Bilingual UX Researcher in Tokyo

AnswerLab is a UX research and experience strategy consultancy that partners with many of the world's leading technology companies. This role supports a dedicated embedded UX research program for one of our global technology clients. About the Role: As a UX Researcher, you'll join an embedded global team supporting a major technology client. Based in Japan, you'll serve as the team's bilingual UX researcher, leading end-to-end qualitative research in both Japanese and English. You will independently lead research studies with both Japanese- and English-speaking participants, moderating sessions and delivering findings in the appropriate language for each audience. The role requires presenting insights and recommendations in Japanese to local stakeholders, as well as conducting studies and delivering reports in English to global stakeholders across the US, UK, and other international markets. Most studies are completed within one to two weeks, with opportunities to contribute to longer-form research such as diary studies, benchmarking, and focus groups. This role is best suited to an experienced researcher who is comfortable working independently, consulting with stakeholders to shape the right research approach, navigating ambiguity, and managing multiple concurrent studies in a fast-moving, global environment. We're looking for someone with at least four years of experience leading qualitative UX research and partnering directly with product teams, stakeholders, or clients. 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: - 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 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