Sr UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr UX Researcher (Research Operations)

Company: Cox Enterprises

Location: Atlanta, GA, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Operations (Research Operations / Product Operations)

Date Posted: April 21, 2026

Experience Level: 4-8+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in enhancing the efficiency, quality, and impact of user research across Cox Automotive by owning and delivering end-to-end Research Operations (Research Ops) services and programs.

• It involves designing, implementing, and iterating on scalable operational systems that support multiple research teams, products, or business functions, ensuring seamless research execution.

• A key focus will be on maintaining and evolving research repositories and knowledge-management systems, making user insights easily accessible, reusable, and governed.

• The position requires a strategic approach to operational problem-solving, service design, and driving measurable cross-team impact, moving beyond execution to strategic program ownership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job title "Sr UX Researcher" combined with the responsibilities focusing on "Research Ops services and programs," "operational systems," "research repositories," and "participant recruitment panels" clearly indicates a specialization within Research Operations, distinct from a primary User Researcher role focused solely on conducting studies. This enhancement positions the role within the operations domain, emphasizing process, scalability, and systemic improvements.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and deliver one or more end-to-end Research Ops services or programs, aligning with the Research Ops strategy and broader research priorities.

• Design, implement, document, and iterate on scalable operational systems that support multiple research teams, products, or business functions, driving efficiency and standardization.

• Maintain and evolve research repositories and knowledge-management systems to ensure insights are findable, reusable, and consistently governed across the organization.

• Support the alignment and communication of user research insights with market and competitive research teams, contributing to a holistic view of customers and users.

• Manage research participant recruitment panels, incentive models, and fulfillment processes, ensuring ethical, compliant, and efficient participant engagement.

• Lead moderate- to high-risk operational initiatives, proactively identifying dependencies, risks, compliance considerations, and opportunities for efficiency improvements.

• Partner closely with User Researchers, Design Directors, Product Operations, Product Managers, Legal, Privacy, and Procurement to translate research needs into effective operational solutions.

• Create and coordinate agentic, automated, or semi-automated workflows (e.g., intake, scheduling, synthesis support, reporting) to reduce manual effort and expedite research delivery.

• Manage vendors, tools, contracts, and operational workflows within defined areas of ownership, ensuring quality, cost-effectiveness, and compliance.

• Define, track, and report on operational metrics to demonstrate the impact of Research Ops services and inform prioritization and investment decisions.

• Contribute to Research Ops standards, documentation, and best practices to improve consistency and maturity across the research organization.

• Mentor and support more junior Research Ops team members, contributing to onboarding, enablement, and knowledge sharing within the operations function.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed are highly indicative of a senior-level role within Research Operations, focusing on strategic program ownership, system design, cross-functional partnership, and mentorship. This goes beyond typical execution tasks, highlighting a need for an operations-oriented mindset and a proven track record in process improvement and program delivery.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree with 4+ years of relevant experience OR Master's degree with 2+ years of relevant experience OR PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience.

Experience:

• 3+ years in research operations, project coordination, program coordination, or operational roles.

Required Skills:

• Strong working knowledge of Research Ops principles, practices, and industry requirements, including data governance and participant protection protocols.

• Demonstrated expertise in at least one Research Ops specialty area (e.g., participant recruitment, repository management, tooling, insights synthesis coordination), with working knowledge across the broader discipline.

• Proven ability to independently design, deliver, and improve scalable operational systems using service design, automation, and program management practices.

• Experience managing research repositories, participant panels, vendors, and operational initiatives with limited supervision.

• Ability to use qualitative insights and quantitative metrics to evaluate operational effectiveness, communicate impact, and drive continuous improvement.

• Demonstrated ability to independently design and deliver operational services that scale across teams or products.

• Proficiency in using general-purpose LLM tools to analyze and synthesize user behavior, identify patterns, and prioritize opportunities.

• Experience leveraging AI tools to accelerate discovery, experimentation, development, and recommend improvements within research workflows.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with specific UX research tools and platforms (e.g., user testing platforms, survey tools, participant management systems, knowledge bases).

