UX Researcher - AVP

We're seeking someone to join our team as a UX Researcher - AVP.

Wealth Management (WM) Platforms manages industry-leading platforms, across all WM channels and client segments, to provide a unified digital experience, unlock growth, and deliver efficiencies for Advisors, Clients, and Institutions. WM Platforms consists of ten sub-teams including: Field Experience & Platforms, Digital Client Experience & Platforms, Workplace Platforms, Automation & Workflow, Digital Trading & Investing, Generative AI, UX Design & Research, Strategy & Execution, WM Platforms Risk, and the Chief Operating Office.

Are you a senior UX Researcher who wants to lead high-impact projects, work with cross-functional teams, conduct moderated and unmoderated studies, and mentor other team members? Our growing team is looking for an expert in the practice of user research to be an influential voice in the future of our discipline while inspiring change, delivering written and oral presentations, evaluating qualitative and quantitative insights, and being an advocate for a more intuitive, seamless user experience.

The Morgan Stanley Wealth Management UX team builds digital experiences that help our clients manage their finances and monitor their investments easily. Our team of designers and researchers bring an entrepreneurial spirit to a leading global financial firm.
We employ design thinking methods and a user-centered approach to solve real business problems. If you can bring clarity to complexity, discover compelling user insights, and have gone the extra mile to create delight, we want you!

Since 1935, Morgan Stanley is known as a global leader in financial services, always evolving and innovating to better serve our clients and our communities in more than 40 countries around the world.

What you'll do in the role:

• Manage both large and small research initiatives collaboratively with your peers in UX Design, Product Management, Technology, Data and Analytics, and more.
• Define research questions and goals, conduct appropriate studies, analyze the findings, and communicate results with clear and compelling presentations.
• Evangelize design thinking, including conducting workshops, helping develop user journeys, and asking the right questions to ensure teams are putting users at the center.
• Plan, design, and conduct both quantitative and qualitative user research studies (i.e., write moderator's guides, conduct in-depth interviews, design surveys, moderated and unmoderated sessions, etc.).
• Identify, track, and share overarching research trends.
• Make recommendations on research best practices from previous professional and educational experiences.
• Be willing to take on any task or responsibility, big or small, that furthers the growth of the team.
• Mentor more junior researchers throughout the research process.
• Help to adapt and innovate research practices to meet a rapidly growing team's need.
• Help to identify opportunities for impactful UX research across the firm.
• Facilitate UX workshops with cross-functional teams.
• Help promote a data-driven culture that prioritizes user insights and combats assumptions.
• Thrive in a work culture that is full of collaboration, teamwork, inclusiveness, and warmth.

• Some years UX research experience.
• Willingness to run studies from end-to-end (you'll be responsible for every single step, from recruiting participants to sharing insights).
• Experience implementing a range of methodologies, both qualitative (e.g., moderated, unmoderated etc,.) and quantitative (e.g., A/B or multivariate testing, card sorting, survey design etc,.)
• Experience leading and mentoring junior team members.
• An interest in working with both enterprise and consumer technology.
• A persuasive and compelling presentation style and being able to clearly communicate research insights.
• The ability to adapt, pivot, and roll with the punches.
• Preferably M.A./M.S. or PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Psychology, Anthropology, or related fields
• Familiarity with tools like Figma, UserZoom, UserTesting, Optimal Workshop, and Enjoy HQ preferred.
• Experience in financial services, or a large corporate environment preferred.