senior project manager, UX Research Operations

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Project Manager, UX Research Operations

Company: Starbucks

Location: Seattle, Washington, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Operations / Project Management

Date Posted: June 11, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days onsite)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and optimize UX research operations by identifying and implementing process improvements for digital product teams.

• Manage the end-to-end logistical coordination of UX research studies, ensuring smooth execution from planning to debrief.

• Enhance team efficiency through the selection, implementation, and management of essential UX research tools and technologies.

• Drive the recruitment and scheduling of diverse research participants across North America, aligning with market strategies.

• Foster robust cross-functional relationships to ensure seamless integration of UX research insights into product development lifecycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on the operational backbone of UX research, ensuring that research activities are efficient, scalable, and effectively managed. It requires a blend of project management discipline, operational process expertise, and a strong understanding of the UX research lifecycle within a large, complex organization. The "UX Research Operations Project Manager" title signifies a critical role in enabling research teams to deliver high-quality insights.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Streamline research operations processes by identifying operational gaps and executing strategic improvement plans for greater efficiency and scalability.

• Manage critical logistical needs for research studies, including but not limited to: setting up and managing collaboration tools (e.g., Miro boards), coordinating equipment and observation room setups, and arranging necessary travel arrangements for research teams.

• Improve the overall efficiency of the UX research team by managing and implementing new and existing research tools, ensuring they meet team needs and integrate effectively into workflows.

• Proactively track the progress of research recruiting requests, ensuring timely execution and communication with stakeholders regarding candidate pipelines.

• Recruit and schedule diverse research participants across US and Canadian company-owned markets, collaborating with Coffeehouse leaders and partners to ensure representative samples.

• Partner closely with Coffeehouse leaders and partners to facilitate research activities within operational environments and gather essential local insights.

• Oversee and manage participant panels, ensuring ethical data handling, consent form management, and adherence to data usage reviews and privacy policies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on approach to managing research logistics and participant recruitment. The emphasis on "streamlining processes," "improving team efficiency," and managing "logistical needs" points to a need for strong operational planning, execution, and continuous improvement skills. The partnership with "Coffeehouse leaders and partners" suggests a requirement for strong interpersonal and communication skills to navigate a large, distributed organization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business Administration, Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Information Science) or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years in research operations management, encompassing scope, time, cost, risk, quality, procurement, and communications management.

• Minimum of 5 years working directly with UX research teams, managing complex or mid-sized projects from initiation to completion.

• Minimum of 5 years building and maintaining strong cross-functional relationships within large, matrixed organizations.

• Minimum of 2 years of experience mentoring research professionals specifically in the domain of research operations.

• Minimum of 5 years of corporate experience within large, matrixed organizations, demonstrating an understanding of complex organizational structures and dynamics. Required Skills:

• Research Operations Management: Proven ability to manage all facets of research operations, including planning, execution, and reporting.

• UX Research Lifecycle Understanding: Deep knowledge of the UX research process and how operations support its various stages.

• Project Management: Expertise in managing multiple complex projects simultaneously, utilizing methodologies to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery.

• Cross-functional Relationship Building: Demonstrated success in collaborating effectively with diverse teams (e.g., design, product, engineering, store operations, legal).

• Mentoring & Coaching: Ability to guide and develop junior team members in research operations best practices.

• Participant Recruitment & Scheduling: Extensive experience in sourcing, vetting, and scheduling research participants ethically and efficiently.

• Process Improvement: Strong analytical skills to identify inefficiencies and implement robust, scalable process improvements.

• Stakeholder Management: Capability to manage expectations and communicate effectively with various stakeholders across different levels of the organization.

• Microsoft Outlook and Teams Proficiency: Advanced skills in managing schedules, communications, and virtual collaboration tools.

• UX Tools Familiarity: Experience using common UX tools such as Figma, Jira, and Miro for design, project tracking, and collaboration.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Microsoft Teams Live Events for large-scale research debriefs or participant engagement.

• Familiarity with specialized participant panel management software.

• Knowledge of data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) relevant to user research data.

• Experience in a retail or consumer-facing industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirements are substantial, emphasizing a senior-level professional with a proven track record in managing complex operations within a large corporate environment. The "mentoring" requirement specifically points to a leadership expectation where the individual will not only manage but also develop others within the research operations function. The blend of project management, operational process expertise, and UX tool familiarity is critical for success.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Process Optimization Case Studies: Showcase examples of how you've identified operational bottlenecks in research processes and implemented solutions that led to measurable improvements in efficiency, speed, or quality.

• Research Tool Implementation & Management: Provide evidence of successfully implementing, managing, or optimizing UX research tools, detailing the benefits and impact on research team productivity.

• Participant Recruitment & Management Frameworks: Demonstrate your approach to building and managing participant recruitment pipelines, including strategies for diverse sourcing, screening, scheduling, and incentive management.