• Familiarity with product development lifecycles and how research operations supports them.

• Experience in designing and implementing automated workflows for research processes.

• Strong understanding of legal and privacy considerations related to user data and research.

• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive adoption of new operational processes.

• Mentorship experience for junior operations team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirements are tailored to reflect the seniority and specialized nature of the Research Operations role, emphasizing both direct operations experience and experience within related research or product functions. The inclusion of AI/LLM tool proficiency is a modern addition, reflecting current industry trends.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase examples of designed, implemented, and iterated operational systems that improved research efficiency or quality.

• Include case studies demonstrating ownership of end-to-end Research Ops services or programs.

• Present evidence of managing research repositories, knowledge management systems, or insights databases, highlighting structure and accessibility improvements.

• Provide examples of how you have managed participant recruitment panels, incentive models, and fulfillment processes, emphasizing scalability and compliance.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of creating and documenting scalable operational workflows (e.g., intake, scheduling, synthesis support, reporting).

• Examples of process design using service design principles and automation techniques.

• Documentation of how you have contributed to Research Ops standards, best practices, and knowledge sharing within a team or organization.

• Showcase your approach to vendor management, tool evaluation, and contract oversight for operational tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on Research Operations, a portfolio demonstrating process design, system implementation, and operational impact is crucial. This section outlines the types of evidence candidates should prepare to showcase their capabilities in managing and optimizing research infrastructure.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The anticipated base pay range for this position is $111,500.00 - $185,900.00 annually.

• Actual base salary will be determined by factors such as the candidate's ultimate work location, knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health care insurance (medical, dental, vision).

• Retirement planning options, including a 401(k) plan.

• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policies, including:

  • Vacation time, managed by the employee based on duties and company needs.
  • Seven paid holidays annually.
  • Up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for personal or family wellness.

• Additional paid time off for:

  • Bereavement leave.
  • Time off to vote.
  • Jury duty leave.
  • Volunteer time off.
  • Military leave.

Working Hours:

• Standard work hours are typically based on a 40-hour work week.

• The role offers a hybrid work arrangement, allowing for a flexible mix of remote and in-office work.

• Occasional travel (up to 15% of the time) may be required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific and includes typical factors for adjustment. The benefits listed are comprehensive and detailed, emphasizing flexibility in PTO and various leave types, which are attractive to professionals seeking work-life balance. The hybrid nature and travel percentage are clearly stated.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Automotive, Technology, Media, and Communications. Cox Enterprises operates across diverse sectors, with Cox Automotive being a significant entity focused on transforming the automotive industry through technology.

Company Size: Cox Enterprises is a large, privately held corporation, indicating a stable and well-resourced organization with established operational frameworks. Cox Automotive, as part of this, is a major player in its field.

Founded: Cox Enterprises was founded in 1898, signifying a long history of business operations, innovation, and adaptability, which likely translates into a culture that values legacy alongside forward-thinking initiatives.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Engineering / Product Development job family group, specifically as a Sr UX Researcher (Research Operations).

• This suggests collaboration within a product development lifecycle, working alongside User Researchers, Design Directors, Product Managers, and potentially Product Operations teams.

• The Research Ops function likely operates as a centralized or shared service, supporting multiple product teams or business units.

Methodology:

• The role emphasizes designing and implementing "scalable operational systems" and "automated or semi-automated workflows," pointing towards a process-driven, efficiency-focused methodology.

• There's a clear emphasis on "data governance," "participant protection," and using "qualitative insights and quantitative metrics" to drive improvement, reflecting a data-informed operations approach.

• The use of "service design" principles suggests a user-centered approach to designing operational processes themselves.

• Integration of "AI" and "LLM tools" indicates a forward-looking approach to leveraging technology for operational efficiency and insight generation.

Company Website: https://www.coxenterprises.com/ / https://www.coxauto.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: By integrating company history, size, and industry context with the role's operational focus, this section provides a richer understanding of the environment a Research Ops professional would operate within, highlighting stability, innovation, and a structured approach to operations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Individual Contributor role (Sr UX Researcher - Research Operations). It signifies a level of expertise and autonomy where the individual is expected to not only execute but also to design, own, and improve operational services and programs. It’s a critical node in the operations infrastructure, bridging strategy and implementation.

