Senior Manager, Experience Research

Position overview

Airbnb is seeking a Senior Manager, Experience Research to lead a team of researchers focused on understanding and improving the end-to-end experiences of guests, hosts, and the Airbnb community. This remote, globally distributed role requires a strategic leader who can set research priorities, mentor researchers, and partner with product, design, and data science to translate insights into actionable product decisions. You will build scalable research programs, foster inclusive practices, and drive impact across the company.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a high-performing Experience Research team, setting strategy and priorities.
• Design and execute mixed-method research programs (qualitative interviews, usability studies, surveys, field studies) to inform product and policy decisions.
• Partner with product managers, designers, engineers, and data scientists to translate insights into actionable product improvements.
• Build scalable research processes, governance, and documentation; ensure high-quality outputs and ethical research practices.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to define success metrics and measure impact.
• Mentor and coach team members; recruit and hire new researchers.
• Communicate complex findings clearly to executives and non-technical stakeholders.
• Foster inclusive user research practices and accessibility.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in user experience research or a related field; experience leading teams is essential.
• Proven ability to lead large-scale research programs and influence product strategy.
• Expertise in qualitative and quantitative methods: interviews, usability testing, diary studies, surveys, analytics.
• Strong storytelling, presentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to build strong partnerships across product, design, and engineering teams.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.

About Airbnb

Airbnb is a global community and platform that connects people to unique travel experiences. We strive to build a world where anyone can belong anywhere by creating meaningful human connections through technology.