• Cross-functional Collaboration Examples: Illustrate instances where you've successfully partnered with UX researchers, designers, product managers, and other stakeholders to operationalize research initiatives and ensure alignment.

• Risk Management & Mitigation Plans: Include examples of how you've proactively identified potential risks in research operations (e.g., recruitment challenges, tool failures, data privacy concerns) and developed effective mitigation strategies.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Present documentation or examples of designed and optimized research operation workflows, including process maps, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and RACI matrices.

• Implementation & Automation Methods: Detail your experience in implementing new operational processes or automating repetitive tasks within research operations, using tools or scripting where applicable.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Show examples of how you've established key performance indicators (KPIs) for research operations, tracked performance, and used data to drive further process improvements and report on operational effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Project Manager role in Research Operations, a portfolio is crucial. It should not just list responsibilities but demonstrate tangible achievements. Candidates should be prepared to walk through case studies that highlight their strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and the quantifiable impact of their operational improvements on research team effectiveness and product development velocity.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior Project Manager in UX Research Operations in Seattle, WA, with 5-10 years of experience in a large matrixed organization, the estimated salary range is $120,000 - $160,000 per year. This estimate accounts for the required experience level, the senior nature of the role, and the cost of living in the Seattle metropolitan area.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Life and Disability Insurance: Basic and supplemental life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage.

• Family Support: Paid parental leave, family expansion reimbursement, and backup care services.

• Paid Time Off: Paid vacation from date of hire (accrual rates vary by location and role level), sick time (accrued based on hours worked), eight paid holidays, and two personal days per year.

• Retirement Savings: 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.

• Equity & Stock Programs: Discounted company stock purchase program (S.I.P.) and Starbucks equity program (Bean Stock).

• Financial Wellness: Incentivized emergency savings accounts and financial well-being tools.

• Educational Opportunities: 100% upfront tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor’s degree through Arizona State University's online program (Starbucks College Achievement Plan), and student loan management resources.

• Additional Perks: DACA reimbursement, and other voluntary insurance options.

Working Hours: Standard full-time work week, typically 40 hours per week. The role requires onsite presence 4 days per week, with flexibility managed by the hiring manager and team needs. Occasional local travel may be required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on publicly available data for similar roles in Seattle, WA, and the specified experience level. Actual compensation will depend on factors such as candidate qualifications, internal equity, and specific role responsibilities. The extensive benefits package is a significant part of the total compensation for Starbucks partners.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Coffeehouse & Retail. Starbucks operates within the fast-paced consumer goods and retail sector, emphasizing customer experience and brand loyalty. This context means that operational efficiency directly impacts customer satisfaction and brand perception.

Company Size: Large (10,000+ employees). Working in a large, matrixed organization like Starbucks means navigating complex hierarchies, diverse departments, and established corporate processes. This environment offers opportunities for significant impact and exposure to a wide range of business functions.

Founded: 1971. With a rich history, Starbucks has evolved from a single coffee bean store to a global phenomenon. This long-standing presence indicates a mature organizational structure with established practices, but also a capacity for innovation and adaptation, particularly in digital experiences.

Team Structure:

• UX Research Team: Part of a broader User Experience (UX) organization, which likely includes UX Designers, UX Researchers, Content Strategists, and other related roles. This team collaborates closely with Product Management, Engineering, and design teams.

• Reporting Structure: The Senior Project Manager, UX Research Operations will likely report to a Director or Senior Manager within the UX organization, potentially a Head of UX Research or a Director of UX Operations.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Expected to work extensively with UX Researchers, product teams, engineering leads, store operations partners, marketing, and potentially legal/compliance teams for data privacy and recruitment efforts.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on using data and insights to inform decisions, particularly in optimizing research processes and understanding participant behavior.

• Agile & Iterative Processes: Likely employs agile methodologies for project management and continuous improvement cycles for operational processes.

• User-Centric Approach: The core of the UX team's work is understanding and serving the needs of Starbucks partners and customers, driving operational improvements that align with this user-centric philosophy.

Company Website: https://www.starbucks.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture at Starbucks is often described as partner-focused and community-oriented. For an operations role, this translates to a need for strong interpersonal skills, a collaborative mindset, and an understanding of how operational improvements can positively impact the daily work lives of partners. The scale of Starbucks means that operational changes can have a widespread effect.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Senior Project Manager," indicating a strong individual contributor role with significant responsibility and autonomy. It implies a level of expertise where the individual is expected to lead initiatives, mentor others, and operate with minimal supervision on complex projects. This is a mid-to-senior level position within operations management.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Project Manager will likely report to a Director or Senior Manager overseeing UX Research or UX Operations. This structure suggests opportunities to influence strategy at a higher level and collaborate with leadership on operational roadmaps.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the UX research function. By streamlining operations and improving processes, the Senior Project Manager enables UX teams to gather insights more quickly and reliably, directly influencing the speed and quality of digital product development and, consequently, partner and customer experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into management roles (e.g., Manager of UX Research Operations) or specialize further in areas like UX program management or operational strategy.

• Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in UX research methodologies, advanced project management techniques, and emerging operational technologies. Mentoring junior staff provides leadership development.

• Strategic Influence: As a senior member, there's an opportunity to contribute to the strategic direction of UX research operations, influencing tool selection, process standardization, and resource allocation.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Working across numerous departments provides broad business understanding and networking opportunities within Starbucks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and emphasis on mentoring suggest a path towards leadership. Growth will likely involve taking on larger, more strategic operational initiatives, potentially managing a small team of operations specialists in the future, or becoming a subject matter expert in a specific area of UX Research Operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role requires working onsite 4 days per week at the Starbucks Support Center in Seattle. This indicates a traditional office environment designed for collaboration, with access to typical corporate amenities and resources.

Office Location(s): Starbucks Support Center, Seattle, WA. This is Starbucks' corporate headquarters, a hub for innovation and operational management, offering a dynamic work environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office setting is designed to foster interaction, team meetings, and spontaneous discussions, which are crucial for aligning on research operations plans.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard corporate IT infrastructure, including reliable internet, communication platforms (Microsoft Teams), and potentially dedicated research facilities or equipment.

• Team Interaction: Regular in-person interaction with UX researchers, designers, project managers, and other operations support staff facilitates effective collaboration and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with the flexibility to manage personal schedules around the 4-day onsite requirement. The nature of project management and research operations may occasionally require adjusting hours to meet critical deadlines or participant scheduling needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with 4 days onsite is a key aspect of the work environment. It aims to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work. Candidates should be comfortable with this structured hybrid approach and the specific expectations for onsite presence.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into relevant experience, project management skills, research operations knowledge, and leadership capabilities.

• Team/Peer Interviews: Interviews with UX researchers, designers, or other project managers to evaluate collaboration style, technical skills, and ability to integrate into the team. This may include a portfolio review.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, showcasing key projects, process improvements, and quantifiable achievements in research operations.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a Director or VP for final assessment of strategic thinking and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each project or case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the actions taken, and the measurable results (e.g., time saved, cost reduction, increased research velocity, improved data quality).

• Showcase Process Improvement: Highlight examples where you've proactively identified inefficiencies and implemented solutions. Detail the "before" and "after" state of the processes.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Visually showcase how you've used tools like Miro, Figma, Jira, or specific research operations platforms. Explain your rationale for tool selection or optimization.

• Highlight Collaboration: Provide examples of how you've worked with diverse teams to achieve operational goals. Emphasize communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Structure for Clarity: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by functional area (e.g., Participant Recruitment, Tool Management, Process Optimization) or by project impact.

Challenge Preparation:

• Situational Questions: Be prepared for questions like "Describe a time you had to manage a complex research recruitment challenge" or "How would you streamline our participant feedback process?"

• Process Design Exercise: You might be asked to outline a process for a hypothetical research scenario or critique an existing process.

• Tool Scenario: Questions about how you'd leverage specific tools (e.g., Jira, Teams) to manage research operations tasks.

• Behavioral Questions: Prepare STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method responses for questions about leadership, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and cross-functional collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily weigh practical experience and demonstrable results. A well-prepared portfolio that tells a story of operational excellence and impact is critical. Candidates should be ready to discuss their methodologies, challenges faced, and lessons learned in managing research operations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Collaboration Platforms: Microsoft Teams (including Live Events), Miro. Essential for communication, virtual observation, brainstorming, and workflow visualization.

• Project Management Software: Jira (and potentially Confluence for documentation). Used for tracking research projects, tasks, and timelines, and for documenting processes and findings.

• UX Design & Prototyping Tools: Figma (familiarity expected). While not directly managed, understanding how researchers and designers use these tools is beneficial for operational support.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Reporting Dashboards: Familiarity with creating or interpreting dashboards (e.g., in Excel, Power BI, or similar tools) to track operational KPIs and research progress.

• Data Analysis Tools: Basic proficiency in Excel for data manipulation and analysis related to recruitment metrics, study timelines, and budget tracking.

CRM & Automation:

• Internal Systems: Likely familiarity with internal Starbucks systems for HR, procurement, and scheduling.

• Potential Automation Tools: Experience with scripting (e.g., Python, Google Apps Script) or automation platforms could be a plus for streamlining repetitive tasks, though not explicitly required.

• Participant Management: Experience with or ability to quickly learn specific participant panel management or scheduling software.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with Microsoft Teams and Jira is explicitly mentioned, highlighting their importance. The role requires understanding how these tools integrate into the research workflow and how to manage them to optimize efficiency. Familiarity with Miro is also highlighted for its collaborative capabilities.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Partner-Centricity: A commitment to supporting Starbucks partners (employees) by creating seamless and efficient processes that improve their work lives. This means understanding the impact of operational changes on those using the systems.

