Manager, User Experience (UX) Research

onX•Missoula, MT

9h•$153,000 - $180,000•Remote

About The Position

As a pioneer in digital outdoor navigation with a suite of apps, onX was founded in Montana, which in turn has inspired our mission to awaken the adventurer inside everyone. With more than 400 employees located around the country working in largely remote / hybrid roles, we have created regional “Basecamps” to help remote employees find connection and inspiration with other onXers. We bring our outdoor passion to work every day, coupling it with industry-leading technology to craft dynamic outdoor experiences. Through multiple years of growth, we haven’t lost our entrepreneurial ethos at onX. We offer a fast-paced, growing, tech-forward environment where ownership, accountability, and passion for winning as a team are essential. We value diversity and believe it leads to different perspectives and inspires both new adventures and new growth. As a team, we’re hungry to improve, value innovation, and believe great ideas come from any direction. onX is seeking a Manager, User Experience (UX) Research to help lead and evolve a growing research practice within a multi-product ecosystem. UX Research at onX is continuing to mature. As research becomes more distributed across Product and Design, we’re looking for a leader who can clarify where research should remain centralized, where it can be responsibly enabled, and how quality, ethics, and trust are maintained as the practice scales. In this role, you will lead and develop a team of UX Researchers while helping define research standards, guardrails, and operating models that support a growing organization. You will explore thoughtful ways to integrate AI into research workflows to improve efficiency without compromising rigor. A key part of the role is supporting non-researchers in conducting appropriate evaluative research, ensuring that democratization does not come at the expense of quality. You will also work to strengthen how user insights inform product strategy, prioritization, and business decisions across the company. You will partner closely with Product Management, Design, Engineering, Data, and Marketing to support confident, evidence-informed decision-making throughout onX. This role reports to the Head of UX Design & Research.

Requirements

Eight (8) or more years of experience conducting primary user research across the product lifecycle.
Two (2) or more years of experience directly managing and developing UX Researchers.
Experience building or maturing a UX Research function within a growing organization.
Strong command of qualitative and mixed methods, with sound judgment about when to apply each.
Demonstrated ability to connect research insights to product direction and business outcomes.
Experience designing research enablement systems for non-researchers.
Clear perspective on maintaining research quality in democratized environments.
Experience incorporating AI into research workflows thoughtfully and practically.
Comfort working in evolving environments with some ambiguity.
Strong communication skills and the ability to influence without formal authority.
A shared passion for and ability to demonstrate onX’s Company Values
Permanent US work authorization is a condition of employment with onX.
This role requires submission of a portfolio or case studies that clearly demonstrate how research insights translated into measurable business outcomes.
Must be available for travel to a corporate office in Montana quarterly.

Nice To Haves

Experience in mobile-first and/or real-world, field-based environments is preferred.
Experience building research operations (participant recruitment systems, tooling, vendor management).
Experience in defining research quality standards in distributed organizations.
Experience leading research in low- or no-connectivity environments.
Experience developing measurement frameworks (e.g., usability benchmarks, NPS integration).
Experience coaching PMs and Designers in evaluative research practices.

Responsibilities

Help define and evolve the UX Research strategy across onX’s product ecosystem, ensuring research is embedded throughout product development and informs meaningful product and business decisions.
Translate complex customer and product questions (e.g., trust, safety, usability, reliability, offline performance) into clear research approaches and communicate insights, trade-offs, and implications to stakeholders.
Design and refine a scalable research operating model, including standards, guardrails, and quality expectations.
Clarify which research should be led by UX Researchers and which can be enabled across Product and Design, providing toolkits, training, and coaching to support responsible research practices.
Incorporate AI into research workflows where appropriate to improve efficiency while maintaining methodological rigor and sound judgment.
Lead, coach, and develop a team of UX Researchers, maintaining a strong bar for craft, judgment, and real-world relevance.
Contribute to hiring, resourcing, and performance management decisions aligned to business needs.
Step into complex or high-impact research initiatives when needed, modeling strong research practice and ethical standards.
Partner closely with Product, Design, Engineering, Data, and senior stakeholders to strengthen trust in research and reduce friction caused by inconsistent research practices.

Benefits

Competitive salaries, annual bonuses, equity, and opportunities for growth
Comprehensive health benefits including a no-monthly-cost medical plan
Parental leave plan of 5 or 13 weeks fully paid
401k matching at 100% for the first 3% you save and 50% from 3-5%
Company-wide outdoor adventures and amazing outdoor industry perks
Annual “Get Out, Get Active” funds to fuel your active lifestyle in and outside of the gym
Flexible time away package that includes PTO, STO, VTO, quiet weeks, and floating holidays

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