Let’s get started
By clicking ‘Next’, I agree to the Terms of Service
and Privacy Policy, and consent to receive emails from Rise
Jobs / Job page
Director, User Experience and Research - NBC Sports Next image - Rise Careers
Job details

Director, User Experience and Research - NBC Sports Next - job 1 of 3

Company Description

SPORTS NEXT

NBC Sports Next is where sports and technology intersect. We’re fueled by our mission to innovate, create larger-than-life events and connect with sports fans through technology. We’re a subdivision of NBC Sports and home to leading technology platforms and digital applications for Youth & Recreational Sports; Golf; and Emerging Media.  

At NBC Sports Next, we equip more than 30MM players, coaches, athletes, sports administrators and fans in 40 countries with more than 25 sports solution products, including SportsEngine, the largest youth sports club, league and team management platform; SportsEngine Play, the first ever streaming service for youth and amateur sports, GolfNow, the leading online tee time marketplace and provider of golf course operations technology; and GolfPass the ultimate golf membership that connects golfers to exclusive content, tee time credits, instructional content and more.  

Job Description

NBCUniversal is seeking a Director of User Experience Research to lead the strategic research vision for SportsNext. This role will align user research efforts with broader organizational goals while also addressing immediate product and design needs. The Director will work closely with partners across Product, Design, Data Science, and Analytics to drive both evaluative and foundational research that informs current features and future roadmaps.

Reporting to the VP of Product Design and Research, this leader will manage a small team of UX researchers and play a key role in elevating the voice of the user across the organization—shaping product direction and influencing senior stakeholders along the way.

At SportsNext, we’re creating a connected ecosystem of products that serve a diverse range of users across both B2C and B2B experiences. A deep understanding of our users’ needs is essential to delivering meaningful, high-impact products — and that’s where research plays a critical role.

As Director of UX Research for SportsNext, you’ll lead a growing team of researchers who shape the future of our products through meaningful, actionable insights. You’ll work across a multidisciplinary team of designers, content strategists, product managers, engineers, analysts, and data scientists — all deeply invested in improving how people experience and manage sports and recreation.

In this role, you’ll serve as a team lead, coach, and expert practitioner. You’ll be responsible for supporting the growth and development of your team, helping them thrive while ensuring their work drives measurable impact. You’ll bring a strong mixed-methods background — designing and executing studies ranging from interviews and usability testing to surveys and data analysis — and consistently advocate for the user voice throughout the product development process.

You’ll also collaborate with leaders across SportsNext to ensure our work is user-driven, strategically aligned, and grounded in a deep understanding of both consumer and business needs — whether in youth sports or the world of golf.

Responsibilities:

  • Leading a high-performing team of user researchers, providing guidance, mentoring, and coaching while setting new standards for methodological rigor and research excellence
  • Fostering a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive research culture
  • Partnering with stakeholders across the organization to define and prioritize research initiatives that align with business objectives and center user needs
  • Own and drive the User Research roadmap, ensuring stakeholder and product
  • needs are met and well aligned to achieve organizational KPIs and goals
  • Vendor selection and management
  • Communicating research findings effectively, translating complex insights into
  • actionable recommendations for key decision-makers
  • Influencing strategic and tactical product roadmaps with cross-functional leadership
  • Managing complex schedules across multiple projects to ensure on time delivery
  • Driving strategic initiatives to inform and shape research programs• Collaborating closely with cross-functional leaders in Product, Design, Marketing, and Analytics
  • Connecting with other Research colleagues across NBCUniversal to share insights as well as lessons learned in conducting research
  • Staying abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies, continuously evolving our research methodologies and approaches

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Cognitive Science, Psychology, Anthropology,
  • Statistics, or a related field
  • Expertise in quantitative and qualitative research study design
  • Expertise across a number of qualitative and quantitative research methods — including surveys, digital ethnographies, focus groups, etc.
  • Familiarity with behavioral user analytics
  • 10 years of experience executing applied research
  • 8 years of experience leading collaborative efforts across disciplines
  • 6 years of experience managing, leading, and growing a team of user researchers
  • 5 years of consumer product research experience
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Excellent data storytelling and presentation skills
  • Extensive experience driving strategic product value through stakeholder influence
  • Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master’s degree or PhD in Sociology, Cognitive Science, Psychology, Anthropology,
  • Statistics, or a related field
  • Expertise in group moderation and facilitation
  • 10 years of experience conducting UX research on products
  • 8 years of experience working with executive leadership
  • 5 years of experience driving projects in a large, matrixed organization

Fully Remote: This position has been designated as fully remote, meaning that the position is expected to contribute from a non-NBCUniversal worksite, most commonly an employee’s residence.

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.  

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access nbcunicareers.com as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by emailing [email protected].

Although you'll be hired as an NBCU employee, your employment and the responsibilities associated with this job likely will transition to SpinCo in the future. By joining at this pivotal time, you'll be a part of this exciting company as it takes shape.

For LA County and City Residents Only:  NBCUniversal will consider for employment  qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner  consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.

NBCUniversal Glassdoor Company Review
4.0 Glassdoor star iconGlassdoor star iconGlassdoor star iconGlassdoor star icon Glassdoor star icon
NBCUniversal DE&I Review
No rating Glassdoor star iconGlassdoor star iconGlassdoor star iconGlassdoor star iconGlassdoor star icon
CEO of NBCUniversal
NBCUniversal CEO photo
Jeff Shell
Approve of CEO

Average salary estimate

$140000 / YEARLY (est.)
min
max
$120000K
$160000K

If an employer mentions a salary or salary range on their job, we display it as an "Employer Estimate". If a job has no salary data, Rise displays an estimate if available.

