insights that span multiple product surface areas to identify 'connective tissue,' strategic gaps, and opportunities that go beyond the scope of individual embedded researchers or designers on product teams - Guide teams on the selection of lean vs. rigorous methodologies - Lead or co-facilitate complex mixed-method studies when business needs require, providing the foundational frameworks (blueprints, journey maps) that keep teams aligned with the 'big picture.' - Support the design team with on-site research in schools, providing guidance and ethical scaffolding, and ensuring legal compliance Required Qualifications: - 12+ years of UX research experience in complex enterprise software or SaaS environments - Proven experience in mentorship, coaching, or building 'Research Ops' programs - Deep technical curiosity regarding GenAI and LLMs, with a practical understanding of their limitations - A track record of building scalable systems, templates, and workflows that have successfully improved the velocity and quality of a design organization - A sophisticated understanding of the product development lifecycle (PDLC) and software development lifecycle (SDLC) - Exceptional communication skills and 'executive presence.' - Motivated by the Khan Academy mission 'to provide a free world-class education for anyone, anywhere.' - Proven cross-cultural competency skills demonstrating self-awareness, awareness of other, and the ability to adopt inclusive perspectives, attitudes, and behaviors to drive inclusion and belonging throughout the organization Preferred Qualifications: - Introspective, mature, low-ego, and emotionally intelligent - Growth mindset, willingness to learn and to teach others - Proactively seek out the people and info you need to move work forward and unblock yourself - High comfort level working within a strong top-down product vision led by our CEO, Sal Khan - Able to balance the immediate tactical needs of helping deliver and ship features with scouting ahead for what's next - Comfortable with ever-shifting priorities and ambiguous situations, like you'd experience in a startup - Willing to roll your sleeves up and pitch in when a project goes off-script - Excited about education and engaging learning experiences, deeply curious about how and why people learn Required Skills: User Experience Research, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, Research Operations, Responsible AI, Generative AI, Large Language Models, Research Methodology, Operational Architecture, Design Lifecycle, Product Development Lifecycle, Software Development Lifecycle, Coaching, Cross-cultural competency Benefits: Competitive salaries, Ample paid time off as needed – Your well-being is a priority, 8 pre-scheduled Wellness Days in 2026 occurring on a Monday or a Friday for a 3-day weekend boost, Remote-first culture - that caters to your time zone, with open flexibility as needed, at times, Generous parental leave, An exceptional team that trusts you and gives you the freedom to do your best, The chance to put your talents towards a deeply meaningful mission and the opportunity to work on high-impact products that are already defining the future of education, Opportunities to connect through affinity, ally, and social groups, 401(k) + 4% matching & comprehensive insurance, including medical, dental, vision, and life