• Customer Focus: While this role is internal-facing, the ultimate goal is to improve digital products that serve customers, so an understanding of the end-user impact of UX research is important.

• Excellence & Quality: A drive for high standards in research operations, ensuring that studies are well-managed, data is handled responsibly, and insights are reliable.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working effectively with diverse teams across the organization, fostering open communication and shared goals.

• Innovation & Efficiency: A continuous effort to find better, faster, and more cost-effective ways to conduct research operations.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Proactively engaging with UX researchers, designers, product managers, and store partners to understand their needs and provide operational support.

• Transparent Communication: Maintaining open lines of communication regarding project status, potential risks, and process changes.

• Feedback-Driven: Open to receiving and providing constructive feedback to continuously improve processes and team effectiveness.

• Solution-Focused: Primarily focused on identifying challenges and collaboratively developing practical, efficient solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Starbucks emphasizes its "partner" culture, meaning employees are seen as integral to the company's success. This role requires embodying that collaborative spirit and demonstrating empathy for the internal users of the UX research process.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Large Matrixed Organization: Balancing the needs of various stakeholders across different departments and levels within Starbucks can be complex.

• Scaling Operations: Ensuring research operations can scale effectively to support a growing number of digital product teams and research initiatives.

• Tool Integration & Management: Managing a suite of research tools, ensuring they integrate well and meet evolving team needs within corporate IT constraints.

• Recruitment in Diverse Markets: Sourcing and scheduling participants across a wide geographic area (US and Canada) with varying demographics and store operations realities.

• Balancing Onsite/Remote Work: Effectively managing team collaboration and operational tasks in a hybrid work environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Operations Strategy: Opportunities to develop and implement strategic operational roadmaps for the UX research function.

• Leadership Development: Mentoring junior team members and potentially leading operational initiatives provides valuable leadership experience.

• Industry Best Practices: Staying abreast of the latest trends in UX research operations, participant recruitment, and research technologies.

• Cross-Functional Projects: Engaging in projects that span beyond core operations, offering exposure to broader business functions and strategic initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior role in a large corporation. Growth opportunities are tied to taking initiative, demonstrating strategic thinking, and excelling in leadership and cross-functional collaboration.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach streamlining the participant recruitment process for a large-scale study across multiple US markets?" (Focus on process, tools, stakeholder coordination).

• "Describe your experience in managing research operations budgets and procurement for UX research tools and services." (Highlight financial acumen and vendor management).

• "What are your strategies for ensuring data privacy and security compliance in UX research operations?" (Demonstrate awareness of legal/ethical considerations).

• "How do you measure the success and impact of research operations initiatives?" (Prepare to discuss KPIs, reporting, and ROI). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for Starbucks, specifically in this UX Research Operations role?" (Connect your values and skills to Starbucks' mission and partner culture).

• "How would you foster collaboration between UX researchers and store partners/leaders?" (Showcase interpersonal and communication skills).

• "Describe a situation where you had to adapt your operational approach due to company-wide changes or directives." (Demonstrate adaptability and understanding of corporate environments). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Frame your portfolio pieces as narratives of problem, solution, and impact. Start with the challenge and end with the positive outcome.

• Quantify Everything: Whenever possible, use numbers and data to demonstrate the impact of your work (e.g., "Reduced recruitment time by 30%", "Improved participant satisfaction scores by 15%").

• Visual Aids: Use screenshots, flowcharts, or brief demo videos to illustrate processes or tool usage where appropriate.

• Focus on Relevance: Tailor your presentation to highlight experiences most relevant to Starbucks' industry and the specific requirements of the role.

• Be Prepared for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your methodology, decisions, and the challenges you faced.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a candidate who not only has the technical and operational skills but also the strategic mindset and cultural alignment to thrive at Starbucks. A strong portfolio that demonstrates impact and a clear understanding of how operations support business objectives will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Starbucks careers portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in research operations management, UX research support, project management, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description, such as "UX Research Operations," "Project Management," "Participant Recruitment," and "Process Improvement."

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 3-5 of your strongest case studies that demonstrate your ability to optimize research operations, manage complex projects, and drive measurable results. Ensure these examples showcase your skills in process documentation, tool implementation, and stakeholder management.

• Practice Your Interview Responses: Prepare to discuss your experience using the STAR method, focusing on situations related to research operations challenges, process improvements, and cross-functional collaboration. Be ready to articulate your approach to participant recruitment and tool management.

• Research Starbucks: Familiarize yourself with Starbucks' mission, values, recent digital initiatives, and their partner-centric culture. Understand how UX research operations contributes to the company's overall success.

⚠️ 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.

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