R&D Manager

Nicely Co.; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Nicely Co. in Tulsa, OK seeks an experienced R&D Manager to lead disciplined research, experimentation, and development, turning priorities into dependable work with clear ownership.

You will build lightweight processes suitable for an early-stage company, partner across functions, and escalate decisions while ensuring ethical handling of data and confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated capability in disciplined research and evidence-based development.
• Strong written and verbal communication with cross-functional partners.
• Ability to organize ambiguous work and document decisions.
• Commitment to ethical conduct and confidentiality.
• Experience in startup or early-stage environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day work across disciplined research, experimentation, technical discovery, evidence, documentation, and useful innovation.
• Translate priorities into documented plans, decisions, and measurable outcomes.
• Build lightweight, repeatable processes for an early-stage company.
• Collaborate across functions to resolve dependencies and deliver outcomes.
• Identify risks early and escalate consequential decisions.
• Maintain accurate documentation and handle information responsibly.
• Use evidence to improve quality, efficiency, and stakeholder experience.
• Communicate progress and priorities clearly to teammates.

Skills

Disciplined research

Technical discovery

Documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Ownership mindset

Ethics & confidentiality

Education

Relevant education or portfolio

Job description

R&D Manager

Help build Nicely Co.'s disciplined research, experimentation, technical discovery, evidence, documentation, and useful innovation as R&D Manager, with meaningful ownership in an early-stage company.

Position overview

Nicely Co. is seeking a R&D Manager to strengthen disciplined research, experimentation, technical discovery, evidence, documentation, and useful innovation. This role will turn company priorities into clear, dependable work while partnering directly with colleagues across functions.Nicely Co. is an early-stage company, so this position will help create the processes and internal systems behind the work, not merely inherit a mature playbook. The successful candidate will use sound judgment, communicate tradeoffs, and operate with appropriate autonomy.Responsibilities may evolve as the company grows. This is an opportunity to influence how the Research & Development function develops, establish useful standards, and leave behind systems that scale responsibly.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day work across disciplined research, experimentation, technical discovery, evidence, documentation, and useful innovation.
• Translate the priorities of the R&D Manager role into documented plans, decisions, and measurable outcomes.
• Build lightweight, repeatable processes that fit an early-stage company and can mature over time.
• Collaborate across functions to resolve dependencies and deliver complete outcomes.
• Identify risks early, recommend proportionate solutions, and escalate consequential decisions.
• Maintain accurate documentation and handle company, customer, and employee information responsibly.
• Use relevant evidence and feedback to improve quality, efficiency, and stakeholder experience.
• Communicate progress, constraints, priorities, and results clearly to affected teammates.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated capability relevant to disciplined research, experimentation, technical discovery, evidence, documentation, and useful innovation.
• Judgment and ownership appropriate for the R&D Manager scope.
• Strong written and verbal communication with both specialists and cross-functional partners.
• Ability to organize ambiguous work, make progress independently, and document decisions.
• Comfort building systems in an early-stage environment where priorities may evolve.
• Commitment to ethical conduct, confidentiality, security, accessibility, and inclusive collaboration.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with modern methods and tools used in Research & Development.
• Experience in a startup, small business, or other resource-conscious environment.
• Evidence of improving a workflow, standard, product, service, or measurable outcome.
• Relevant education, certification, portfolio, or equivalent practical experience.
• Flexible work arrangements where applicable.
• Opportunity to help build an early-stage company.
• Direct impact on company growth and operating quality.
• Cross-functional collaboration and professional development opportunities.
• Significant ownership over assigned responsibilities.
• Opportunity for responsibilities to expand as the company grows.