Position Responsibilities:
Define and own the long-term Research Ops strategy, operating model, and capability roadmap for the organization, aligning to business, product, and research priorities
Serve as the principal authority and internal thought leader on Research Ops discipline, standards, tools, and emerging practice areas
Lead enterprise-level Research Ops transformation initiatives that span multiple portfolios, departments, or business units — including research infrastructure modernization, AI enablement, and governance evolution
- Establish and govern enterprise standards for research repositories, insight management, participant protection, data governance, and operational quality
- Drive alignment across research, design, product, market intelligence, and executive leadership to ensure Research Ops investments are connected to measurable business outcomes
- Partner with C-suite and SVP-level stakeholders to define and communicate the strategic value of Research Ops, influence investment decisions, and shape organizational priorities
Lead the design and institutionalization of agentic, AI-enabled, and automated research systems that reduce friction, improve quality, and scale research capacity across the enterprise
- Own the Research Ops measurement framework — defining, tracking, and communicating enterprise-level operational KPIs and the return on Research Ops investment
- Oversee strategic vendor partnerships, multi-year tooling investments, and research operations budget planning at the portfolio or enterprise level
- Represent Cox Automotive's Research Ops practice externally through speaking, publishing, or community engagement, elevating the organization's reputation in the field
- Model and develop a culture of craft, rigor, and continuous improvement across the Research Ops community of practice
- Serve as executive sponsor, coach, and principal mentor to Research Ops professionals across levels, contributing to career development, onboarding, and team capability growth
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in and 8 years’ experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master’s degree and 6years’ experience; a Ph.D. and 3 years’ experience in a related field; or 12 years’ experience in a related field
Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in HCI, organizational design, information science, or business management preferred
10+ years of experience in research operations, program leadership, or operations roles, including at least 3 years operating at a lead or equivalent senior individual contributor level
10+ years of experience working in UX/Product Design, product, design, marketing, analytics, or customer research environments
Recognized enterprise-level authority in Research Ops, including mastery across multiple operational domains (participant programs, repository governance, tooling ecosystems, AI-enabled workflows, metrics and measurement)
- Proven track record of defining and leading large-scale, cross-functional operational programs that deliver measurable, lasting organizational change
- Exceptional strategic thinking and systems-level problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, complexity, and competing priorities
- Executive-level communication and influence skills, including demonstrated success partnering with senior and C-suite leadership to drive strategic alignment and investment
- Experience building and scaling Research Ops functions, including tooling strategy, vendor governance, and AI-enabled automation at an enterprise level
- Demonstrated ability to translate operational vision into executable strategy, communicate impact through data and storytelling, and inspire others to follow
- Use general-purpose LLM tools to analyze and synthesize user behavior, identify patterns, and prioritize opportunities
- Use AI to accelerate discovery, experimentation, development, and recommend improvements
Additional Information:
May require periodic travel
Drug Testing
To be employed in this role, you’ll need to clear a pre-employment drug test. Cox Automotive does not currently administer a pre-employment drug test for marijuana for this position. However, we are a drug-free workplace, so the possession, use or being under the influence of drugs illegal under federal or state law during work hours, on company property and/or in company vehicles is prohibited.
