Head of Research Operations & Enablement

Mercury; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercury is seeking a Research Operations Lead to define the strategy and run a scalable research enablement program across Product, Design, and Marketing. You will lead high-stakes studies, set standards, and manage the research tools and vendors while guiding a small team.

You will partner with design managers, designers, and PMs to ensure customer evidence informs decisions from discovery to post-launch analysis.

Qualifications

• Eight+ years of hands-on research operations experience with a track record of building or scaling a program.
• 1–2 years of people management experience.
• Thought leader in the space with strategic vision.
• Qualitative research experience and quantitative fluency.
• Thrives in ambiguity and uncovers practical insights.
• Excellent coaching for non-researchers and clear communication.
• Proficient in integrating AI into daily workflow while preserving judgment.

Responsibilities

• Own strategy, roadmap, and operating model for Mercury's research.
• Lead high-stakes research with senior judgment and raise quality standards.
• Partner with design managers, designers, and PMs to inform decisions.
• Oversee research tool stack, vendor relationships, budget, and build-versus-buy choices.
• Improve AI-enabled workflows for planning, conversations, and synthesis.
• Pilot new customer insights programs and events to surface learning.
• Make customer learning visible across Mercury and surface patterns.
• Manage and coach one direct report while staying hands-on.

Tools

Dovetail

Maze

Rally

Job description

Mercury is seeking a Research Operations Lead to define the strategy and run a scalable research enablement program across Product, Design, and Marketing. You will lead high-stakes studies, set standards, and manage the research tools and vendors while guiding a small team.

You will partner with design managers, designers, and PMs to ensure customer evidence informs decisions from discovery to post-launch analysis.