Staff User Experience Researcher

At Vanta, our mission is to secure the internet and protect consumer data. We believe that security should be monitored and verified continuously, and we empower companies to practice better security and prove it with ease. Vanta has a kind and talented team, and while some have prior security experience, many have been successful at Vanta without it. 

At Vanta, our mission is to secure the internet and protect consumer data by helping companies adopt and prove strong security practices—continuously and at scale. As we grow our platform and impact, we're hiring our first Staff User Researcher to join the Experience Design Team. This is a culture-defining role for someone eager to shape how we keep our customer as the driving force in our product development—not just through high-impact research, but by enabling teams across the company to build deeper empathy and insight. This role is crucial in helping continue to chart our path on achieving our mission.

This role will focus on both improving our research practices across the organization, as well as driving research projects to deliver strategic insights. You will work with our product managers, operations team, CSMs and AMs to define the right program to deliver insights for EPD that equips the organization to engage with customers and make insight-informed decisions on the product offering. You’ll develop scalable systems, coaching programs, and rituals that embed research into our everyday work—fostering a culture where customer closeness is the default. You will also lead strategic research that informs the direction of our Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) and Trust products, and emerging products. And, you will help us scale our UXR capabilities, by advising on how to grow the team and delegate work across the organization.

You have a proven track record of shaping exceptional B2B SaaS experiences, especially in complex or technical domains. You thrive in ambiguity, partner seamlessly with Design, Product, and Engineering, and translate research into actionable direction. Just as importantly, you’re energized by enabling others—whether that’s mentoring teammates, creating tools and processes, or cultivating curiosity and customer focus across the org. Experience in GRC or security is a plus but not required; a strong sense of ownership, empathy, and systems thinking is what we value most.

Vanta operates as a collaborative, remote-first company and values alignment with our core principles. You will report to a Design Director within the Experience Design Organization.

What you will do as a Staff Designer at Vanta:

• Establish scalable programs and systems that deliver customer insights and enable teams to engage directly with customers and users.

• Lead strategic customer research projects that inform product strategy, and deliver substantial customer value that impacts multiple departments.

• Enhance the influence of the Design organization by working openly, sharing customer insights, leading workshops from insights to action while also improving the ways we work to bring the customer to the center of what we do. 

• Mentor designers and PMs, helping them gather better customer insights, by providing feedback on research plans and ways of working.
  
  

Qualifications:

• 8-10+ years of experience delivering high-quality insights for B2B SaaS products on large-scale projects.

  Demonstrated track record of maintaining high executional quality and organizational impact.

  Independent in driving discovery processes and leveraging customer insights to inform product strategy.

  Skilled in leading the discovery process from ambiguity, execution, to actionable insights.

  Strong ability to mentor and influence others, including senior and executive management teams.

  Comfortable navigating ambiguity and complex problem-solving.

  Excellent communication skills, capable of clearly articulating design concepts to diverse audiences.

  Proficient in managing complex projects, timelines, and proactive escalation handling.

  Case studies required, showcasing your impact across 2-3 research projects.

What you can expect as a Vantan:

• Industry-competitive compensation

• 100% covered medical, dental, and vision benefits with dependents coverage

• 16 weeks fully-paid parental Leave for all new parents

• Health & wellness and remote workplace stipends

• Family planning benefits through Carrot Fertility

• 401(k) matching

• Flexible work hours and location

• Open PTO policy

• 11 paid holidays in the US

• Offices in SF, NYC, Dublin, and Sydney

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