Research Operations Program Manager ( Eastern or Central Time Zone preferred)

About Docker

At Docker, we make app development easier so developers can focus on what matters. Our remote-first team spans the globe, united by a passion for innovation and great developer experiences. With over 20 million monthly users and 20 billion image pulls, Docker is the #1 tool for building, sharing, and running apps—trusted by startups and Fortune 100s alike. We’re growing fast and just getting started. Come join us for a whale of a ride!

About the Role

UX Research at Docker is a fast-paced, collaborative team that partners closely with Product Designers, Product Managers, and Engineers who are passionate about developer experience. The User Research team at Docker is looking for a Research Operations Manager to support UX research activities and to develop a culture of user-centered development across the company. This is an operational role, ideal for someone who is passionate about enabling research through strong logistical, strategic, and organizational execution.

Note: This is not a transitional role into UX research. It is intentionally structured for professionals who are focused on research operations as their long-term career path.

Responsibilities

• Manage and optimize the processes, tools, and infrastructure that support UX research activities
• Coordinate participant recruitment logistics (e.g., sourcing, screening, scheduling, NDAs, and compensation)
• Build and lead the strategy for participant management, including maintaining the research participant database
• Own key operational areas of the research program such as data governance, vendor and knowledge management, and standardizing documentation
• Develop and scale programs that foster a user-centered culture across the company, empowering cross-functional teams to connect with users and gather feedback; partner with other teams (Support, Sales, etc.) as needed
• Document and standardize research operations processes, including cross-functional processes with Legal, Security, and others
• Implement and oversee success metrics for user research activities
• Develop and implement a long-term vision for research operations that aligns with organizational goals

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in research operations or a related field in a fast-paced Agile environment
• Background in project management, event coordination, or logistics-heavy roles
• Proven track record in managing end-to-end participant recruitment processes
• Strong knowledge of research tools and platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, Calendly)
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Excellent organizational skills with a keen attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and “herd cats” effectively
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; highly collaborative and proactive

What to Expect

First 30 Days: Observe, Learn, and Contribute

• Onboard with the User Research team
• Review existing research operations processes, tools, templates, and documentation
• Familiarize yourself with participant recruitment tools, databases, and external vendors in use
• Begin to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement
• Start contributing to live operational tasks such as scheduling

First 90 Days: Own Processes and Propose Improvements

• Take ownership of day-to-day recruitment and operations for research initiatives
• Propose and begin implementing improvements to existing processes
• Define success metrics for key research operations processes and begin tracking baseline performance
• Propose a long-term participant management strategy
• Draft a roadmap for research operations improvements for the next 6–12 months

One-Year Outlook: Build Scalable Operations and Drive Strategic Impact

• Establish end-to-end research operations as a well-oiled function
• Standardize recruiting workflows, including participant consent, scheduling, NDAs, and compensation
• Launch cross-functional programs that embed user-centered thinking into the broader company culture
• Implement tooling and vendor improvements

Employment Details

• Salary: $130.4K - $163K
• Location Type: Remote
• Employment Type: FullTime