Lead Researcher (Tableau)

• Research & Insights (R&I) is a core function within the Experience organization, and a strategic partner to User Experience (UX) designers, product management, engineering, and go-to-market teams across Salesforce
• We are passionate about understanding and solving our customers’ issues, using data-driven insights to create experiences that delight. We balance big-picture thinking with detailed craft, and we shape the future of Salesforce for the benefit of millions of end users
• We are seeking a Lead Researcher to support Tableau, the world’s leading AI-powered analytics platform. Tableau offers intuitive data experiences to help everyone see, understand, and act on their data. This role will shape the next generation of analytics capabilities and tackle complex challenges that our customers face with unlocking the value of data
• The researcher will distill complex problems into insights that inform product, design, development and business decisions. The ideal candidate will have domain expertise in analytics and one or more related topics such as semantics, data prep, data visualization, governance, and data storytelling. Candidates should also have some experience and understanding of Generative AI and related technologies
• This role will work cross-functionally across highly technical teams, helping to root strategy in action; manage collaborative efforts across multiple research initiatives; and focus on customer value above all else. This role will also manage a customer advisory board program, as well as our research presence at Salesforce events such as the Tableau Conference and Dreamforce
• Candidates must have mixed-methods expertise, understanding how to leverage qualitative and quantitative approaches to distill complex problems into clear insights driving product and business strategy
• Scope and drive full research initiatives, including planning, developing, and executing studies, managing stakeholders, triangulating data, and translating insights into actions
• Synthesize research findings into actionable insights by creating narratives to frame problems and highlight the business value of recommended solutions
• Proactively partner with senior management across cross-functional teams, including product, design, engineering, and customer success to identify and advocate for product strategy rooted in data and customer insights
• Scope and drive externally-facing feedback programs and event activations with leaders from our customer organizations
• Conduct strategic, generative, and evaluative research using the appropriate mix of research methods, from large-scale survey design to in-depth interviews
• Work on fast-paced and oftentimes ambiguous projects and programs, requiring attention to detail and working within constrained timelines, by staying true to scope and focusing on end goals and outcomes
• Shepherd the integration of AI tools (e.g., Claude, Gemini) to accelerate the research lifecycle. You’ll be responsible for separating “AI noise” from meaningful signals, validating AI-generated outputs for accuracy, and crafting interactive prototypes, dashboards, and research workflows with AI tooling
• Ethical Stewardship: Maintain the highest data integrity and ethical research standards, particularly as we navigate the complexities of AI bias, privacy, and “ethical imagination” in product development
• Contribute to our broader Research & Insights organization through mentorship, cultivating and teaching craft and methodology, and facilitating deep collaboration across individuals and teams

Benefits

• Medical Care
• Life Insurance
• Retirement Savings
• Employee Assistance Programs
• With 9 standard holidays and four floating holidays, you get a total 13 paid days off each year- We require familiarity with enterprise software, particularly “as-a-service,” and its evolving personas (e.g., Admins, Developers, Data Analysts, Business Users, CIOs, CDOs, CTOs)
• Advanced understanding of research methods (qualitative and quantitative) and best practices, and familiarity with a broad range of user research tools
• Ability to structure and lead internal and external workshops and analyze the outcomes to provide insight for stakeholders
• AI Fluency: A working grasp of how AI systems fail and learn. You know when to deploy AI for efficiency and when the “human in the loop” is non-negotiable
• Educational Foundation: University degree in a field emphasizing human behavior (e.g., Psychology, Anthropology, HCI) or a research-focused business discipline
• Ability to plan, design, execute and communicate both strategic and tactical research engagements
• Experience working in cross-functional teams (e.g. customer success, solution architects, design, product management, engineering, marketing)
• Proven track record influencing product direction and strategy with actionable insights
• Excellent project management, communication, storytelling, and presentation skills
• Global Collaboration: Comfortable working with and across globally dispersed teams (AMER/APAC) and navigating the nuances of different market needs
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in UX, product design, or technology research, with at least 2 years in a large, matrixed organization- Please include a portfolio of 1-2 research projects with details of your direct contributions with your application