Head of Research Ops & AI-Enabled UX

Cox Automotive; Burlington (VT); On-site; USD 149,000 - 248,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental leave

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Cox Automotive in the United States seeks a senior Research Ops leader to define and own the long-term strategy, operating model, and capability roadmap for the organization, aligning to business and research priorities.

You will partner with C-suite and SVP-level stakeholders to communicate value, shape investments, and scale enterprise-wide research systems, governance, and AI-enabled workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 8+ years in a related field, or equivalent mix of education and experience.
• Advanced degree preferred in HCI, organizational design, information science, or business management.
• 10+ years in research operations or related leadership roles.
• Experience in UX/Product Design, marketing, analytics, or customer research environments.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional programs with measurable outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the long-term Research Ops strategy, operating model, and capability roadmap.
• Serve as the principal authority on Research Ops standards, tools, and emerging practices.
• Lead enterprise-level Research Ops transformation initiatives across portfolios and units.
• Establish and govern enterprise standards for repositories, governance, and data quality.
• Drive alignment to ensure investments connect to measurable business outcomes.
• Partner with C-suite to communicate strategic value and influence investments.
• Lead AI-enabled and automated research systems at scale.
• Own the Research Ops measurement framework and KPIs.
• Oversee vendor partnerships, tooling investments, and budget planning.
• Represent Cox Automotive's Research Ops externally via speaking and publishing.
• Foster a culture of craft, rigor, and continuous improvement.
• Sponsor and mentor Research Ops professionals at all levels.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Portfolio governance

AI-enabled transformation

Research operations

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Advanced degree in HCI / organizational design / information science / business management

12+ years of experience in related fields

Job description

Cox Automotive in the United States seeks a senior Research Ops leader to define and own the long-term strategy, operating model, and capability roadmap for the organization, aligning to business and research priorities.

You will partner with C-suite and SVP-level stakeholders to communicate value, shape investments, and scale enterprise-wide research systems, governance, and AI-enabled workflows.