UX Researcher | Tokyo, Japan

About AnswerLab AnswerLab helps pioneering leaders Own the Unknown, transforming uncharted territory into clarity, direction, and competitive advantage. We build strategic insight through deep human understanding and validating future possibilities with real people in real contexts. We believe that the future of experience strategy relies on continuous learning and cross-functional expertise, enabling us to guide clients through unprecedented challenges across every phase of the product lifecycle. Role Summary As a UX Researcher, you will join our Rapid Research program, a dedicated, embedded research team that delivers fast, high-quality insights (typically within 1–2 weeks) to a major global technology client. Rapid Researchers are based across the US, EMEA (UK, Zurich), and APAC (India, Korea), providing global research coverage for the client's key audiences, including General Populations, Content Creators, Teens, and accessibility-focused populations. This role is based in Japan and adds dedicated APAC coverage and Japanese-language research capabilities to the program, enabling the team to conduct research with both Japanese- and English-speaking participants and to better support stakeholders across the region and in other international markets, including stakeholders in Zurich and US-based stakeholders. You'll spend the majority of your time leading Rapid Research studies end-to-end, with the opportunity to contribute to longer-form Custom Research projects (e.g., diary studies, benchmarking, or focus groups), as needed. You are passionate about research: you love learning new methods, testing new tools and technologies, and thinking deeply about the human-centered issues we face as researchers. You see yourself as a partner to stakeholders, bringing them into the research process and listening closely to their needs. You're proactive, adaptable, and organized, with time management skills to keep multiple fast-moving studies on track simultaneously. Rapid Researchers are typically prepping their next study while fielding and reporting on the current one. Ideal candidates have at least 4 years of hands-on experience leading research studies and partnering with stakeholders or clients throughout the research process. Key Responsibilities 1. Rapid Research Delivery Lead Rapid Research studies end-to-end, delivering fast, high-quality insights within a 1–2 week (or accelerated 1-week sprint) timeframe. Consult on research methodology and scope, and develop kickoff/alignment documents and moderator guides Moderate remote and in-person interviews (In-Depth Interviews, unmoderated studies, heuristic evaluations) with Viewers, Creators, Teens, or accessibility-focused participants Conduct literature reviews and competitive analyses as needed Deliver end-of-day session summaries during fielding and lead key-takeaway alignment with stakeholders Analyze findings and develop final reports (slide decks of ~30 slides, or written docs) with clear, actionable recommendations Present findings in stakeholder readouts 2. Client Stakeholder Partnership Build trusted relationships with stakeholders, bringing consultative guidance to every study. Provide consultative guidance and proactively recommend solutions to keep research moving forward Coordinate closely with the recruiting team on participant screening and scheduling, flagging special or advanced recruit needs early Support Japanese-language studies and localization needs, serving as a regional point of contact for Japan/APAC research questions 3. Program & Process Excellence Keep projects on track and contribute to the continuous improvement of the Rapid Research program. Keep projects on schedule and within scope, managing multiple concurrent studies at different stages (prep, fielding, reporting) Explore creative solutions to research challenges, including recommending improvements to internal processes or best practices Continue developing your research and consultative skills, and contribute to AnswerLab's knowledge library and internal training initiatives Contribute to Custom Research projects (2+ week timelines) as a nice-to-have, such as focus groups, diary studies, benchmarking, surveys, card sorting, contextual inquiry, or Critical User Journey (CUJ) audits Key Relationships Reports to: Research Manager (UK-based) Close collaboration with: UX Research peers across all markets (APAC, EMEA, US), Research Manager (US-based), Project Manager Client engagement: Active coordination with client stakeholders Knowledge, Skills, & Experience We know outstanding candidates come from a range of backgrounds. We are looking for people with the personal characteristics to thrive in a growing, client-focused, purpose-driven business. The ideal candidate will meet many of the criteria below. Experience 4+ years of hands-on experience conducting qualitative UX or market research, including experience leading studies end-to-end Native/fluent fluency in Japanese and business-level fluency in English, with the ability to moderate research sessions and write deliverables in both languages Experience partnering with clients/stakeholders in a consulting or agency environment, or an equivalent research background Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage competing priorities across concurrent studies, and meet fast-moving deadlines Research Craft Skilled in core Rapid Research methodologies: In-depth interviews Unmoderated studies Heuristic evaluation Literature review Competitive analysis Familiarity with a broader range of methodologies is a nice-to-have: Focus groups Diary studies Benchmarking Surveys Card sorting Contextual inquiry Critical User Journeys Strong presentation skills, including building decks and presenting results and recommendations to senior stakeholders Organization & Communication Highly organized with excellent attention to detail and a strong commitment to accuracy and completeness Exceptional time management skills with the ability to prioritize effectively across competing demands Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong interpersonal abilities Comfortable using online/remote research tools (e.g., Google Meet, Zoom, dscout, GSuite) Responsive, service-oriented, and client-focused in all interactions Mindset & Values Curious, enthusiastic, and energized by a fast-paced, problem-solving environment Self-motivated, quick learner who thrives with minimal supervision Collaborative team player with a strong sense of ownership and follow-through Committed to inclusive, empathetic collaboration and contributing to a workplace where diverse talent thrives Education Undergraduate and/or advanced degree, preferably in: Experimental Psychology Cognitive Psychology Human Factors Human-Computer Interaction Or a related field with a foundation in research-based design Additional Requirements Willingness to collaborate across multiple time zones (e.g., APAC, EMEA, and US-based partners), which may occasionally require scheduling flexibility and extended hours to meet project deadlines Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time Location Eligibility Home-based/remote, located in Japan, with up to 15% travel (including occasional in-person sessions at regional lab spaces, e.g., Tokyo) Must be comfortable leading projects independently and collaborating virtually across APAC, EMEA, and US time zones, which may occasionally require schedule flexibility Candidates must have current work authorization in Japan; AnswerLab cannot sponsor visas for this role. No staffing or recruiting agencies.