Research Director, Head Of Research Operations

Research Director, Head Of Research Operations

The Head of Global Research Operations leads the Global Research Operations (GRO) team, which builds infrastructure and programs to support efficient, compliant research at scale across Meta. This role serves as the centralized engine powering the UX Research organization, driving operational and strategic initiatives to enable high-quality research practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the GRO team, primarily composed of Research Program Managers, organized into two main pillars: 1) Governance, Tooling & Analytics, and 2) Core Research Enablement.
• Oversee Research Governance, Tooling, & Analytics, developing, operationalizing, and optimizing policies governing research compliance and regulatory readiness while strengthening the corresponding tooling and measurement infrastructure.
• Drive the Core Research Enablement, providing embedded operational support to specialized research teams, scaling participant engagement, and streamlining contracting processes.
• Responsive Governance: Anticipate and respond to shifting regulatory environments to reduce risk and minimize business disruption.
• Efficient Operations: Optimize research workflows and measurement infrastructure to drive cost and time savings.
• Economies of Scale: Maximize resource utilization and reduce redundancies by coordinating research efforts across Meta.
• Build the Future of User Feedback: Evolve the practice of research to lead the strategy redefinition of how user signal is attained at Meta with an AI-forward orientation.
• Define and execute the strategy for evolving user research practices to leverage AI capabilities, inclusive of building out the team and tooling necessary to support AI-driven user signal acquisition and research methodologies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to ensure smooth research operations and compliance.
• Lead initiatives to evolve and streamline core operational processes, such as participant recruiting, vendor engagement, review processes, and research tooling.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence within the research organization.

Minimum Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in research, research operations, or a related field.
• Strong research acumen with deep understanding of research governance, compliance, and operational best practices.
• Expertise or strong interest in AI technologies and their application to user research and signal acquisition.
• Demonstrated track record of developing strategy for and building research tooling teams and products.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams and driving strategic initiatives.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and implement responsive governance frameworks.
• Strong analytical background with the ability to leverage data to drive prioritization, guide decision-making, measure success and impact, and craft compelling, evidence-based narratives.