Research Project Coordinator (temporary, PT)

Sago; New York (NY); On-site; USD 28,413 - 40,467; Part time

Job summary

Sago is seeking a part-time Research Project Coordinator to support onsite participant experiences near Penn Station, NYC. This temporary role focuses on hospitality, logistics, and compliance in a secure research environment.

The position offers up to four days weekly (Friday–Monday) with daytime hours and a starting pay rate of $25 per hour, dependent on experience. You’ll collaborate with UX researchers and station staff to ensure smooth study operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience in customer-facing operations, event coordination, research support, or onsite logistics.
• Experience with confidential environments and privacy standards is desired.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary welcome point for external study participants, manage check-in and wayfinding, and escort participants to secure lab spaces.
• Enforce NDA compliance, access control, device handling, and privacy standards within testing zones.
• Coordinate with UX Research Assistants and onsite teams to maintain study timelines and smooth lab operations.
• Distribute incentives and document attendance and compliance checkpoints in tracking tools.

Skills

Communication

Confidentiality

Organization

Onsite logistics

Collaboration

Compliance

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Hospitality, Psychology, Business Administration, Research Operations, or related field preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Teams

Outlook

Google Docs/Sheets/Calendar/Chat

Job description

Sago is a global leader in market research and data solutions, committed to connecting human answers to business questions. The world is transforming, and Sago is continuously reaching new heights, redefining our solutions beyond our clients' wildest expectations, and making it smarter, faster, and easier to gain insights that matter.

We're a team of innovators, strategists, and problem-solvers, passionate and inspired thinkers, who celebrate our wins. We are vibrant leaders who empower our colleagues and innovate the Market Research industry - curious learners constantly finding new ways to transform. We are bold thinkers and authentic team members who show up to work every day being ourselves, never afraid of new ideas or opinions, because we believe they matter.

We are currently seeking RESEARCH PROJECT COORDINATORS for a temporary position anticipated to last three (3) months, with the possibility for extension.

Location: Onsite within proximity to Penn Station, NYC

Schedule: Up to four (4) days per week, Friday through Monday (part-time, daytime hours)

Pay rate: Hourly rate is anticipated to be $25/hour dependent on candidate experience and qualifications.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Research Project Coordinator is a core member of the Research Support Team, responsible for coordinating the onsite participant experience and maintaining secure, compliant movement through research facilities.

This role is focused on participant hospitality, onsite coordination, facility access management, and supporting a safe, organized and compliant research environment. Because research activities may involve confidential, unreleased technology and sensitive participant activity, this role plays a critical part in ensuring that non-disclosure agreement protocols, identification, device handling expectations, privacy standards, and onsite study logistics are followed consistently and professionally.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Participant Hospitality & Onsite Experience

• Serve as the primary welcoming point of contact for external study participants arriving at research facilities.
• Manage participant check-in, arrival readiness, wayfinding, and onsite communication to create a calm, organized, and professional experience.
• Escort participants from building lobby or designated arrival areas into approved secure lab spaces and safely escort them out at the conclusion of the study.
• Ensure participants understand onsite expectations, timing, logistics, and next steps before, during, and after their research session.
• Respond quickly and professionally to participant questions, delays, comfort needs, or onsite issues while maintaining confidentiality and protocol integrity.

Security Compliance & Physical Lab Gatekeeping

• Ensure all participants complete required non-disclosure agreements and onsite compliance steps before entering research areas.
• Enforce secure access procedures, participant movement guidelines, device handling expectations, and hardware containment protocols within approved testing zones.
• Confirm that unreleased or confidential research assets remain within authorized areas and are handled only according to established protocols.
• Monitor participant flow through secure spaces and escalate potential compliance, privacy, or security concerns immediately.
• Maintain a high level of discretion and attention to detail when supporting studies involving confidential technology, sensitive research environments, or restricted lab spaces.

Research Team Collaboration & Live Lab Scheduling

• Coordinate closely with UX Research Assistants running data collection to ensure participants are ready at the right time and in the right location.
• Flag delays, cancellations, no-shows, early arrivals, participant issues, or other conflicts to Sr Research Assistants and project stakeholders in real time.
• Support smooth lab room operations by monitoring participant flow, handoffs, session transitions, and onsite schedule changes.
• Maintain clear, timely communication with UX Research Assistants, onsite teams, program managers, and other stakeholders to minimize disruption and protect study timelines.

Incentives, Offboarding & Compliance Tracking

• Coordinate participant offboarding at the conclusion of each session, including exit instructions, escorting, and completion confirmation.
• Distribute study compensation such as gift cards, stipends, or other approved incentives in accordance with study and compliance requirements.
• Track incentive distribution accurately and maintain required records for internal compliance, reconciliation, and audit readiness.
• Document onsite attendance, participant status, schedule changes, and compliance checkpoints in approved tracking tools.
• Ensure the onsite participant pipeline adheres to internal privacy standards, ethical research expectations, and applicable study-specific requirements.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Exceptional participant-facing communication skills and ability to make external guests feel safe, valued, and comfortable in an unfamiliar technical environment.
• Maintains confidentiality and follows established protocols for access-controlled research spaces, participant information, and study equipment.
• Highly organized and dependable, with the ability to coordinate participant movement, live calendars, room flow, and onsite logistics in real time.
• Calm, professional, and solutions-focused when managing delays, participant questions, cancellations, or last-minute onsite changes.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work closely with Research Assistants, onsite teams, project managers, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Commitment to participant experience, privacy, compliance, and operational excellence.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, and ability to follow protocols consistently in secure or sensitive research environments.
• Proactive communication style with strong follow-through and documentation discipline.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Hospitality, Psychology, Business Administration, Research Operations, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent experience in customer-facing operations, event coordination, research support, secure front-desk operations, or onsite logistics may be considered.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Prior experience in customer-facing operations, hospitality, event coordination, lab-front desk operations, research coordination, or onsite participant support.
• Experience managing guest movement, secure check-in processes, workspace scheduling, or onsite participant/customer logistics.
• Experience working in environments with strict privacy, confidentiality, security, compliance, or access-control expectations.
• Experience coordinating with technical, research, operations, or project management teams in a fast-paced setting.
• Comfort working in physical lab, research, technology, or highly structured onsite environments.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, and calendar management tools.
• Google Workspace tools including Docs, Sheets, Calendar, and Chat.
• Ability to quickly learn new onsite systems, compliance tracking tools, and scheduling workflows.