The Principal Design Researcher conducts human-centered research to guide the design of omnichannel products and services. By uncovering the “why” behind behaviors, you will help connect the organization to the needs of its customers and employees and support data-driven decisions that reduce risk and deliver a positive experience.

The role requires a strategic, system-level thinker with expertise in the design process. You will develop robust knowledge of a suite of product areas and confidently lead cross-functional partners to frame problems and identify research opportunities. The Principal Design Researcher should be a natural collaborator who connects the dots across multiple teams and portfolios and engages design, product management, insights, operations and business teams in the research process. You will plan and execute a wide range of complex research engagements using a mix of methodologies, including interviews, moderated and unmoderated usability tests, diary studies and surveys. You will be adept at analyzing data for meaningful patterns and translating them into actionable insights and recommendations. You will present and socialize research findings in a clear, concise and engaging way and facilitate cross-functional conversations to drive an experience vision grounded in customer and team member needs.

• Plans, manages and executes all aspects of generative and evaluative user and design research including planning, execution, and delivery of results.
• Translates user behaviors and research findings into clear insights and actionable recommendations, opportunities, and guiding principles.
• Leads and contributes to the development and ongoing and evolution of research and testing approaches, methods, and timeline. Contributes to leadership of the Design Research practice – strategy/approach, resource planning, vendor management, etc..
• Evangelizes User Research best practices and Design Thinking methodology within Walgreens, including communication to cross-functional project teams and senior-level stakeholders.
• Works collaboratively across teams and actively drives engagement in research activities and promotes adoption of research insights. Partners with Service and User Experience Designers to ensure that user goals, needs and expectations are met, by helping to improve processes, clarity of content, and functionality across Walgreens experiences.
• Contributes to the development and ongoing and evolution of research and testing approaches, methods, and timelines.
• Assists in managing usability lab operations, including system operation and participant recruiting/scheduling.
• Develops Omni-channel customer research strategies. Manages research strategy and roadmap across a key business segment. May manage research vendor relationships and external tools.
• Performs as a key member of the design team, the Principal Design Researcher partners closely with User Experience. Plans and executes research that extends past digital into the store setting.
• Contributes to ongoing knowledge management and cataloging of research and insights into a sharable, searchable database/library.
• Guides more junior researchers, playing an advisory role on their research studies.

About Walgreens
Founded in 1901, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) has a storied heritage of caring for communities for generations and proudly serves nearly 9 million customers and patients each day across its approximately 8,500 stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and leading omni channel platforms. Walgreens has approximately 220,000 team members, including nearly 90,000 healthcare service providers, and is committed to being the first choice for retail pharmacy and health services, building trusted relationships that create healthier futures for customers, patients, team members and communities.
Walgreens is the flagship U.S. brand of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader. Its retail locations are a critical point of access and convenience in thousands of communities, with Walgreens pharmacists playing a greater role as part of the healthcare system and patients care teams than ever before. Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy provides critical care and pharmacy services to millions of patients with rare disease states and complex, chronic conditions.

The actual salary an employee can expect to receive, plus bonus pursuant to the terms of any bonus plan if applicable, will depend on experience, seniority, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law. To review benefits, please visit jobs.walgreens.com/benefits More Company information is available at www.walgreensbootsalliance.com.

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of experience designing, executing, and analyzing qualitative user research data OR a High School Diploma / GED and at least 8 years of experience designing, executing, and analyzing qualitative user research data.
• Experience establishing and managing relationships with internal/external partners.
• Experience working collaboratively within and across disciplines.
• Experience with analyzing and reporting data in order to identify issues, trends, or exceptions to drive improvement of results and find solutions.
• Experience identifying operational issues and recommending and implementing strategies to resolve problems.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent qualitative research projects.
• Experience managing vendor relationships.
• At least 2 years of experience contributing to financial decisions in the workplace.
• At least 2 years of direct leadership, indirect leadership and/or cross-functional team leadership.
• Willing to travel up to 10% of the time for business purposes (within state and out of state).

• Experience researching complex digital and omnichannel products and services

• Experience researching employee productivity tools

• Experience visualizing product or service experiences in the form of journey maps to capture user actions, interactions and touchpoints

• Experience working with external vendors to recruit research participants

• Experience with UserTesting, dscout, Qualtrics, Optimal Workshop or similar remote research tools

• Familiarity with engineering / development processes, particularly Agile

• Familiarity with quantitative research methods

• Experience in healthcare or retail industries

• Experience working in a design consultancy and/or within a larger company