UX Researcher, Lead, VP

Research Manager Wealth Management (WM) Platforms manages industry‑leading platforms across all WM channels and client segments, to provide a unified digital experience, unlock growth, and deliver efficiencies for Advisors, Clients, and Institutions. WM Platforms consists of nine sub‑teams including: Field Experience & Platforms, Digital Client Experience & Platforms, Workplace Platforms, Automation & Workflow Solutions, Digital Trading & Investing, UX Design & Research, Strategy & Execution, Business Control & Support, and the Chief Operating Office. The Morgan Stanley Wealth Management UX team builds digital experiences that help our clients manage their finances and monitor their investments easily. We design for two key user bases: our clients, and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors, whose job it is to guide clients through financial milestones big and small. Our growing team of designers and researchers bring an entrepreneurial spirit to a leading global financial firm. We employ design thinking methods and a user‑centered approach to solve real business problems. Are you an experienced research manager who wants to evangelize the practice of user research? We are looking for an expert in the practice to be an influential voice in the future of our discipline while inspiring change, being a trusted partner, and being an advocate for a more intuitive, seamless user experience. Responsibilities Guide researchers in planning, conducting, and tailoring research studies to provide actionable insights that dramatically shape product and technology direction. Make staffing decisions based on business priorities, both short and long term, as well as team strengths and motivation. Responsible for the quality of research outputs, including coaching and growing the skills of individual researchers. Champion the role of research and collaborate with Product Management, Product Design, and Technology teams to identify areas of improvement or feature development. Become a trusted, strategic partner to product stakeholders by communicating and demonstrating the value of user research, and by delivering insights that lead to business value. Build on best practices and processes that empower product teams to self‑serve some of their needs. Continue evolving our collaboration with designers, technologists, product managers, and marketers to translate insights that inform execution and pipeline development. Guide researchers on a strategy for improving our insights repository and communications plan. Deliver higher‑level research insights to the broader team on a regular basis to support a culture of learning and user‑centric product strategy. Qualifications 9+ years of transferable experience across higher education and the workplace. A passion for team leadership and the ability to inspire team members to excel. Compelling presentation style and ability to confidently convey insights through storytelling. Willingness to evangelize research and data‑driven insights both within Morgan Stanley and in the financial services and digital communities at large (external sharing to be approved in advance, of course). Empathy for end users and ability to draw out insights through moderator script development and moderating style. Understanding and experience implementing a range of user research methods. What You Can Expect From Morgan Stanley We are committed to maintaining the first‑class service and high standard of excellence that have defined Morgan Stanley for over 89 years. Our values—putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back—aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what’s best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work‑life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work. Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $110,000 and $190,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short‑ and long‑term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley‑sponsored benefit programs. Equal Employment Opportunity Morgan Stanley’s goal is to build and maintain a workforce that is diverse in experience and background but uniform in reflecting our standards of integrity and excellence. Consequently, our recruiting efforts reflect our desire to attract and retain the best and brightest from all talent pools. We want to be the first choice for prospective employees. It is the policy of the Firm to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, sex stereotype, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital and civil partnership/union status, pregnancy, veteran or military service status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce (M/F/Disability/Vet). #J-18808-Ljbffr