Lead Design Researcher

Posted 2 Hours Ago
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Chicago, IL, USA
Hybrid
93K-144K Annually
Mid level
Fintech • Financial Services
We’re boldly disrupting banking norms to do good for our members, employees and communities.
The Role
Lead mixed-methods design research across quantitative and qualitative domains to inform product, service, and experience decisions. Plan studies, design statistically sound research, conduct interviews and surveys, analyze findings, and translate insights into actionable recommendations. Facilitate workshops, communicate results through storytelling and visualization, represent member needs, and partner with product, UX, marketing, operations, and leadership teams. Help mature the organization’s design research practice through improved methods, standards, tools, templates, and governance.
Summary Generated by Built In

Lead and advance mixed‑methods design research that informs product, service, and experience decisions across the credit union. Bring expertise in quantitative research and analytical methods, complemented by qualitative research and human‑centered design practices. Plan and execute research, translate insights into actionable recommendations, and partner with other teams to improve member experiences.

Essential Responsibilities

  • Lead the planning, design, and execution of mixed methods quantitative and qualitative research across descriptive, generative, evaluative, and analytical research domains
  • Utilize methods including in-depth interviews, diary studies, conjoint analysis, MaxDiff, TURF analysis, survey‑based experimentation to inform product, service, and experience decisions.
  • Design statistically sound research studies, including sampling approaches, questionnaire design, and data quality standards.
  • Communicate research findings through compelling storytelling, visualizations, and presentations tailored to diverse stakeholder groups.
  • Apply human‑centered design principles and methods to research planning, synthesis, and insight activation, ensure research is grounded in member needs and business context.
  • Collaborate with service designers and design strategists to inform experience orchestration, service concepts, and strategic direction.
  • Represent the voice of the member, consumer, and internal customers across initiatives.
  • Plan and facilitate research‑driven workshops, synthesis sessions, and stakeholder working sessions to align teams around insights and implications.
  • Build trusted partnerships with product, digital, UX, marketing, operations, partnerships, and leadership teams.
  • Contribute to the development and maturation of Alliant’s design research practice by elevating research rigor, strengthening evidence-based decision-making, and improving standards, tools, templates, and governance.
  • Continuously evaluate and improve research approaches, methodologies, and tools.

Education & Years of Experience

  • Minimum - 4 Year Bachelors Degree in Sociology, Human‑Computer Interaction, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Statistics, or related
  • Preferred - Graduate Degree in Sociology, Human‑Computer Interaction, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Statistics, or related
  • Minimum - 3 Years of Design research, user research, or human‑centered research, with demonstrated quantitative and mixed‑methods expertise or related
  • Preferred - 5 Years Design research, user research, or human‑centered research, with demonstrated quantitative and mixed‑methods expertise or related

In Lieu of Education

  • 7 years of Design research, user research, or human‑centered research, with demonstrated quantitative and mixed‑methods expertise or related

Compensation & Benefits:

Typical hiring range:‏‏‎ ‎ $92,600.00 to $144,100.00‎ Annually. Actual compensation will be determined using factors such as experience, skills & knowledge. 

Benefits: Alliant provides a benefits package including health care, vision, dental, and 401k with employer match including:

  • Annual performance bonus
  • Work from home up to 3 days a week
  • Paid parental leave
  • Employee discount programs
  • Time off including paid personal and sick days
  • 11 paid holidays 
  • Education reimbursement

*Note that eligibility and cost of benefits can vary depending on the number of regularly scheduled hours, and job status such as regular full-time, regular part-time, or temporary employment.

Adhere to and ensure compliance of all business transactions with policy and process of the Bank Secrecy Act. Ensures compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, company procedures and policies. Maintains integrity and ethics in all actions and conversations with or regarding credit union members and their accounts; complies with Privacy Act directives. 

The responsibilities listed do not contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

Skills Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Statistics, or a related field
  • Minimum 3 years of design research, user research, or human-centered research experience with quantitative and mixed-methods expertise
  • Graduate degree in Sociology, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Statistics, or a related field
  • 5 years of design research, user research, or human-centered research experience with quantitative and mixed-methods expertise
  • Seven years of relevant design research, user research, or human-centered research experience may substitute for the education requirement

What the Team is Saying

Natalie M.
Stan C.
Amber J.

Alliant Credit Union Compensation & Benefits Highlights

  • Retirement Support A 401(k) match of 100% on the first 5% of pay with immediate vesting is highlighted, signaling a standout retirement offering. Donation matching and financial perks further bolster long‑term financial security.
  • Healthcare Strength Medical and dental coverage paired with company‑paid vision and employer HSA contributions are repeatedly emphasized, alongside mental‑health apps and disability/life insurance. Two medical plan options with HSA funding point to a robust core health package.
  • Leave & Time Off Breadth Generous PTO with 11 paid holidays, 8 hours of volunteer time, and up to six weeks of paid parental leave are consistently called out. These provisions underscore strong support for time away from work.

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The Company
HQ: Chicago, IL
906 Employees
Year Founded: 1935

What We Do

Alliant is unlike any other financial institution — a digital credit union that wows our members. We’re boldly disrupting banking norms to do good for our members, employees and communities. With 90 years of history and more than $19 billion in assets, Alliant Credit Union is the largest credit union in Illinois and one of the largest in the U.S. Our industry-leading financial products, seamless digital experiences and exceptional customer service make banking simpler for our 900,000+ members. Fully digital, fully human and full of possibility, we work to provide our members with experiences that redefine the financial industry, challenge the status quo and unleash brilliance.

Why Work With Us

Our employees enjoy a hybrid schedule, allowing for flexible remote work and purpose-driven, outcome-focused onsite opportunities. Driven by Alliant's guiding principles and values, employees across all teams build together to provide our members with industry-leading financial products, seamless digital experiences & exceptional customer service.

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Alliant Credit Union Offices

Hybrid Workspace

Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.

Alliant offers a purpose-driven, outcome-focused hybrid workplace model.

Typical time on-site: Flexible
HQChicago, IL
We are located near O'Hare. We have plenty of parking space available.

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