Sr Lead UX Researcher - Operations

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

Senior Lead User Research Operations is the highest individual contributor level in the Research Ops career path and serves as the organizational authority on Research Ops strategy, practice, and innovation at Cox Automotive. This role operates at the intersection of enterprise strategy, research excellence, and operational transformation — shaping how research is practiced, scaled, and valued across the organization. The Senior Lead defines the future state of Research Ops, influences executive stakeholders, represents the discipline externally, and acts as a principal advisor to research, design, product, and business leadership. Senior Leads are distinguished by the organizational scope of their impact, their ability to lead through ambiguity, and their role as the primary steward of Research Ops maturity and culture.

Position Responsibilities:

• Define and own the long-term Research Ops strategy, operating model, and capability roadmap for the organization, aligning to business, product, and research priorities

• Serve as the principal authority and internal thought leader on Research Ops discipline, standards, tools, and emerging practice areas

• Lead enterprise-level Research Ops transformation initiatives that span multiple portfolios, departments, or business units — including research infrastructure modernization, AI enablement, and governance evolution

• Establish and govern enterprise standards for research repositories, insight management, participant protection, data governance, and operational quality

• Drive alignment across research, design, product, market intelligence, and executive leadership to ensure Research Ops investments are connected to measurable business outcomes

• Partner with C-suite and SVP-level stakeholders to define and communicate the strategic value of Research Ops, influence investment decisions, and shape organizational priorities

• Lead the design and institutionalization of agentic, AI-enabled, and automated research systems that reduce friction, improve quality, and scale research capacity across the enterprise

• Own the Research Ops measurement framework — defining, tracking, and communicating enterprise-level operational KPIs and the return on Research Ops investment

• Oversee strategic vendor partnerships, multi-year tooling investments, and research operations budget planning at the portfolio or enterprise level

• Represent Cox Automotive's Research Ops practice externally through speaking, publishing, or community engagement, elevating the organization's reputation in the field

• Model and develop a culture of craft, rigor, and continuous improvement across the Research Ops community of practice

• Serve as executive sponsor, coach, and principal mentor to Research Ops professionals across levels, contributing to career development, onboarding, and team capability growth

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in and 8 years’ experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master’s degree and 6years’ experience; a Ph.D. and 3 years’ experience in a related field; or 12 years’ experience in a related field

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in HCI, organizational design, information science, or business management preferred

• 10+ years of experience in research operations, program leadership, or operations roles, including at least 3 years operating at a lead or equivalent senior individual contributor level

• 10+ years of experience working in UX/Product Design, product, design, marketing, analytics, or customer research environments

• Recognized enterprise-level authority in Research Ops, including mastery across multiple operational domains (participant programs, repository governance, tooling ecosystems, AI-enabled workflows, metrics and measurement)

• Proven track record of defining and leading large-scale, cross-functional operational programs that deliver measurable, lasting organizational change

• Exceptional strategic thinking and systems-level problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, complexity, and competing priorities

• Executive-level communication and influence skills, including demonstrated success partnering with senior and C-suite leadership to drive strategic alignment and investment

• Experience building and scaling Research Ops functions, including tooling strategy, vendor governance, and AI-enabled automation at an enterprise level

• Demonstrated ability to translate operational vision into executable strategy, communicate impact through data and storytelling, and inspire others to follow

• Use general-purpose LLM tools to analyze and synthesize user behavior, identify patterns, and prioritize opportunities

• Use AI to accelerate discovery, experimentation, development, and recommend improvements

Additional Information:

• May require periodic travel