Embedded Research Operations Program Manager IVRemote
Summary: Research Program Managers build and scale global research programs to strengthen the impact of our research teams. We drive efficiency, cultivate relationships, increase knowledge sharing, and build capacity within our organization to enable Researchers to do their most impactful work.
In this role, you will establish and maintain operational and team-wide programs as well as create, manage, and scale processes to support the growing research team. You'll utilize a full range of organizational and interpersonal skills to help our team operate at their highest and most effective level. The ideal candidate is entrepreneurial, comfortable navigating ambiguous situations, able to facilitate our teams' best work by managing short- and long-term projects and initiatives, anticipating project issues and resolving them, connecting resources to research needs, and removing barriers to doing great work. This role requires project and program management experience and broad knowledge of research's impact on product design and development. Communication skills, stakeholder management, the ability to manage complex logistics, and an organized approach are mandatory.
Responsibilities: - Serve as a link to the Global Research Ops team, leveraging new processes or best practices when relevant and collaborating on programs specific to the team’s needs
- Manage initiatives that improve team efficiency and impact, establishing operational systems and outcomes
- Support research planning and allocation by helping track, align and forecast team budget
- Manage the end to end contracts process for the team and proactively highlight potential roadblocks
- Manage research programs multiple research programs
- Proactively identify and partner with stakeholders on internal processes, templates, and guidelines to improve team optimization and documentation
- Partner with team leadership on establishing effective team communication, information distribution, and cross-team collaboration
- Proactively manage expectations: define clear program roadmaps, provide frequent program updates, identify and communicate risks and adjustments, and ensure commitments are delivered
- Provide flexible approaches that meet team needs, including the ability to move fast and make progress or navigate blocks quickly
- Facilitate relationships between teams, move initiatives forward, find resources, escalate and raise concerns to appropriate owners early and resolve open issues that prevent progress
Expectations: - Work independently
- The Reality Labs UX Research team is distributed across different time zones, both in the US and Europe. To be able to effectively work around time-zone differences, it is important to excel at time management and task prioritization across multiple projects that are competing.
- Working independently in this role will also involve being able to identify problems and problem solve, as well as confidently make decisions in situations of ambiguity.
Communicate effectively - A lot of the success as an embedded Research Program Manager will be centered around effectively and proactively communicating with a diverse set of audiences in both verbal and written form – from researchers, team mates in Operations to cross functional partners and external partners such as vendors.
Foster collaboration - Success in this role also means representing the RL UX Business Operations Team regarding contracts, budgets, and forecasting.
- This involves building strong relationships within the Research Operations team, exchanging knowledge, learnings and experiences.
- In addition, showing an interest in understanding the wider goals of research teams (e.g. the ‘why’ behind studies), and connecting the dots of how research operations can help drive the company towards its mission of ‘bringing people closer together’ are attitudes expected in this role.
Requirements: - 4+ years of relevant or related experience as a project manager with proven experience managing research communities
- Excellent organization skills, with the ability to multi-task and juggle multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with and influencing researchers, leaderships, and/or cross functional stakeholders with the ability to adapt communication style to suit different audiences
- Ability to be successful in a dynamic, fast-paced environment that requires independent time management, task prioritization, flexibility, and keen ability to identify problems and proactively work towards solutions
- Experience building relationships with peers and senior stakeholders and collaborating with cross-functional teams across multiple locations
- Experience communicating with data to drive change
- Track record of operating independently and taking initiative, embracing ambiguity, demonstrating creativity, being detail-oriented, and delivering results in a highly organized manner
- Experience working cross functionally with finance, procurement and external vendors
- Experience working in vendor management
- BA/BS degree or equivalent work experience required
Pay range is $92 - $97 per hour with full benefits available, including paid time off, medical/dental/vision/life insurance, 401K, parental leave, and more. Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. Pay is based on several factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
THE PROMISES WE MAKE:
At Crystal Equation, we empower people and advance technology initiatives by building trust. Your recruiter will prep you for the interview, obtain feedback, guide you through any necessary paperwork and provide everything you need for a successful start. We will serve to empower you along the way and provide the path for your professional journey.
