Job Posting Title:
Principal Research Operations Mgr
Req ID:
Job Description:
Design is centrally responsible for the design supporting all consumer-facing and business products and tooling for the Disney Entertainment & ESPN portfolio, including sports, entertainment, enterprise, UX, creative services and design research.
The Principal Research Operations Mgr designs, scales, and optimizes the systems that enable high-velocity, high-quality UX research across the organization.
This systems design role will architect and scale the research operations infrastructure within Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product and Technology division (DEEP&T). The role sits within our design team and will enable research systems that rely on a strong connection between UX research, experience design, product, legal, finance, procurement, and security.
Key ResponsibilitiesResearch Operations Systems Architecture- Design and evolve ResearchOps infrastructure (tools, vendors, governance, budgeting, knowledge management)
- Assess the current state of the organization, identify systemic challenges, and create the plan to connect fragmented workflows into cohesive, scalable systems
- Continually reassess structures and processes to help scale Research Operations alongside UXR
Drive Research Velocity & Efficacy- Design new processes for participant recruitment and conduct participant recruitment
- Consolidate and rationalize research tools and vendors
- Establish standardized workflows and governance frameworks
- Establish best practices and documentation standards
- Develop and mentor junior ResearchOps team members (if applicable)
- Support responsible distribution of research across the organization where appropriate.
Own Operational Strategy Within UX Research- Develop annual operational roadmaps aligned to research and product strategy
- Forecast research operations capacity and budget needs
- Define and track operational OKRs (e.g., study throughput, cost per study, vendor performance, designer and researcher time saved)
Lead Cross-Functional Influence- Partner with Legal, Finance, Procurement, IT, and Security to streamline research approvals and compliance
- Influence investment decisions related to tools, panels, and vendors
- Translate operational constraints into executive-ready insights
What Success Looks Like (6-18 Months)- Executives understand and can articulate ResearchOps ROI
- Vendor and tool landscape rationalized and optimized, including a research repository utilized across cross-functional teams
- Designers, cross-functional partners, and researchers report increased clarity and decreased friction
- Research cycle time measurably reduced
- Operational metrics dashboard adopted by research leadership
- Clear governance model implemented and understood
QualificationsRequired Experience- 10+ years in ResearchOps, UX Research, Program Management, or similar operational role
- Demonstrated experience in both doing the day-to-day work of research operations while designing scalable systems
- Experience managing vendor contracts and research tooling ecosystems
- Experience working cross-functionally with Legal, Procurement, Finance, or Security.
- Bachelor's degree required
Preferred Experience- Building and scaling a ResearchOps function and team in prior role
- Budget forecasting and financial modeling.
- Governance and compliance framework design
- Building operational strategy aligned to product or research roadmaps
- Managing or mentoring others (formal or informal)
The hiring range for this position in San Francisco, CA is $187,900 - $252,000 per year and in Glendale, CA is $171,600 - $230,100 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.
Job Posting Segment:
Design
Job Posting Primary Business:
Design - Streaming
Primary Job Posting Category:
User Experience Designer
Employment Type:
Full time
Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:
San Francisco, CA, USA
Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:
USA - CA - 1200 Grand Central Ave
Date Posted:
2026-08-17
