Sarah Burtis

Experience

Kohl’s, Sr. Product Researcher

March 2023- Present

• Led and planned generative and evaluative research in partnership with product and cross-functional teams by selecting the most effective methods aligned with specific objectives and timelines.

• Collaborated with design peers to create journey maps and service design blueprints based on benchmark studies, helping to educate product partners and stakeholders, and inform product strategy.

• Advised product and cross-functional teams on strategies to uncover user needs, motivations, expectations, and pain points using contextual inquiry, interviews, workshops, and surveys to identify opportunities across the product development lifecycle.

• Coached peers and cross-functional teams by defining research best practices and developing educational programs focused on human-centered design, research methods, and industry trends.

• Managed Research Operations in the creation and continual improvements to team processes, guidelines, templates and knowledge repositories. Curated and promoted Research Education programs to onboard and upskill Product Designers and cross-functional partners conducting research independently or in collaboration.

Workday, Sr. UX Researcher

January 2022- March 2023

• Collaborated with cross-functional teams—including product, design, and engineering—to define research goals and select methods that supported both strategic direction and tactical execution.

• Led user research across multiple platforms (web and mobile), including usability testing, workshops, surveys, and stakeholder interviews, to uncover user needs, mental models, and friction points.

• Synthesized and communicated findings through storytelling, presentations, and tailored deliverables, helping stakeholders make informed, user-centered decisions.

• Built alignment around research insights by facilitating cross-functional discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions.

Aetna, a cvs health company, Sr. UX Researcher

October 2019 - January 2022

• Analyzed the scope of research requests to develop an appropriate research plan based on the available resources and timeline.

• Designed and executed generative and evaluative research studies to support both product vision and design decisions within complex healthcare systems.

• Translated research findings into strategic and tactical recommendations and presented to senior leaders and executive stakeholders.

• Prioritized and executed research efficiently within agile and fast-paced environments.

• Contributed to the growth of the internal research repository, increasing accessibility and reusability of insights across teams.

Charter Communications, Sr. Research Analyst

May 2017 - October 2019

• Supported multiple teams and projects by conducting a range of research activities including competitive analysis, tree testing, card sorting, usability testing, and surveys.

• Developed research proposals and roadmaps to align activities with project timelines and business needs.

• Shared research findings through clear, visually engaging presentations that enabled decision-making across product and design.

• Mentored junior researchers in research design and synthesis techniques.

• Fostered strong working relationships with stakeholders and cross-functional teams in an effort to increase collaboration and communication.

Charter Communications, UX Designer & Researcher (Contract)

May 2016 - May 2017

• Conducted foundational and evaluative research using interviews, feature analysis, and usability testing to inform UX strategy.

• Created wireframes and interactive prototypes that aligned with research insights and business goals.

• Collaborated with design and product peers to validate and iterate on interaction models and information architecture.

Kaplan Test Prep, UX Designer & Researcher (Contract)

November 2015 - May 2016

• Conducted end-to-end UX research to uncover user behaviors, motivations, and pain points, informing both early-stage strategy and detailed design decisions.

• Created wireframes and prototypes for new and improved learning platform features, based on research insights and usability testing.

Education

University of DenveR

M.A. RESEARCH METHODS & STATISTICS
Incomplete

General Assembly, New York City

USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN IMMERSIVE
2015

Adelphi University

B.F.A. GRAPHIC DESIGN
Graduated 2009

Nassau Community College

A.A.S. FASHION DESIGN
Graduated 2006

Contact

Email: sdburtis@mac.com

KEY Skills

• A/B Testing

• Benchmarking

• Card Sorting

• Contextual Inquiries

• Cross-functional Collaboration

• Data Analysis

• Diary Studies

• Ethnographic Studies

• First Click Testing

• Information Architecture

• Interviews

• Journey Map Creation

• Literature Reviews

• Mixed Methods (Quant & Qual)

• Persona Creation

• Research Operations

• Service Design

• Statistical Analysis

• Storytelling & Executive Communication

• Strategic UX Research

• Surveys (Qualitative, Quantitative)

• Tree Testing

• Usability Testing (Remote, In-Person, Moderated, Unmoderated)

• Workshop Planning & Facilitation

Interests

• Adventures with my dog, Murray

• Bouldering & Climbing

• Camping

• Cycling

• Fly Fishing

• Gardening

• Hiking

• Photography

• Running

• Snowboarding

• Volunteering