Reporting Structure:

• The role reports within the Engineering / Product Development group.

• As an Individual Contributor, the reporting line would typically be to a manager overseeing Research Operations, Product Operations, or a broader Design Operations function.

Operations Impact:

• The primary impact of this role is on the efficiency, scalability, and quality of user research operations.

• By improving research systems and workflows, this role directly enables faster, more impactful research findings, which in turn informs product strategy, design decisions, and ultimately, business outcomes.

• Contributions to a holistic view of customers by aligning research insights with market and competitive data enhance strategic decision-making.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Deepen expertise in specific Research Ops domains (e.g., participant recruitment strategy, insights management platforms, automation) or grow into leading larger, more complex operational programs.

• Strategic Influence: Transition into roles with greater strategic input on the overall Research Ops roadmap, tooling strategy, and operational best practices organization-wide.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunities to move into Product Operations, Design Operations, or program management roles within the broader product development organization due to foundational operations and process expertise.

• Mentorship Development: Formalize mentorship skills by leading and developing junior Research Ops team members, building leadership capabilities.

• Industry Engagement: Contribute to the broader Research Ops community through conferences, publications, or developing new industry standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis delves into the career trajectory and impact specifically for an operations-focused role, highlighting how process expertise translates into strategic value and leadership potential within a large organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model. This implies a blend of remote work flexibility and in-office collaboration, designed to balance individual focus time with team synergy.

Office Location(s): Primarily based in Atlanta, GA, with specific mention of 6305 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd Bldg B. The company also operates across multiple locations, suggesting potential for interaction with broader teams within Cox Automotive and Cox Enterprises.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional partnerships suggest a need for strong communication and collaboration skills, both remote and in-person.

• Operations Tooling: Access to and proficiency with various operational tools, research platforms, and potentially AI/LLM technologies will be integral to the daily work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with User Researchers, Design Directors, and Product teams to understand their operational needs and deliver solutions. Regular team meetings, stand-ups, and planning sessions are likely.

• Focus Time: The remote component of the hybrid arrangement allows for dedicated, uninterrupted time for designing, documenting, and analyzing complex operational processes and systems.

Work Schedule:

• Standard business hours are expected, likely aligned with the "Day" work shift specified.

• The role requires 40 hours per week.

• While the hybrid model offers flexibility, adherence to project timelines and team availability for critical operational tasks and meetings will be essential.

• Occasional travel (up to 15%) is required, which may necessitate adjustments to the typical schedule during those periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the work environment focuses on the practical aspects of a hybrid role within a large corporation, emphasizing the balance between autonomy, collaboration, and the necessary tools and interactions for an operations professional.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: Likely a brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into your experience with Research Operations, program management, process design, and your understanding of the role's responsibilities. Expect questions about your approach to solving operational challenges.

3. Portfolio Review / Case Study Presentation: This is a critical stage. You will likely present specific examples from your portfolio demonstrating your ownership of Research Ops services, process improvements, system design, and quantifiable impact. Be prepared to discuss your methodology, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved.

4. Cross-Functional Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with User Researchers, Design Directors, Product Managers, or Product Operations leads to assess your ability to collaborate, understand diverse needs, and communicate effectively across different functions.

5. Final Interview / Executive Review: Potentially a final conversation with a senior leader to confirm fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Operations: Curate examples that highlight your expertise in building, scaling, and optimizing operational processes and systems for research, not just conducting research.

• Showcase Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your solution (process/system design), your role, the challenges, and most importantly, the measurable outcomes (e.g., time saved, increased research capacity, improved insight quality, cost savings). Use metrics wherever possible.

• Process Clarity: Detail your methodology for designing, implementing, and iterating on operational workflows. Use diagrams or flowcharts if helpful.

• Tool Proficiency: Highlight your experience with relevant Research Ops tools, automation techniques, and AI/LLM applications in an operational context.

