ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Program Manager Research Operations Jobs in California

Zoox

UX Research Operations Program Manager

Foster City, CA · On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

We are looking for a Research Operations Program Manager to build and scale the systems that enable UX Research to operate with speed, quality, compliance, and product impact. This role sits at the ...

Mercor

Research Program Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $200K/yr

As a Research Program Manager, you will play a central role in coordinating the development ... You'll work across research, operations, and marketing to ensure evaluations are executed ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsProgram Research Operations JobsProgram Manager Research Operations JobsProgram Manager Research Operations Jobs in California

Program Manager Research Operations information

What are Program Manager Research Operations?

Program Manager Research Operations are professionals who oversee and coordinate the administrative and operational aspects of research programs within organizations such as universities, corporations, or healthcare institutions. Their responsibilities typically include managing budgets, ensuring compliance with regulations, supporting research teams, and improving efficiency in research processes. They act as a bridge between researchers, administrative staff, and external partners to ensure projects run smoothly and meet organizational goals. Program Managers in Research Operations play a critical role in enabling scientific and academic research by providing strategic and logistical support.

What is the difference between Program Manager Research Operations vs Research Coordinator?

AspectProgram Manager Research OperationsResearch Coordinator
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in related field, project management certifications often preferredBachelor's degree in a relevant field, research experience
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple projects, collaborates with teams, manages budgetsSupports research projects, handles data collection, assists with study logistics
Employer & IndustryResearch institutions, biotech, pharma, academiaResearch labs, clinical settings, academic institutions
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding managerial roles in research operationsDetails on research support roles and coordination tasks

The Program Manager Research Operations typically oversees multiple research projects, manages teams, and handles budgets, requiring project management skills. In contrast, a Research Coordinator focuses on supporting specific research studies, managing data collection, and logistical tasks. Both roles are essential in research environments but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Program Manager Research Operations, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Program Manager Research Operations, you need expertise in research administration, project management, and budget oversight, often supported by a relevant degree and experience in research environments. Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Asana, MS Project), research compliance systems, and grant management platforms is typically essential. Strong leadership, organizational skills, and effective communication enable collaboration across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders. These skills ensure efficient research operations, regulatory compliance, and successful project outcomes.

What are the main challenges Program Managers in Research Operations typically face when coordinating cross-functional teams?

Program Managers in Research Operations often encounter challenges related to aligning diverse stakeholders, balancing multiple project timelines, and ensuring smooth communication between research, product, and operations teams. Successfully navigating these challenges requires strong organizational skills, adaptability, and the ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining research quality and compliance. Regularly facilitating meetings, setting clear expectations, and using project management tools help mitigate these challenges and ensure collaborative progress.
What are popular job titles related to Program Manager Research Operations jobs in California? For Program Manager Research Operations jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Program Manager Research Operations jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Program Manager Research Operations jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Program Manager Research Operations jobs? Cities in California with the most Program Manager Research Operations job openings:
Program Manager Research Operations jobs near you
Infographic showing various Program Manager Research Operations job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, and 10% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

UX Research Operations Program Manager

Zoox

Foster City, CA • On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Posted 25 days ago

Job description

We are looking for a Research Operations Program Manager to build and scale the systems that enable UX Research to operate with speed, quality, compliance, and product impact. This role sits at the intersection of research, product, data, legal, operations, IT, and vendor ecosystems.
The right person will be a strong cross-functional operator who can manage complex stakeholder relationships, understand how research moves through the organization, and turn fragmented workflows into durable systems. They will own the operational backbone of research: participant recruitment, vendor programs, research data governance, feedback pipelines, insight systems, and the mechanisms that help research drive product action.
In this role, you will...
1. Research Operations Infrastructure
  • Build and maintain the core systems, workflows, dashboards, documentation, and playbooks that support UX Research at scale.
  • Identify operational gaps across study intake, participant recruiting, data handling, feedback triage, and insight activation.
  • Create repeatable processes that help researchers work faster, more consistently, and with less operational friction.

2. Cross-Functional Program Management
  • Partner closely with Research, Product, Design, Legal, Ops, IT, BizApps, Data, Support, and external vendors.
  • Manage stakeholder alignment, resource coordination, communication of process changes, ownership transitions, and operational risk.
  • Build strong working knowledge of partner team workflows and use that understanding to connect people, systems, and decisions across the organization.

3. Participant Recruitment, Vendor, and Panel Operations
  • Own participant recruitment operations across internal and external participant pools.
  • Manage research vendors, recruitment platforms, fieldwork partners, participant databases, scheduling workflows, and self-service recruiting processes.
  • Improve recruitment speed, quality, reliability, and compliance while ensuring researchers can access the right participants for the right studies.

4. Customer Feedback and Insight Operations
  • Build and manage the systems that convert customer feedback and research findings into structured, visible, and actionable product signals.
  • Support feedback pipelines, dashboards, tagging taxonomies, AI-enabled classification, research repositories, and insight tracking workflows.
  • Help ensure that insights do not remain passive documentation, but are connected to owners, decisions, follow-up actions, or product calls to action.

5. Research Data Governance and Compliance
  • Manage workflows for PII, restricted research data, consent artifacts, NDAs, access control, and data retention.
  • Partner with Legal, Privacy, IT, Security, BizApps, and research stakeholders to ensure research data is handled responsibly.
  • Maintain clear documentation for data ownership, system access, compliance expectations, and operational handoffs.

Qualifications
  • 4+ years of experience in program management, research operations, UX operations, product operations, technical program management, or a related field.
  • Experience managing cross-functional programs across research, product, data, legal, operations, IT, or external vendor teams.
  • Working knowledge of UX Research workflows, including participant recruitment, study operations, data handling, and insight delivery.
  • Experience building scalable processes, tools, dashboards, documentation, or operational systems.
  • Strong stakeholder management, communication, and organizational skills.
  • Sound judgment in handling sensitive data, participant information, privacy, and compliance-related workflows.

Bonus Qualifications
  • Experience working in a UX Research, Human Factors, Product Experience, or Product Research organization.
  • Experience with research vendors, participant panels, research repositories, feedback systems, or insight operations.
  • Familiarity with tools such as Looker, Salesforce Data Cloud, Jira, Confluence, Figma, UserInterviews, Fieldwork, or similar systems.
  • Experience with AI-enabled feedback classification, tagging taxonomies, dashboards, or customer feedback pipelines.
  • Experience in autonomous vehicles, robotics, mobility, AI products, or other complex technical product environments.
  • Ability to "speak research, product, and systems" - connecting researcher needs, product decisions, and operational infrastructure.

$123,000 - $147,000 a year
Base Salary Range
There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. A sign-on bonus may be offered as part of the compensation package. The listed range applies only to the base salary. Compensation will vary based on geographic location and level. Leveling, as well as positioning within a level, is determined by a range of factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate's relevant years of experience, domain knowledge, and interview performance. The salary range listed in this posting is representative of the range of levels Zoox is considering for this position.
Zoox also offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including paid time off (e.g. sick leave, vacation, bereavement), unpaid time off, Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights, Amazon RSUs, health insurance, long-term care insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, and life insurance.
About Zoox
Zoox is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next generation of mobility-as-a-service in urban environments. We're looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team.
Follow us on LinkedIn
Accommodations
If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to [email protected] or your assigned recruiter.
A Final Note:
You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Zoox, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Apply