User Experience (UX) Research Manager

The User Experience (UX) Research Manager will be responsible for leading and conducting user research to inform the design and development of Viking Cruises' digital products and services. This includes planning and executing user research studies, analyzing data and presenting findings to key stakeholders, and working closely with cross-functional teams to incorporate user insights into product development.  The ideal candidate will have a passion for understanding user needs and behaviors, while creating more compelling and user-friendly digital experiences across our website and applications. This is an exciting opportunity for a UX research professional to play a key role in the design and development of digital products and services for a leading travel company. The UX Research Manager will have the opportunity to work with a talented team of researchers, designers, developers, and product managers to create innovative and user-friendly products that enhance our customer experience.

This role reports into the Senior Director of Research and Consumer Insights, North America with high levels of collaboration with the design team.  The position is based out of our Woodlands Hills office, and is a hybrid opportunity, with three days in the office each week: Mondays, Thursdays, and a third day of your choice.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct user research (usability testing, interviews, and surveys) to understand customer needs, goals, and pain points in relation to the online experience
• Use a variety of research methods, including surveys, interviews, usability testing, and data analysis, to gather data
• Analyze, interpret, and synthesize data to identify key insights, user needs and opportunities for improvement
• Communicate research findings to leadership and cross-functional teams, including product managers, designers, and engineers
• Partner with the design and product teams to ensure that research insights are integrated into the product development process
• Stay up to date on industry trends and best practices in UX research

 Qualifications:

• 3 years of experience in UX research, with a focus on web, app and eCommerce or based products
• 2 years of experience with traditional market research techniques
• Strong understanding of research methodologies and data analysis techniques
• Experience conducting user research using a variety of methods, including surveys, digital ethnographies, interviews, usability testing, and data analysis to inform product design decisions
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to present research findings to cross-functional teams
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and prioritize opportunities for improvement
• Experience with web analytics tools such as Adobe Analytics is a plus
• Experience with Qualtrics, SPSS, DisplayR and/or UserTesting.com also a plus

 What we offer you:

• Highly competitive compensation plan
• Base Hourly Range is $110,00-$160,000 per year
• Full time employees are also eligible for bonus/benefits.
• Full benefits including medical, dental, vision and life and disability insurance at a highly subsidized rate (some plans are fully paid by Viking)
• Paid training, 6 paid holidays per year and a 401(k) plan with company match
• Employees accrue up to 15 days of vacation after 90 days of employment
• Employees accrue 1 hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked (use rules vary by location)
• Opportunity to take a free and/or discounted cruise
• Highly subsidized gym membership
• Discounts on theatres, theme parks, movie tickets, travel discounts through IATA membership and too many more discounts to name
• Pride and excitement of joining an award-winning team, previously named #1 in ocean, #1 in river and #1 in customer service.

About Viking

Viking was founded in 1997 with the vision that travel could be more destination focused and culturally immersive. In 2000, the company purchased Europe’s KD River Cruises in order to grow its fleet, to leverage 40 years of river cruising experience and to acquire rights to prime docking locations in key European cities.

The company expanded into the American market in 2000, establishing a sales and marketing office in Los Angeles, California. Since then, Viking has grown to be the leading small ship travel company, offering river, ocean and expedition voyages on all seven continents.

With an operational office in Basel, Switzerland, Viking provides destination-focused itineraries for curious travelers. Each journey includes a shore excursion in every port and an onboard and onshore enrichment program that provides deep immersion in the destination through performances of music and art, cooking demonstrations, informative port talks and carefully selected guest lecturers.

With 250 awards to its name, the company currently operates a fleet of state-of-the-art ships that have received numerous accolades since their launch from industry experts and travelers alike. Viking was voted the #1 River Line and the #1 Ocean Line by Travel   Leisure in the 2022 World’s Best Awards. Viking is also rated #1 for both Rivers and Oceans by Condé Nast Traveler, becoming the first cruise line ever to simultaneously earn #1 in its categories from both publications.

Viking marks its 25th anniversary in 2022; by the end of the year, Viking will have welcomed two new identical expedition ships, as well as two new identical ocean ships, new Viking Longships® in Europe and new purpose-built vessels for the Nile, Mekong and Mississippi rivers.