Senior Lead UX Researcher – Operations Job California Missouri USA,Business

Define and own the long-term Research Ops strategy, operating model, and capability roadmap
Serve as principal authority and internal thought leader on Research Ops
Lead enterprise-level Research Ops transformation initiatives across portfolios, departments, and business units
Establish and govern standards for research repositories, insight management, participant protection, data governance, and operational quality
Align research, design, product, market intelligence, and executive leadership around measurable business outcomes
Partner with C-suite and SVP-level stakeholders to communicate Research Ops value and influence investment decisions
Lead institutionalization of agentic, AI-enabled, and automated research systems
Own the Research Ops measurement framework, KPIs, and return-on-investment reporting
Oversee strategic vendor partnerships, tooling investments, and research operations budget planning
Represent Cox Automotive’s Research Ops practice through speaking, publishing, and community engagement
Develop a culture of craft, rigor, and continuous improvement
Serve as executive sponsor, coach, and principal mentor to Research Ops professionals
Travel periodically as required

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in HCI, organizational design, information science, or business management preferred
Bachelor’s degree and 8 years’ experience in a related field; alternative combinations include a master’s degree and 6 years’ experience, a Ph.D. and 3 years’ experience, or 12 years’ experience in a related field
10+ years of experience in research operations, program leadership, or operations roles
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
Mastery across participant programs, repository governance, tooling ecosystems, AI-enabled workflows, metrics, and measurement
Proven track record leading large-scale, cross-functional operational programs
Strategic thinking and systems-level problem-solving skills
Executive-level communication and influence skills
Experience partnering with senior and C-suite leadership
Experience building and scaling Research Ops functions
Experience with tooling strategy, vendor governance, and AI-enabled automation at enterprise level
Ability to translate operational vision into executable strategy
Ability to communicate impact through data and storytelling
Ability to use general-purpose LLM tools to analyze and synthesize user behavior
Ability to use AI to accelerate discovery, experimentation, and development
Must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship
No OPT, CPT, STEM/OPT, or visa sponsorship now or in future
Must clear a pre-employment drug test

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in Research Operations strategy, including the development of measurement frameworks and governance standards. Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and communicate effectively with C-suite stakeholders to drive business outcomes.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Research Operations Strategy
Enterprise-Level Authority in Research Ops
AI-Enabled Workflows
Executive-Level Communication
Cross-Functional Program Leadership

Hard Skills

Research Operations
Program Leadership
Participant Programs
Repository Governance
Metrics and Measurement
Tooling Strategy
Vendor Governance
Data Governance
Operational Quality
UX/Product Design

Soft Skills

Strategic Thinking
Systems-Level Problem-Solving
Influence Skills
Coaching and Mentoring
Continuous Improvement

Industry Keywords

HCI
Organizational Design
Information Science
Business Management
Customer Research

Tools & Technologies

AI-Enabled Automation
General-Purpose LLM Tools
Research Repositories
Insight Management Tools
Operational Budget Planning