Similar Jobs
Photo of the Rise User
NBCUniversal Hybrid 4100 E Dry Creek Rd, Centennial, CO 80122, USA
Posted 13 days ago

Join NBCUniversal as a Network Engineer to help build and maintain a robust network infrastructure for world-class media production.

Photo of the Rise User
NBCUniversal Remote 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CALIFORNIA
Posted 13 days ago

Join NBCUniversal as the Senior Vice President of HR for Universal Studios Hollywood, where you'll lead strategic HR initiatives and partnerships at a premier entertainment company.

Photo of the Rise User
Posted 10 days ago
Customer-Centric
Rapid Growth
Diversity of Opinions
Reward & Recognition
Friends Outside of Work
Inclusive & Diverse
Empathetic
Feedback Forward
Work/Life Harmony
Casual Dress Code
Startup Mindset
Collaboration over Competition
Fast-Paced
Growth & Learning
Open Door Policy
Rise from Within
Maternity Leave
Paternity Leave
Flex-Friendly
Family Coverage (Insurance)
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Mental Health Resources
Life insurance
Disability Insurance
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
401K Matching
Paid Holidays
Paid Sick Days
Paid Time-Off

Become a part of Warehouse Paint's family as a Design Sales Consultant, where your passion for design meets customer service.

Photo of the Rise User

Take the lead in creative and visual merchandising at Kao, enhancing brand engagement and driving sales.

Photo of the Rise User
Posted 13 days ago

Contribute to the Navy's Surface Force readiness as a Mid-Level Knowledge Management / Graphic Designer with Prevailance.

Photo of the Rise User
Vita Inclinata Technologies Hybrid Denver, Colorado, United States
Posted 3 days ago

Join Vita Inclinata as a Creative Specialist, where you will create and manage visual content across various platforms.

Photo of the Rise User
Posted 7 days ago

Join Dairy Queen as a Senior Design Manager, where your creativity will shape the visual identity of one of the world's best-known brands.

Photo of the Rise User
Posted yesterday

Turner & Townsend Heery is looking for a Design Manager with aviation experience to lead high-quality design projects.

Photo of the Rise User
GreenPlaces Remote Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Posted 3 days ago

Join Greenplaces as a Product UX Designer and play a crucial role in enhancing user experiences for our innovative sustainability software.

Photo of the Rise User
Posted 6 days ago

Join our dynamic team as a Mid-Level Graphic Designer specializing in packaging for the toy industry, where your creativity will drive product innovation.

Posted 7 days ago

Join Zip as a Brand Design Associate and help bring to life impactful, on-brand assets while supporting a dynamic creative process.

We Are Social Remote No location specified
Posted 3 days ago

Socialize is searching for a talented Video Editor to craft engaging video content that captivates audiences across multiple industries.

Photo of the Rise User

Join an exciting live entertainment project in Las Vegas as a lively host, helping to create unforgettable experiences through music and energy.

Photo of the Rise User

Elevate your career as an Associate Creative Director in a hybrid role with a forward-thinking B2B marketing firm dedicated to innovative design solutions.

Photo of the Rise User
Posted 14 days ago

Become a pivotal part of Florida Housing Finance Corporation as a UX/UI Developer, focusing on creating intuitive and secure digital solutions for affordable housing.

We are in business to create and deliver content so compelling it entertains, informs and shapes our world. We believe that the talent, creativity and diversity of our people are our greatest resources. We take our business seriously, but do no...

2349 jobs
MATCH
Calculating your matching score...
FUNDING
SENIORITY LEVEL REQUIREMENT
TEAM SIZE
EMPLOYMENT TYPE
Full-time, remote
DATE POSTED
April 11, 2025

Subscribe to Rise newsletter

Risa star 🔮 Hi, I'm Risa! Your AI
Career Copilot
Want to see a list of jobs tailored to
you, just ask me below!
LATEST ACTIVITY
Photo of the Rise User
Someone from OH, Cleveland just viewed Sales Associate (Sur La Table) at CSC Generation
Photo of the Rise User
Someone from OH, Columbus just viewed Resident Assistant (RA) at Datadog
Photo of the Rise User
Someone from OH, Cleveland just viewed Bellman and Doorman at Marriott International
Photo of the Rise User
15 people applied to Product Designer at Partiful
Photo of the Rise User
Someone from OH, Cincinnati just viewed Finance Intern at Roche
Photo of the Rise User
Someone from OH, Cincinnati just viewed Personal Shopper - Sam's at Walmart
F
Someone from OH, Cincinnati just viewed CART - Captionist at Focus Interpreting
Photo of the Rise User
100+ people applied to Textile and Print Designer at Showpo
P
Someone from OH, Brecksville just viewed Verification Specialist at Planned Parenthood of Illinois
Photo of the Rise User
Someone from OH, Sheffield Lake just viewed Busser/Server Assistant at Chili's Grill and Bar
Photo of the Rise User
100+ people applied to Illustrator - Freelance at Twine
Photo of the Rise User
Someone from OH, Cincinnati just viewed Furniture Sales Representative at Furniture Fair
Photo of the Rise User
Someone from OH, Dayton just viewed Data Engineer | NDA at GT
Photo of the Rise User
Someone from OH, Dayton just viewed Data Engineer at Koddi
Photo of the Rise User
Someone from OH, Dayton just viewed Data Engineer at Launchpad Technologies
Photo of the Rise User
Someone from OH, Columbus just viewed Accounts Receivable Specialist at Brixio