AKQA · 1 day ago
Freelance UX Researcher
Atlanta
Full-time
Hybrid
Mid, Senior Level
$3,200/wk - $4,400/wk
3+ years expAKQA is a company that focuses on the imaginative application of art and science to create digital services and applications. They are seeking an experienced Freelance UX Researcher to lead research initiatives for a quick-serve restaurant brand, focusing on improving digital experiences that affect millions of customers and team members.
AdvertisingAdviceDigital MediaE-Commerce PlatformsMobileProduct DesignPublic RelationsSocial MediaWeb Development
Responsibilities
Apply rigor and curiosity to strategic insights, designing and conducting studies that reveal how people think, feel, and behave
Translate complex findings into clear, actionable insights, working within multidisciplinary environments
Define and drive the end-to-end research methodology and delivery, working across multi-step, multi-lane journeys
Frame the right questions, pioneer effective methods, and champion innovative approaches to turn evidence into compelling stories
Synthesize complex research findings into clear, actionable insights, frameworks, and strategic recommendations that drive product and design decisions
Influence and partner strategically with UX/UI designers, product managers, strategists, and engineers in agile environments
Lead and facilitate workshops and working sessions with stakeholders and cross-functional teams
Communicate and persuasively advocate for findings to different audiences, driving consensus and action
Qualification
Required
3–5 years of experience conducting UX research for digital products, services, or platforms
Proven expertise in independently planning, executing, and synthesizing a full spectrum of generative and evaluative research (e.g., stakeholder interviews, in‑depth user interviews, contextual inquiry, concept testing, usability testing), championing innovative best practices
Demonstrated experience owning the end-to-end research lifecycle, from independently defining strategic objectives and crafting robust study plans, to managing recruitment and logistics with meticulous detail
Ability to strategically select, advocate for, and skillfully apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods, making informed tradeoffs to achieve project goals. A proactive desire to explore, integrate, and even pioneer novel research approaches is essential
Exceptional ability to synthesize complex research findings into clear, actionable insights, frameworks, and strategic recommendations (e.g., personas, journey maps, opportunity areas, insight decks) that directly drive significant product and design decisions and demonstrate tangible business value for the client
Experience influencing and partnering strategically with UX/UI designers, product managers, strategists, and engineers in agile environments, effectively evangelizing research findings and user-centered approaches
Comfort working within complex systems (e.g., multi-channel journeys, enterprise tools, portals, or service ecosystems), with a focus on simplifying and humanizing the experience for users
Ability to confidently lead and facilitate workshops and working sessions with stakeholders and cross‑functional teams (e.g., discovery sessions, assumption mapping, ideation, prioritization)
Strong storytelling and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate and persuasively advocate for findings to different audiences—design teams, business stakeholders, and executives, driving consensus and action
Familiarity with common research and collaboration tools (e.g., UserTesting or similar platforms, survey tools, whiteboarding tools such as FigJam/Miro, and documentation tools), with an interest in exploring and proposing new tools to enhance project capabilities
Understanding of core UX and interaction design principles, and how research insights translate into flows, features, and UI decisions
Bachelor's degree in a related field (such as HCI, psychology, anthropology, sociology, design, or related discipline), or equivalent practical experience
Availability to work core business hours aligned to U.S. Eastern Time (ET), with flexibility for collaboration across additional time zones as needed
Benefits
Lunch and snacks are provided.
Opportunities to visit restaurants for research studies and innovation insights.
Company
AKQA
AKQA is an ideas and innovation company that uses the imaginative application of art and science to create ideas, products, and services. It is a sub-organization of WPP.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
AKQA has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (5)
2024 (6)
2023 (8)
2022 (9)
2021 (8)
2020 (20)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$71MKey Investors
Francisco Partners
2012-06-20Acquired
2001-03-21Series Unknown· $71M
Leadership Team
Baiju Shah
Global CEO
Miriam Plon
Global Chief Strategy Officer
Recent News
2025-12-24
London Evening Standard
2025-10-31
Company data provided by crunchbase