We are currently seeking a SENIOR UX RESEARCH ASSISTANT for a temporary position anticipated to last three (3) months, with the possibility for extension.Location: Onsite within proximity to Penn Station, NYC
Schedule: Four (4) days per week, Friday through Monday (full-time, daytime hours)
Pay rate: Hourly rate is anticipated to be $40-$42/hour dependent on candidate experience and qualifications.
RequirementsPOSITION SUMMARY:The Senior UX Research Assistant serves as a senior operational member of the Research Support Team, supporting and overseeing high-quality human participant research studies on emerging technology initiatives.
In addition to executing research studies, this role provides day-to-day oversight for UX Research Assistants and to ensure operational consistency, study readiness, data quality, and a strong participant experience across active research programs.
This role combines advanced research execution, technical study support, team coordination, quality oversight, and escalation ownership in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment where priorities and study needs may evolve quickly. This role would report to an onsite program manager.
KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:Study Leadership & Operational Oversight- Lead or support execution of complex human participant research studies in accordance with approved protocols, study requirements, and operational expectations.
- Coordinate daily study execution across assigned programs, ensuring study environments, equipment, documentation, and team coverage are ready and aligned.
- Serve as an operational point of contact for assigned research activity, helping translate study requirements into clear execution plans and priorities.
- Monitor study progress, identify operational risks early, and support timely resolution of issues that could affect participant experience, data quality, or timelines.
- Act as an escalation point for study execution challenges involving protocols, equipment, scheduling, participant needs, or cross-functional coordination.
Team Oversight & Development- Provide day-to-day direction, support, and coordination for UX Research Assistants and Research Project Coordinators assigned to their teams.
- Support the program manager on workload distribution, onsite coverage, study assignments, and operational priorities across active research programs.
- Support onboarding and training for new team members, including study protocols, participant experience expectations, documentation standards, and lab readiness practices.
- Coach team members on effective research execution, communication, troubleshooting, and escalation practices.
- Promote accountability, collaboration, consistency, and continuous improvement across assigned teams.
Data Quality & Research Excellence- Oversee data collection activities to ensure consistency, accuracy, completeness, and alignment with study requirements.
- Review study documentation, operational records, and data outputs for quality, completeness, and adherence to established processes.
- Support advanced troubleshooting of data collection tools, research equipment, lab systems, and study workflows.
- Partner with researchers and technical stakeholders to identify opportunities to improve study execution, documentation, and data quality.
- Contribute to standardized operating procedures, training materials, and best practices that improve consistency across UX Research Assistants and other onsite staff.
Cross-Functional Partnership & Continuous Improvement- Collaborate with program manager, clients, UX researchers, and operations leaders to drive successful study outcomes.
- Support research planning, operational readiness, and resource alignment for upcoming studies.
- Lead or contribute to process improvement efforts that increase efficiency, quality, team readiness, and participant satisfaction.
- Share lessons learned and operational insights with stakeholders to strengthen future study execution.
CORE COMPETENCIES:- Strong leadership presence with the ability to guide, coach, and coordinate team members in a fast-paced research environment.
- Able to lead by example. In addition to managing workflows and team performance, they must actively participate in the day-to-day work, sharing responsibility for execution and contributing directly to team outcomes.
- Previous experience managing and developing a team including coaching, performance management, workload allocation and employee development.
- Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and sound judgment when managing study execution risks and escalations.
- Advanced attention to detail and commitment to data quality, documentation accuracy, and process consistency.
- Strong stakeholder management skills and ability to communicate clearly with technical and non-technical partners.
- Excellent problem-solving skills, including the ability to make thoughtful decisions in ambiguous or changing situations.
- Ability to manage competing priorities across operational deadlines.
- Professional, participant-centered approach with a strong commitment to service excellence.
- Continuous improvement mindset with interest in strengthening tools, processes, training, and execution standards.
EDUCATION- Bachelor's Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Psychology, Biomechanics, Kinesiology, Data Science, or a related discipline preferred.
- Equivalent hands-on research, lab, technical operations, team coordination, or human participant study experience may be considered.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE- 3+ years experience supporting or leading human participant research, UX research, clinical studies, lab studies, or technical research operations.
- Experience providing day-to-day guidance, coordination, training, or quality oversight to team members.
- Experience working with cross-functional technical stakeholders, including researchers, engineers, program managers, operations teams, or onsite project teams.
- Experience with biomechanical, physiological, behavioral, time-series, or sensor-based data collection methods.
- Experience developing or improving SOPs, training materials, documentation standards, or quality control processes.
- Interest in emerging technologies such as AR/VR, AI, wearable technology, HCI, or advanced user experience research.
TECHNICAL SKILLS- Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook.
- Google Docs, Sheets, Calendar, and related collaboration tools.
- Research equipment, lab software, testing platforms, and participant tracking tools.
- Comfort troubleshooting lab systems, data collection workflows, and technical research environments.
- Ability to quickly learn new research platforms, data tools, and operational workflows.