• Storytelling: Structure your presentations like mini case studies. Start with the business need or operational pain point, explain your strategic approach, detail your implementation, and conclude with the tangible results and lessons learned.

Challenge Preparation:

• Operational Scenario: Be prepared for a hypothetical scenario where you need to design or improve a specific research operation (e.g., participant recruitment for a niche audience, establishing an insights repository).

• Metrics & Measurement: Practice articulating how you would define success and measure the impact of a new operational service or program.

• Stakeholder Management: Think about how you would handle competing operational demands from different research teams or product stakeholders.

• AI/LLM Application: Consider how you would propose using AI/LLM tools to solve specific operational bottlenecks in research.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice tailored to a Research Operations role. The emphasis is on showcasing operational expertise, process design, and demonstrable impact through a portfolio, which is critical for senior operations positions.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Ops Platforms: Experience with tools for participant recruitment and management (e.g., UserTesting, Respondent.io, Lookback), scheduling (e.g., Calendly, Google Calendar integrations), and consent management.

• Knowledge Management Systems: Proficiency with platforms for organizing, storing, and retrieving research insights (e.g., Dovetail, EnjoyHQ, Airtable, Confluence, Notion).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, Monday.com for tracking operational initiatives, workflows, and team tasks.

• AI & LLM Tools: Experience with general-purpose LLMs for data analysis, synthesis, pattern identification, and accelerating research workflows. Familiarity with AI tools for enhancing discovery, experimentation, and development.

Analytics & Reporting:

• BI/Dashboard Tools: Experience using tools like Tableau, Power BI, Looker, or internal dashboards to track and report on operational metrics (e.g., research throughput, participant satisfaction, repository usage, vendor performance).

• Spreadsheet Software: Advanced proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets for data manipulation, analysis, and reporting.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how research operations integrates with CRM data or customer feedback systems is beneficial.

• Workflow Automation: Experience with tools or methods for automating repetitive tasks, such as Zapier, Integromat, or custom scripting, to streamline research processes.

• Integration Tools: Understanding how different research tools and systems can be integrated to create more seamless operational flows.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the specific types of tools and technologies relevant to a Research Operations role, including emerging AI/LLM applications, which are crucial for candidates to highlight in their applications and resumes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Efficiency & Scalability: A core value is designing and implementing solutions that are not only effective but also scalable and minimize manual effort, allowing research to grow without a proportional increase in operational overhead.

• Data-Driven Improvement: Decisions regarding operational priorities, tool adoption, and process changes are informed by robust metrics and data analysis, ensuring continuous optimization.

• Collaboration & Partnership: A strong emphasis on working closely with other teams (Research, Product, Design, Legal, Privacy) to understand their needs and deliver operational support that genuinely enhances their work.

• User-Centricity (of Operations): Applying user-centered design principles to operational processes themselves, ensuring that the "users" of Research Ops services (i.e., the researchers and product teams) have a positive and efficient experience.

• Compliance & Ethics: Upholding high standards for data governance, participant privacy, and ethical research practices is paramount in all operational activities.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Outreach: Engaging with stakeholders early and often to anticipate needs and identify potential operational challenges or opportunities.

• Clear Communication: Maintaining transparent communication regarding project status, risks, and operational changes, especially across distributed or hybrid teams.

• Process Facilitation: Acting as a facilitator and enabler for research teams, removing operational roadblocks and providing resources and support.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively contributing to building a shared understanding of best practices, tools, and insights across the research and operations functions.

• Feedback Integration: Creating mechanisms for receiving and acting on feedback from research teams to continuously improve operational services.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section translates company values and collaboration styles into actionable behaviors and priorities relevant to an operations professional, emphasizing the cross-functional nature and process-centric approach required.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Scalability with Customization: Designing operational systems that are scalable across many teams yet flexible enough to meet unique research needs without becoming overly complex.

• Driving Adoption of New Processes/Tools: Overcoming resistance to change and ensuring that new operational workflows or technologies are effectively adopted by research teams.

