Lead UX Researcher & Strategist

We are seeking an experienced Lead UX Researcher & Strategist to drive high-impact research that shapes product direction, informs roadmaps, and influences business decisions across multiple teams. This role leads complex, foundational, and generative research initiatives, owning discovery end-to-end and ensuring customer insight is deeply embedded in how products and experiences are defined, prioritized, and delivered in alignment with enterprise and brand priorities.

As a Lead UX Researcher & Strategist, you will operate with a high degree of autonomy and influence. You will set research direction for large initiatives, partner closely with senior stakeholders, and translate customer insights into clear recommendations that guide decision-making at both the team and portfolio level. You will integrate and triangulate insights across research, analytics, experimentation, and other customer data sources to create a holistic view of the customer experience. You will also help strengthen the overall UX research practice through mentorship, standards, and improved insight activation., Research Leadership & Ownership

• Lead end-to-end UX research for initiatives spanning multiple product teams and complex problem spaces.
• Identify where generative and foundational research is needed to inform product strategy, experience direction, and roadmap decisions.
• Independently scope, design, and execute research plans aligned to business goals, operating with minimal oversight.
• Apply deep research rigor, strategic thinking, and business context to guide experience and product decisions.
• Anticipate research needs proactively and influence partners toward discovery-led approaches.

Insight Synthesis & Influence

• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative inputs into clear, compelling, and actionable insights.
• Translate research findings into implications that resonate with product, design, and senior leadership audiences.
• Produce executive ready deliverables that tie customer insight into strategic business priorities and investment decisions.
• Influence prioritization, tradeoff decisions, and roadmap direction by clearly articulating the business impact of customer needs and experience gaps.
• Champion customer insights across the organization and help evolve how insights are shared and operationalized.
• Connect insights across studies to identify patterns that inform portfolio-level strategy and long-term direction.

Practice Leadership & Mentorship

• Serve as a research lead, setting a high bar for quality, rigor, and strategic impact.
• Mentor and coach researchers, supporting skill development, research maturity, and confidence in influence.
• Contribute to the evolution of UX Research standards, methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Strengthen research operations at scale, including repositories, frameworks, and insight governance.

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner closely with UX Design, Product Management, Digital Merchandising, Analytics, Customer Insights, and Digital Testing teams.
• Align research with analytics, experimentation, and secondary data to deliver a unified view of customer behavior.
• Provide continuity from discovery through delivery, ensuring customer intent remains clear as work moves into execution.
• Navigate complex stakeholder environments with clarity, collaboration, and influence.

Execution Excellence

• Lead and conduct a wide range of research methods, including:

• Generative interviews and discovery studies
• Usability and concept evaluation
• Diary studies and longitudinal research
• UX Benchmarking

• Conduct secondary research (competitive analysis, behavioral data review, market and industry scanning) to inform problem framing.
• Manage multiple workstreams, timelines, and stakeholder expectations with reliability and transparency.
• Adapt to changing priorities while maintaining high standards of quality and insight depth.

Do you have experience in User research for product design?, Do you have a Bachelor's degree?, * Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Design, Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

• 7+ years of UX Research experience in a corporate or product-led environment.
• Deep expertise in generative and evaluative UX research methods.
• Proven ability to independently lead complex research initiatives with significant ambiguity.
• Strong ability to synthesize research into insights that directly inform product direction and business decision-making.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and storytelling skills.
• Strong understanding of digital ecosystems, e-commerce experiences, and usability best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority in cross-functional, Agile environments.
• Experience mentoring researchers or leading practice-level initiatives.
• Strong experience partnering with senior product and design leaders.
• Ecommerce experience required; retail, fashion, or consumer brand experience preferred.

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws. Please see links: California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, Philadelphia Fair Chance Law, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance

3.63.6 out of 5 stars Reynoldsburg, OH $128,500 - $175,245 a year - Full-time, Minimum Salary: $128,500.00 Maximum Salary: $175,245.00

VS&Co provides a range of compensation for this role as shown. Your actual salary will be determined by a number of factors, including: your specific skills and experience, geographic region, or other relevant factors.

At Victoria's Secret & Co, you'll join a world-leading specialty retail brand recognized globally for innovation and excellence in lingerie and fashion. You'll work alongside industry leaders to set the standard for what a retail brand can achieve, placing customers at the center of everything we do to create products and experiences that bring them joy. We believe everyone deserves a place where they truly belong. We celebrate individuality and know that your passion, experience, and unique perspective strengthen our team and business. Here, you'll be empowered to perform, grow, and engage through unmatched opportunities to develop your skills, gain real-world experience, and learn from the best in the business.