Director, UX Research, Search Verticals

As the Director of Research for Search Verticals, you will be leading the user research team and the content design team to drive amazing Google Search experiences, balancing the practical needs of product development with building a foundational knowledge base covering all facets of user needs, motivations, and desired experiences along the search journey, and exploring how generative AI redefines the user mental models. You'll be the strategic partner to product management, design and engineering leadership.

In Google Search, we're reimagining what it means to search for information – any way and anywhere. To do that, we need to solve complex engineering challenges and expand our infrastructure, while maintaining a universally accessible and useful experience that people around the world rely on. In joining the Search team, you'll have an opportunity to make an impact on billions of people globally.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $275,000-$383,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Learn more about benefits at Google.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of researchers developing insights for Search verticals, such as Travel, News, Local, Sports, Education and Health. Drive the vision for transformation of these verticals into delightful AI forward experiences. 
• Partner with Search UX, Engineering, and Product Management leadership to develop strategy, perspective, and narrative around Search that is user centered and backed by research. Develop strategies for communicating research insights that build conviction and influence strategic decision making at the executive level.
• Prioritize research in conjunction with our partners, raise the quality bar for research methods/communication both within the team and across Google.
• Partner with UX and other cross-functional teams across Google to develop research-informed best practices around building for Search and exchange insights, and build communities of research practice around the commerce organization.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in research-related field, Computer Science, Machine Learning, Information Systems, or equivalent practical experience.
• 15 years of experience managing research and insights teams.
• Experience working with both qualitative and quantitative user research methods.
• Experience managing content design teams.

Preferred qualifications:

• PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Experimental Psychology, Anthropology, Information Science, or a related field.
• Consumer experience with personalization or social platforms.
• Experience applying a set of research methodologies (e.g., interviews, focus groups, field and lab studies, diary study and surveys) and an understanding of their strengths/limitations.

Note: By applying to this position you will have an opportunity to share your preferred working location from the following: Mountain View, CA, USA; New York, NY, USA; San Francisco, CA, USA.

Applicants in San Francisco: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.