Role Description At Fearless, we are seeking a UX Research Engagement Lead as part of our Senior Consultant, Business and Product Delivery career path to lead discovery research for a state government permitting reform initiative. This role serves as the engagement lead and primary client point of contact, leading discovery research across a multi-track engagement documenting how permitting processes currently operate across multiple state agencies, identifying where systems fail users, and translating field research into evidence-based recommendations that inform future modernization decisions. This engagement focuses on understanding the real workflows of government staff, municipal agencies, licensed professionals, and residents who depend on permitting systems that often require extensive manual workarounds. This is a fully remote role. This Senior Consultant role requires versatility, leadership, and collaboration across teams and stakeholders to maximize value delivery and adoption. The role ensures alignment of product strategy with client goals, facilitates agile ceremonies and continuous improvement, and provides critical business and functional analysis to deliver high-quality, user-centered solutions. This role will possess the skills to be able to span the domains of product management, scrum leadership, and business analyst at an advanced application level of proficiency. This Consultant role will work on projects that allow them to support agile software development teams and client organizations. Work Location & Travel Requirements - This is a fully remote role with the flexibility to work from any location. - Travel to customer site for in-person research sessions including contextual inquiry, shadowing activities, and workshops is required throughout the engagement. - The individual in this role must be available during core working hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time for coordination with the client Product Owner. Your Responsibilities in this Role - Lead end-to-end discovery research strategy across two parallel tracks examining permitting workflows at multiple state agencies. - Conduct contextual inquiry and observational research at government work sites to document how processes actually operate versus how they are intended to function. - Facilitate stakeholder interviews and workshops with government staff, municipal agencies, licensed professionals, and residents to surface pain points and workarounds. - Synthesize research findings into service blueprints, process maps, functional requirements, and executive reports that support strategic decision-making. - Validate all findings with research participants before final submission to ensure process documentation and recommendations accurately reflect user reality. - Translate complex, messy workflows into clear narratives and visual artifacts that inform procurement teams, technical staff, and executive leadership. - Coordinate directly with the client Product Owner to adapt research plans as patterns emerge and communicate progress throughout the engagement. - Ensure all deliverables satisfy the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) by tracing every finding to primary research evidence and maintaining methodological rigor. The Impact You Will Create in this Role - Fosters collaboration with cross-functional teams by taking the initiative and driving conversations. - Coach, mentor, and develop peers that elevate team capability and technical expertise using clear and persuasive communication of engineering solutions to both technical and non-technical audiences. - Earn the trust of your customer and teammates by delivering world-class services. - Drive accountability and delivery by ensuring project objectives are not only met on time but aligned with client priorities and Fearless standards of excellence. Anticipate risks and implement proactive solutions to keep initiatives on track. - Take ownership of risk management by monitoring deliverables across the team, identifying issues early, and coaching teammates on mitigation strategies while keeping leadership informed. - Shape client engagement and intelligence-gathering efforts by actively cultivating relationships with stakeholders, synthesizing insights across the client organization and partner ecosystem, and providing Fearless leaders with actionable recommendations that inform strategy and strengthen delivery outcomes. Work Experience Project Skill and Experience Requirements - Minimum of 7 years of experience in user research, service design, or related roles conducting discovery research for complex systems. - Demonstrated experience leading discovery-phase research for complex, multi-stakeholder services involving broken or fragmented processes. - Proven expertise conducting field research methods including contextual inquiry and observational research where users work. - Experience producing service blueprints, process flows, or equivalent artifacts that map workflows across multiple actors, systems, and handoffs. - Strong synthesis skills translating raw research into actionable insights and recommendations for executives, procurement teams, and technical staff. - Portfolio or case studies demonstrating discovery research outputs beyond usability testing of existing products. Preferred Skill and Experience Requirements - Experience conducting research in state or local government contexts. - Familiarity with permitting, licensing, or rules-based regulatory processes. Fearless Skills and Competencies - Analytical Thinking: The ability to observe and interpret information, break down complex problems into parts, identify patterns/relationships and draw logical conclusions to develop effective solutions. - Synthetic Thinking: The ability to combine different ideas, information, or concepts to create a new, complex understanding or solution by integrating disparate elements into a new, meaningful whole. - Adaptability: Comfort with change, flexibility in the face of shifting demands and resilience to setbacks. - Ownership & Accountability: Committed to taking responsibility for outcomes, ensuring that all commitments are met with a focus on enhancing service delivery. - Consultative Advising: Identifies and articulates client challenges, scopes projects and aligns recommendations to business goals and client expectations. - Communicating with Influence: Capable of crafting and delivering clear, persuasive messages that integrate data insights and structured narratives, tailored to the strategic needs of diverse audiences to drive effective decision-making. - Managing Priorities & Client Alignment: Skillfully negotiates and manages conflicting priorities to strategically align decisions, enhancing service delivery and client satisfaction. Physical Requirements - Ability to sit for extended periods while working on a computer or during meetings. - Must be able to travel occasionally to client sites or company meetings, which may involve driving or flying. - Ability to communicate effectively via phone, email, and in-person, requiring clear speech, listening, and written communication skills. - Ability to move within an office environment, including reaching for files, using office equipment, and occasional light lifting (up to 10 pounds). Benefits - Flexible, life-friendly schedules. - 100% coverage for our medical HSA plan + HSA contributions. - Dental & vision covered 100% for you and your dependents. - Competitive premiums for HMO/PPO and dependent coverage. - 401(k) with 4% match & immediate vesting. - Paid Parental Leave and 12 weeks paid FMLA. - Generous PTO, 11 Federal Holidays, a Birthday Holiday, and Sick Leave. - Up to 15 days for Jury Duty and Bereavement Leave. - Education, wellness, and tech allowances. - Referral bonus: $6K–$12K for each successful referral. - Pet insurance & discount plans. - Employee Assistance Program (EAP). - Legal support, life insurance, disability coverage. - Performance-Based Bonuses.