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Research Operations Director Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Naicu

Strategic Operations Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$125 - $155/hr

As Director, Strategic Operations, you will build on those strengths by modernizing the systems and ... research options, present recommendations to the executive team, and follow through on ...

Nicedesignjobs

Head of Design Operations

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

Learn more at superhuman.com and about our values here THE OPPORTUNITY Superhuman is redefining how the world works, and we're looking for a Director of Design & Research Operations to help lead that ...

Superhuman

Head of Design Operations

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$285K - $417K/yr

The Opportunity Superhuman is redefining how the world works, and we're looking for a Director of Design & Research Operations to help lead that transformation. Design & Research Operations sets the ...

Zoomcar

Head of Design Operations

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$180 - $300/hr

The Opportunity Superhuman is redefining how the world works, and we're looking for a Director of Design & Research Operations to help lead that transformation. Design & Research Operations sets the ...

IQVIA

Associate Client Operations Director

Valencia, CA · On-site

If you want to discover a career with greater purpose, join us as we transform and accelerate research and development. Job Summary: As an Associate Client Operations Director, you will serve as the ...

Stanfordlivetickets

Clinical Research Manager

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$110 - $170/hr

... operations across medical and surgical specialties. This position will provide leadership and ... Direct clinical experience in both medical settings (inpatient/outpatient units, specialty clinics ...

Stanford University

Clinical Research Manager

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

... operations across medical and surgical specialties. This position will provide leadership and ... Direct clinical experience in both medical settings (inpatient/outpatient units, specialty clinics ...

IQVIA

Sr. Strategic Operations Director

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

... operational norms. * Direct the delivery against key metrics, milestones, and contractual ... IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and health ...

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Research Operations Director information

What is a research operations director?

A Research Operations Director is a senior professional responsible for overseeing the infrastructure, processes, and resources that support research activities within an organization. They manage teams, budgets, and systems to ensure research projects run efficiently and comply with regulatory standards. Their role often includes improving workflow, implementing best practices, and supporting researchers with tools and training. The goal is to streamline research operations and enhance the impact of research outcomes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a research operations director?

To thrive as a Research Operations Director, you need expertise in research management, process optimization, and budgeting, often supported by an advanced degree in a related field. Familiarity with project management software, compliance systems, and data analysis tools is typically required. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities are crucial for leading teams and coordinating complex projects. These skills ensure efficient research operations, compliance with regulations, and the successful delivery of research outcomes.

What are the main challenges a research operations director faces in supporting cross-functional research teams?

A Research Operations Director often navigates challenges such as coordinating resources across multiple research projects, ensuring consistent processes, and managing communication between diverse stakeholders like researchers, product managers, and leadership. Balancing the needs of various teams while maintaining research quality and compliance can be complex, especially as organizations scale. Effective directors establish standardized procedures, foster a culture of collaboration, and implement tools that streamline workflows to address these challenges.

What is the difference between Research Operations Director vs Research Manager?

AspectResearch Operations DirectorResearch Manager
CredentialsTypically requires advanced degrees (e.g., Master’s or PhD) and extensive experience in research managementUsually holds a bachelor’s or master’s degree with several years of research experience
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple research teams, manages operations, and aligns research strategies with organizational goalsManages specific research projects or teams, focusing on execution and deliverables
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in large corporations, tech companies, and research institutionsFound across various industries including tech, healthcare, and market research firms

The Research Operations Director focuses on strategic oversight and operational management of research functions, while the Research Manager handles day-to-day project execution. Both roles require research expertise, but the director role involves broader leadership and organizational responsibilities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Research Operations jobs in California?

The most popular types of Research Operations jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Research Operations Director jobs in California?

For Research Operations Director jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Research Operations Director jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Research Operations Director jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Research Operations Director jobs?

Cities in California with the most Research Operations Director job openings:

Research Operations Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Research Operations Director job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution.

Chief of Staff & Research Operations

Synhawk

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$120 - $180/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Own day-to-day operations for the SF office, including managing vendors, equipment, and facilities.

  • Manage onboarding logistics for new hires and keep operational admin tasks running smoothly.

  • Track project status across the research team and oversee the research blog from start to finish.

Job description

Chief of Staff & Research Operations

Synhawk protects communication integrity in the AI age by building foundation models that verify the authenticity of audio, video, and identity. Specifically, we deliver infrastructure-level protections against AI-driven threats, including deepfakes (i.e., synthetic voices, manipulated video and images), adversarial agent campaigns, and other forms of AI-enabled deception. It is built to catch not just today's attacks but the ones that haven't been invented yet. We work directly with telco and banking partners, protecting the systems that real people rely on with their sensitive information. This shapes our research approach and priorities, allowing for a close iteration loop between the Labs team and the product teams.

We're deployed with major telco customers, running our own GPU infrastructure, and operating under strict production requirements. Our work has an immediate, measurable impact on live systems defending critical infrastructure. Research is at the core of what we do and in addition to building great products, the Labs team also engages the research community at technical conferences, as well as through publications, technical blog posts, and social media.

We're a small, highly technical, founder-led team. You'll play an integral part in keeping that team running smoothly as we scale!

The Role

Part Chief of Staff, part Technical Program Manager, part office lead - you'll be the operational backbone of our SF office and a right hand for our Chief Research Officer. You'll stay close enough to the research to keep track of what the team is working on, coordinate day-to-day logistics, and help shield their time for the research itself.

What You'll Work On Office & Operations
  • Own day-to-day operations for the SF office: vendors, equipment, facilities, etc..
  • Manage onboarding logistics for new hires - equipment, access, first-day schedule
  • Keep operational admin running: compliance paperwork, subscriptions, insurance, and other essentials alongside our HR and PEO
Chief of Staff
  • Act as the Chief Scientist’s proxy when they're out, represent priorities, unblock people, make judgment calls on smaller decisions
  • Run the internal rhythm: weekly syncs, all-hands prep, decision tracking, and following up so things actually close out
  • Decide what needs the Chief Scientist's direct attention versus what you can handle or route elsewhere
Research operations and project management
  • Track project status across the team: what's blocked, what's shipping, what needs input from outside the team
  • Own the research blog end-to-end - working with researchers to turn results into posts, drafting or editing copy yourself
  • Use basic technical tools (Claude Code, light scripting, dashboards) to automate workflows and prepare PoCs
Who We're Looking For

You've likely done research-adjacent PM, chief of staff, or ops work before - at a lab, a technical startup, or supporting a technical executive directly. You actually like the operational grind, not just tolerate it on the way to something else. You're comfortable with ambiguity, biased toward action over process, and trustworthy with sensitive information.

Even if you don't check every box above but you're eager to grow into this, we want to hear from you! We are not looking for the most senior person in the room, rather somebody who sees deepfakes as the threat they are and is willing to learn a couple of things!

What We Offer
  • A front-row seat to core AI research at an early-stage company with real traction
  • Direct, high-trust partnership with our founding team
  • Competitive comp
  • Small, founder-led team with minimal process, maximum trust
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Healthcare package - including medical, dental and vision
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