research
Posted 4 days agoStaff Design Researcher
at Headspace
United StatesHybrid
Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end mixed-methods research programs across generative, evaluative, and continuous discovery phases, including in-depth interviews, contextual inquiry, diary studies, concept testing, and large-scale quantitative studies.
- Design and execute quantitative research initiatives including NPS surveys, attitudinal studies, segmentation, and benchmarking, using platforms such as Qualtrics and DScout to surface member sentiment at scale.
- Drive research operations best practices including participant recruitment, incentive compliance, consent processes, and repository management to support a scalable, high-quality research function.
- Mentor and consult with designers and cross-functional partners on research methods, helping build research fluency across the broader Design Studios team.
- Advocate for member needs across diverse populations including clinical, coaching, and wellness users in roadmap discussions and strategic planning.
Requirements
- We combine evidence-based content, clinical care, and innovative technology, and our researchers are the connective tissue that ensures every product decision is grounded in a deep understanding of human need.
- Use AI-assisted synthesis tools to accelerate insight generation and scale research ops.
- Help establish governance and best practices for AI use in research workflows.
- experience in design research, UX research, or a related field, with demonstrated ability to independently lead complex, multi-method research programs.
- experience with research and survey platforms including Qualtrics, DScout, UserTesting, User Interviews, or comparable tools. Demonstrated
- experience designing and analyzing NPS programs and member satisfaction studies, including
- Exceptional ability to synthesize complex findings into compelling narratives and present to cross-functional and senior stakeholders with clarity and confidence.
- experience conducting research with clinical, behavioral health, or wellness-oriented user populations; understanding of the sensitivity, ethics, and nuance required when researching members in vulnerable states. •
- Experience with ResearchOps infrastructure, including participant panels, tagging systems, insight repositories, and research tooling evaluation.
- Familiarity with behavioral design principles and
- experience applying them to research design in health, wellness, or behavior change contexts. •
- Experience with AI tools in research workflows, including AI-assisted synthesis and analysis platforms. •
- Experience conducting IRB-adjacent or ethically sensitive research involving vulnerable populations, including mental health, chronic illness, or underserved communities.
- Proficiency with data visualization and storytelling tools (Dovetail, Aurelius, Miro, or similar) to socialize insights broadly.
- Background in human-computer interaction, cognitive psychology, public health, anthropology, or a related discipline. Location:
- We strive to create a diverse & inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, feel a sense of belonging, and do impactful work together.
Experience
- Required Skills: 5+years of
Benefits
- Your recruiter will share more details about our hybrid model. Pay & Benefits :
- The anticipated new hire base salary range for this full-time position is $140,400-$190,000 + equity + benefits.
- Our salary ranges are based on the job, level, and location, and reflect the lowest to highest geographic markets where we are hiring for this role within the United States.
- Within this range, individual compensation is determined by a candidate’s location as well as a range of factors including but not limited to: unique relevant experience, job-related skills, and education or training.
- Your recruiter will provide more details on the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.
- At Headspace, base salary is but one component of our Total Rewards package.
- We’re proud of our robust package inclusive of: base salary, stock awards, comprehensive healthcare coverage, monthly wellness stipend, retirement savings match, lifetime Headspace membership, generous parental leave, and more.
- Additional details about our Total Rewards package will be provided during the recruitment process. About Headspace
- We combine evidence-based content, clinical care, and innovative technology to help millions of members around the world get support that’s effective, personalized, and truly accessible whenever and wherever they need it.
- They’re our shared commitment to building a more connected, human-centered team—one that’s redefining how mental health care supports people today and for generations to come.
- The chance to shape what mental health care looks like next Competitive pay and
- How we feel about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging:
- A dual relationship occurs when a mental health care provider has a second, significantly different relationship with their client in addition to the traditional client-therapist relationship—including, for example, a managerial relationship.
Contact
- For how how we will use the personal information you provide as part of the application process, please see: https://www.headspace.com/applicant-notice
Additional details
- About the Staff Design Researcher at Headspace:
- Research is how Headspace's mission becomes real for the people we serve.
- Our Design team sits at the intersection of evidence, empathy, and product execution, driving the insights that shape how millions of members
- We are seeking a Staff Design Researcher to lead product-transforming and service-defining qualitative research.
- This person operates with autonomy across qualitative and quantitative methods, brings clinical and behavioral health context into every research engagement, and actively raises the quality and rigor of research practice across the team.
- You will work closely with Product, Design, Clinical, and Engineering partners to ensure member insights are not just gathered, but acted on.
- The insights you discover and communicate will help the business create supportive, transformative experiences that shape what the future of mental healthcare can look like.
- This role shapes the roadmap and influences product strategy.
- In addition you will build and scale research infrastructure to assist the entire organization. What you will do:
- Partner with Product, Design, and Clinical teams to define research agendas, scope studies, and embed member insights early in the product development lifecycle.