Senior UX Research & Design Operations Manager

We are seeking a Research & Design Operations Manager to support and scale the operational backbone of our UX Research and Product Design functions. This role will ensure both teams operate efficiently, ethically, and with maximum impact — enabling practitioners to focus on generating insights and delivering high-quality design. The ideal candidate will build scalable programs and systems that streamline workflows, improve tooling and knowledge management, and support collaboration across product, clinical, and legal teams.

While this role is currently focused on UX Research needs, the scope is intentionally designed to evolve and sustain operational excellence across both Research and Design as our organization grows.

Please note that this is a hybrid role based in San Francisco, with an expectation to be in office 2-3 days a week. Our office is located at 2 Embarcadero Ctr.

Program & Project Management

• Lead the operational success and scalability of Research and Design programs, from pilot feedback loops to fully scaled discovery and design processes.
• Develop repeatable workflows that support rapid learning and effective design execution.
• Own cross-functional coordination across Research, Design, Product, Clinical, Legal, and Engineering.
• Establish and track project timelines, remove blockers, and ensure teams can deliver high-quality work at speed.

UX Research Participant Recruiting 

• Manage participant sourcing, recruitment, and communications for research studies.
• Ensure access to diverse, high-quality participants and improve the efficiency of recruitment processes using platforms and automation.
• Anticipate future recruitment needs and build scalable systems to support them.

Tooling & Vendor Management

• Oversee selection, configuration, and optimization of tools and platforms used by both UX Research and Design (e.g., participant recruitment, survey distribution, prototyping, testing, documentation, design systems).
• Act as the primary point of contact for external research and design vendors.
• Monitor tool effectiveness, compliance, and cost efficiency across both functions.

Governance, Privacy & Compliance

• Collaborate with Legal, InfoSec, and Compliance teams to ensure all research and design activities meet regulatory standards (HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, etc.).
• Develop documentation and training to promote best practices around participant consent, data security, and ethical design and research practices.

Knowledge & Asset Management

• Improve systems for storing, sharing, and retrieving research insights and design artifacts (e.g., research repositories, design libraries, pattern systems).
• Enable better access to past work so teams can learn faster and avoid duplication.
• Promote documentation practices that improve cross-team transparency and decision-making.

Team Enablement & Cross-functional Communication

• Champion internal communication strategies that raise visibility of research and design insights, progress, and impact.
• Build trusting relationships with stakeholders across the business by demonstrating the ROI of research and design operations.
• Create mechanisms for feedback and continuous improvement in how Research and Design teams collaborate.

• Efficiency: Reduced time spent by UXR and Design team members on logistical or administrative work, resulting in faster delivery of impactful research and design.
• Quality: Increased volume and quality of self-serve or lightweight research and design, ensuring validity and usability at scale.
• Impact: Clear operational metrics that show how Research and Design reduce risk, improve product outcomes, and drive business value.
• Scalability: Processes that are robust enough to support a growing Product team and evolving organizational needs.

• 5+ years experience in UX Research Operations, Design Operations, Program Management, or a similar function within a product-driven tech company.
• Strong understanding of design and research tools, workflows, and methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex cross-functional programs and systems.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with a track record of building consensus without formal authority.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity, thriving in a fast-paced environment, and proactively identifying improvements.
• Knowledge of compliance and data privacy regulations relevant to research and design (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA) is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., HCI, Design Management, Psychology, Business Operations) or equivalent experience.

The target base salary range for this position is $159,100 - $194,150, and is part of a competitive total rewards package including stock options and benefits. Individual pay may vary from the target range and is determined by a number of factors including experience, location, internal pay equity, and other relevant business considerations. We review all employee pay and compensation programs annually using Radford Global Compensation Database at minimum to ensure competitive and fair pay. 

Note: We have even more benefits than listed here and below, your recruiter will provide more in-depth information as you continue in the interview process. Benefits are subject to individual plan requirements and eligibility criteria.

• Health, Dental, Vision benefits start on your first day at Spring. You and your dependents also receive access to One Medical accounts HSA and FSA plans are also available, with Spring contributing up to $1K for HSAs, depending on your plan type.
• Employer sponsored 401(k) match of up to 2% for retirement planning
• A yearly allotment of no cost visits to the Spring Health network of therapists, coaches, and medication management providers for you and your dependents.
• We offer competitive paid time off policies including vacation, sick leave and company holidays.
• At 6 months tenure with Spring, we offer parental leave of 18 weeks for birthing parents and 16 weeks for non-birthing parents.
• Access to Noom, a weight management program—based in psychology, that’s tailored to your unique needs and goals. 
• Access to fertility care support through Carrot, in addition to $4,000 reimbursement for related fertility expenses.
• Access to Wellhub,  which connects employees to the best options for fitness, mindfulness, nutrition, and sleep in one subscription
• Access to BrightHorizons, which provides sponsored child care, back-up care, and elder care
• Up to $1,000 Professional Development Reimbursement a year.
• $200 per year donation matching to support your favorite causes.