Researcher In Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking a Staff User Researcher to define how research operates across BEP's full product portfolio and elevate product and design decisions through systematic user insight. In close partnership with the VP of Design, you'll shape research strategy, organization design, and the roadmap for scaling the function - while building the operations, processes, and standards that support seven product lines. The ideal person is a builder who thrives in ambiguity and gets energized by creating structure where none exists. You've been the first or early researcher before and understand what it takes to establish research as a respected, strategic function.

Who we are:

Buyers Edge Platform stands at the forefront of revolutionizing the foodservice industry through technology, purchasing power and partnerships. We are dedicated to empowering stakeholders across the entire foodservice ecosystem (operators, distributors, manufacturers) with efficiency and unprecedented visibility. With a diverse portfolio of over a dozen brands, our mission is clear: to reduce costs, streamline the foodservice supply chain, and propel the industry from manual to automated.

Today, we are one of the largest players in foodservice, with over 200K operator locations across North America and over $60 billion of aggregated spend volume. Our commitment to foodservice excellence is proven in four distinct areas of value: Digital Procurement Network, Fresh Solutions, Supply Chain Management, and Software. Buyers Edge Platform is not just a provider – we are a strategic partner on the journey towards a more efficient, connected, and automated future for the foodservice industry.

This is a fully remote role. We are unable to offer sponsorship for work authorization.

Your impact:

Build the Research Function from the Ground Up

• Define and execute the vision, strategy, and operating model for research at BEP
• Design scalable research operations across 7 product lines with varying maturity, users, and business models
• Establish foundational systems: research repository, intake and prioritization processes, governance, quality standards, participant recruitment, and data privacy practices
• Partner with design leadership to shape the roadmap and long-term plan for growing research as a strategic capability

Elevate Research Craft Across the Organization

• Uplevel the design team's research capability through coaching, workshops, critiques, and office hours
• Create practical frameworks, templates, and toolkits that make high-quality research easier and more consistent
• Model strong research craft while empowering designers to confidently own appropriate research
• Exercise sound judgment on when to lead directly vs. enable from the sidelines

Drive High-Impact Strategic Research

• Lead complex, ambiguous research initiatives that inform product direction and executive decisions
• Proactively identify gaps in organizational understanding and initiate research to address them
• Synthesize insights across products to uncover patterns, opportunities, and strategic recommendations
• Translate findings into compelling narratives that drive alignment and action
• Partner closely with Product, Design, and cross-functional leaders to ensure research meaningfully shapes roadmaps

Champion a User-Centered Culture

• Establish research as a trusted, strategic voice within product and design leadership
• Clearly communicate the value and impact of research to stakeholders
• Advocate for users in critical decision-making moments
• Help embed user-centered thinking across BEP's product organization

About you:

• 8–10+ years of experience in user research, ideally in B2B SaaS or enterprise software
• Experience building research practices, systems, and team capability from scratch
• Deep expertise across qualitative and quantitative methods, with strong judgment on when and how to apply them
• Experience designing research operations that scale (repositories, panels, governance, intake processes)
• Strong coaching and enablement skills
• Proven ability to influence product and design strategy through research insights
• Comfort with ambiguity and leading without predefined structure
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills across technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong cross-functional partnership and collaborative leadership skills

Nice to Have Experience:

• Experience in private equity-backed or multi-product environments
• Background in food service, hospitality, supply chain, or similarly complex operational industries
• Experience with multi-sided platforms serving multiple user personas
• Experience growing and managing research teams
• Familiarity with enterprise B2B challenges (long sales cycles, complex stakeholder ecosystems)
• Comfort leveraging modern research tools and AI-assisted workflows to increase efficiency and scale

Not sure you meet every qualification? Studies show that diverse applicants often hesitate to apply unless they check every box. At Buyers Edge Platform, we value authenticity and inclusion—if you're excited about the role, we encourage you to apply. You might be exactly who we're looking for!

What's in this for you:

• Great benefits from day one. We offer medical, dental, vision, FSA, company-paid life insurance, and more—plus a 401(k) with company match.
• Grow with us. Enjoy strong training, development, and competitive pay.
• Work-life balance. Our flexible PTO policy lets you take time when you need it—no accrual required.