• Measuring and Demonstrating Operational Impact: Quantifying the value of Research Ops services in terms of efficiency gains, cost savings, or improved research quality can be challenging but is critical for investment.

• Keeping Pace with Evolving Research Tools & AI: Continuously evaluating and integrating new technologies, including AI/LLM applications, into operational frameworks to maintain relevance and efficiency.

• Navigating Complex Stakeholder Needs: Managing diverse requirements and priorities from multiple product teams, research groups, and operational partners (Legal, Privacy, Procurement).

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Operations Strategy: Deepen knowledge in service design, operational strategy, and program management within a large enterprise context.

• AI/ML in Operations: Gain hands-on experience and specialized knowledge in leveraging AI and LLM tools for automating and enhancing research operations.

• Data Governance & Compliance: Further develop expertise in data privacy, security, and compliance frameworks relevant to user research data.

• Tool Specialization: Become a subject matter expert on specific Research Ops platforms or broader operational technology stacks.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior team members and potentially lead operational initiatives or small teams, building leadership competencies.

• Industry Engagement: Attend conferences (e.g., UXPA, CHI, industry-specific operations events) and pursue certifications related to operations, program management, or UX.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section highlights potential operational hurdles and frames them as opportunities for skill development and career advancement, aligning with the growth-oriented nature of senior roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed and implemented a scalable research operations system from scratch. What were the key components, challenges, and outcomes?" (Focus on process design, scalability, and measurable impact.)

• "How do you approach managing a research repository to ensure insights are findable and reusable across multiple teams? What tools or methodologies do you prefer?" (Highlight knowledge management strategy and tool proficiency.)

• "Walk me through your process for managing research participant recruitment and incentives. How do you ensure ethical compliance and efficiency?" (Demonstrate understanding of participant operations and compliance.)

• "How would you leverage AI/LLM tools to improve the efficiency or impact of our user research operations?" (Be ready with specific use cases for analysis, synthesis, or workflow automation.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Cox Automotive and its mission to transform the automotive industry?" (Research the company's products, services, and strategic goals.)

• "How do you see Research Operations supporting a large, established company like Cox Enterprises?" (Align your understanding of operations with enterprise-level needs.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or remote environment. How do you maintain collaboration and productivity?" (Showcase adaptability and communication skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each portfolio piece, follow a clear story: Problem/Opportunity -> Your Solution (Process/System Design) -> Implementation Details -> Challenges & How You Overcame Them -> Measurable Results/Impact -> Lessons Learned.

• Quantify Impact: Use numbers, percentages, and specific metrics to demonstrate the value of your operational contributions (e.g., "Reduced participant recruitment time by 30%," "Increased insight reusability by 50%," "Saved X hours per week through automation").

• Visual Aids: Use simple diagrams, flowcharts, or screenshots to illustrate processes, systems, or dashboards where appropriate.

• Focus on Operations: Emphasize your role in designing, building, managing, and improving operational functions, rather than just conducting research studies.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about the specifics of your implementation, your decision-making process, and how you'd adapt your solutions to Cox's context.

📝 Enhancement Note: This preparation guide is specifically tailored for a Senior Research Operations role, focusing on the operational aspects of portfolio presentations and strategic questioning relevant to process ownership and impact measurement.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr UX Researcher (Research Operations) position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://cox.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Cox_External_Career_Site_1/job/Atlanta-GA/Sr-UX-Researcher_R202675395-1

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight specific experience in Research Operations, program management, process design, system implementation, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description, especially terms related to "Research Ops," "operational systems," "scalability," "automation," "knowledge management," and "metrics."

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 strong case studies that demonstrate your ownership of end-to-end Research Ops services, process improvements, and quantifiable impact. Focus on examples that showcase your ability to design, implement, and scale operational solutions.

• Research Cox Enterprises & Cox Automotive: Understand the company's mission, values, and its role in the automotive industry. Familiarize yourself with their product offerings and any publicly available information about their product development or research processes.

• Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse how you will articulate your experience and present your portfolio. Be ready to discuss your operational philosophy, how you measure success, and how you would approach challenges specific to Cox's environment.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.