Principal UX Researcher - Product

Principal UX Researcher - Product & Experience

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About TEGNA TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) helps people thrive in their local communities by providing the trusted local news and services that matter most. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA reaches more than 100 million people monthly across the web, mobile apps, streaming, and linear television. Together, we are building a sustainable future for local news.

We are seeking a highly experienced Principal UX Researcher to lead strategic research initiatives that drive product innovation and enhance user experience across our digital platforms. In this role, you will shape research strategy, mentor and guide research practices across the organization, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and turn insights into action to influence product direction at the highest level. The Principal UX Researcher helps us understand and obsess over our users (both internal and external) – their contexts, concerns, behaviors, needs and aspirations.

In leading the practice of human-centered research, this role informs the strategy and direction of TEGNA’s digital ecosystem – ensuring we put the needs of our end users front and center.

Who You Are The Principal UX Researcher is the nexus between consumer-centered business strategy and enabling Digital Products  this position, you will serve as both a visionary and a hands-on integrator and leader. Your talents drive insights and strategy that help shape the future of media, community, and connection. You understand people and their critical needs, and you advocate for the best outcomes across business and product teams.

You have a proven record of conceptualizing, designing and delivering elegant and intuitive research solutions that directly impact the products, experiences, and platforms you are accountable for.

• Strategic Leadership:
  Lead UX research efforts for complex, high-impact initiatives across multiple products or business units. Develop long-term research roadmaps aligned with company goals.
• Research Execution:
  Design, plan, and conduct qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g., ethnographic studies, usability testing, surveys, diary studies, field research, etc.) to deeply understand user behaviors, needs, and motivations.
• Establish Research Guidelines: enable team of product and UX leaders through UX research tool kits, standards, guides.
• Cross-functional Collaboration:
  
  Partner closely with Product Management, Design, Engineering, Marketing, and Data Science teams to integrate research findings into product planning and decision-making.
• Insight Communication:
  Deliver compelling insights through reports, presentations, and storytelling that inspire product innovation and support executive-level decisions.
• Mentorship & Guidance:
  Mentor junior researchers and help establish best practices and research standards across the UX organization.
• Vendor Management: contract with and manage required vendors and tools to enable UX research across the TEGNA digital ecosystem.
• Thought Leadership:
  Represent the UX discipline in strategic conversations, contribute to the UX research community, and advocate for a user-centered culture.

• 8–10 years of experience in UX research, human-centered design, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience leading research for complex, large-scale digital products.
• Expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
• Proven ability to turn ambiguous questions into clear research plans.
• Exceptional communication, storytelling, and collaboration skills.
• Experience influencing executive stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Master’s or Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, or related field (preferred but not required).

• Experience working in agile, fast-paced product environments.
• Deep knowledge of accessibility, inclusive design, or emerging technologies (e.g., AI/ML, AR/VR).
• Background in consumer-driven domains.

• Drive the user research strategy at a product and…