Senior Lead Research Ops & UX Strategy

Cox Enterprises; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

You will lead cross-functional programs across research, design, product, and business units, mentoring teams and shaping Research Ops maturity and culture across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 8 years’ related experience, or equivalent combinations
• Advanced degree in HCI, organizational design, information science, or business management preferred
• 10+ years in research operations, program leadership, or related roles
• Experience in UX/Product Design, product, design, marketing, analytics, or customer research environments
• Enterprise-level authority in Research Ops across multiple domains
• Proven track record leading large-scale, cross-functional programs

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Executive-level communication

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Influence with senior leaders

Systems thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

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

Job description

You will lead cross-functional programs across research, design, product, and business units, mentoring teams and shaping Research Ops maturity and culture across the organization.