Lead Researcher, Research & Insights

Lead Researcher, Research & Insights at Salesforce

Salesforce is the #1 AI CRM where humans with agents drive customer success together. We partner with product management, engineering, UX and go-to-market teams to understand and solve customer problems using data‑driven insights. This role focuses on the Marketing Cloud Research & Insights team, delivering research that informs product strategy, design, development and business decisions.

• Establish, grow and manage diverse research communities that provide high engagement and represent key customer segments.
• Develop recruitment strategies to maintain a high‑quality participant pool for quantitative and qualitative research.
• Implement best‑practice community management, including moderation, communication and retention strategies.
• Execute rapid research projects with cross‑functional teams, translating qualitative insights into quantitative metrics.
• Design, distribute and analyze surveys using advanced methodologies, advising vendors when necessary.
• Apply statistical techniques to interpret survey data, ensuring reliability and validity of findings.
• Use data‑visualization tools to present research findings in clear, actionable formats.
• Scope and drive research projects that inform product strategy, design and development in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Conduct generative and evaluative research (surveys, unmoderated testing, interviews, moderated concept testing, etc.).
• Synthesize research findings into actionable insights, framing problems and highlighting business value.
• Manage research timelines, budgets and deliverables while maintaining data integrity and ethical research standards.
• Partner with UX researchers, data scientists, product managers, marketers and engineers to align research activities with business goals.
• Socialize insights with cross‑functional stakeholders to influence decision‑making.

• 7+ years of hands‑on research experience in user experience, product design or technology contexts; at least 2 years in a large matrixed organization.
• Proficient in planning, designing and executing foundational, generative and evaluative research engagements.
• Strong understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods and best practices.
• Experience working in cross‑functional teams (design, product management, engineering).
• Excellent teamwork, collaboration, project management, communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work with a globally dispersed team (including stakeholders based in India).
• University degree in a research‑ or business‑focused discipline (e.g., Psychology, Anthropology, HCI, Business, Research Methodology, Experimental Design, Design Research).

• Prior experience in research community development and management.
• Comfort building data libraries and dashboards.
• Experience in enterprise SaaS or technology research, with bonus for familiarity with Marketing personas/use‑cases.
• Ability to structure and lead internal and external workshops or design studios and analyze outcomes.
• Comfort with basic and advanced statistical methods, translating qualitative learnings into quantifiable metrics and automating their collection.

In this role you will execute strategic and tactical research to shape Marketing Cloud’s vision of enabling the world’s most innovative and recognized brands to create AI‑first, unified custom experiences across all touchpoints. You will advocate for users such as marketing operations, marketing leaders, merchandisers and developers.

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Salesforce is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non‑discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. ... [full EEO statement omitted for brevity] ...

The typical base salary range for this position is $189,100 – $260,100 annually. In select cities within the San Francisco and New York City metropolitan area, the base salary range is $207,800 – $285,800 annually. The range represents base salary only and does not include company bonus, incentive for sales roles, equity or benefits.

Time off programs, medical, dental, vision, mental health support, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, 401(k), employee stock purchasing program and more. See  for details.

Redmond, WA (remote options available)