Please take a moment to review the full job description to make sure the role is a good fit. The posted salary range reflects the approved budget for this position and is not flexible. Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the U.S., with at least two years remaining on their current work authorization. We are unable to provide employment sponsorship for this position.
Title: Operations Manager
Location: Remote. Given the nature of work, applicants based on the East Coast will be prioritized for review.
The Operations Manager is an individual contributor responsible for planning and managing the operational delivery of Kadence Americas’ full-service studies. Working closely with Project Management, Recruitment, Data, Quality Management, and other internal teams, this role owns assigned operational workstreams and determines how studies are operationalized, including venue, vendor, resource, scheduling, and field execution requirements.
The role requires a high degree of independent judgment in setting priorities, evaluating operational risks, selecting appropriate solutions, and resolving issues. While the Operations Manager does not have direct reports, the position coordinates closely with vendors, contractors, temporary field staff, and cross-functional teams to ensure successful study delivery.
This is an ownership-focused role that combines operational planning with hands-on involvement when needed. The Operations Manager is expected to identify what needs to happen, determine the appropriate approach, and take responsibility for execution from planning through completion.
Primary Responsibilities
Operational Planning & Study Management
- Own operational planning and execution for assigned studies from pre-PO preparation through completion of fieldwork
- Review study specifications and determine operational requirements, including venues, vendors, staffing resources, equipment, technology, travel, and on-site needs
- Develop operational plans, timelines, and priorities in coordination with Project Management, Recruitment, Data, and Quality Management
- Evaluate study requirements and determine the appropriate operational approach based on timing, available resources, cost, participant needs, and client requirements
- Manage multiple operational workstreams simultaneously and independently prioritize activities as project requirements change
- Identify operational risks, dependencies, and resource gaps early and determine appropriate solutions
- Make real-time operational decisions during active fieldwork to keep studies on track
- Resolve operational issues independently where appropriate and escalate material client, financial, legal, or business risks to leadership
Venue & Vendor Management
- Lead the sourcing, evaluation, and selection of venues, contractors, and other operational partners across assigned markets
- Evaluate venue suitability based on study requirements, participant experience, logistics, technology, accessibility, timing, and cost
- Conduct or coordinate venue visits as needed
- Manage ongoing relationships with venues, vendors, contractors, and other operational partners
- Evaluate vendor performance and determine when corrective action or alternative resources are required
- Review vendor options and make recommendations based on cost, quality, reliability, timing, and project requirements
- Coordinate vendor agreements, operational requirements, and supporting documentation with Finance and other internal stakeholders
- Develop and maintain a reliable network of venues and operational partners for future studies
- Identify opportunities to improve cost, reliability, and scalability across Kadence’s vendor and venue network
Field Operations & Resource Coordination
- Oversee field operations for assigned studies, including venue readiness, vendor coordination, staffing resources, schedules, participant flow, equipment, and day-of execution
- Determine operational resource requirements and coordinate appropriate coverage with internal teams, contractors, and temporary field staff
- Communicate operational requirements and expectations clearly to contractors, vendors, and other on-site resources
- Serve as the primary operational point of contact for significant fieldwork issues
- Resolve scheduling, vendor, participant, technology, and logistical issues using independent judgment
- Recognize and appropriately de-escalate difficult or sensitive situations involving participants, vendors, contractors, or other stakeholders
- Ensure operational requirements and study protocols are understood and followed during fieldwork
- Step into hands-on execution when necessary to resolve issues or ensure successful study delivery
- Travel to study locations as required, including multi-day assignments
Quality & Process Improvement
- Ensure operational processes support accurate, complete, and timely data collection
- Oversee operational and schedule QC and determine appropriate corrective action when issues are identified
- Partner with Quality Management and Data to address recurring operational or data-quality issues
- Identify recurring operational problems and develop solutions to prevent future occurrences
- Develop, maintain, and improve operational SOPs, playbooks, checklists, templates, and other working procedures
- Evaluate lessons learned following major studies and incorporate improvements into future operating practices
- Recommend changes to processes, vendors, resources, technology, or operating procedures where they would improve quality, efficiency, cost, or scalability
- Maintain appropriate documentation of significant operational decisions, vendor arrangements, site logistics, and fieldwork issues
Cross-Functional Coordination & Business Support
- Serve as an operational link between Project Management, Recruitment, Data, Quality Management, Finance, vendors, contractors, and field resources
- Communicate operational plans, risks, decisions, and results clearly to study leadership and relevant stakeholders
- Provide operational recommendations regarding study feasibility, timing, venues, vendors, resources, cost, and execution approach
- Participate in planning discussions for upcoming studies and provide operational input before commitments are finalized
- Coordinate with contractors and temporary field staff and provide clear operational requirements for assigned studies
- Evaluate vendor and contractor performance and make recommendations regarding future engagements
- Support the development of consistent operational standards and practices across Kadence Americas
Required Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience in operations, field operations, event logistics, market research fieldwork, or a comparable operational environment
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant professional experience
- Demonstrated experience independently managing projects or operational workstreams involving multiple stakeholders
- Strong judgment and demonstrated ability to make decisions in fast-moving environments without requiring constant direction
- Experience managing vendor, contractor, venue, or other external partner relationships
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate competing priorities and determine appropriate courses of action
- Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and operational dependencies simultaneously
- Strong problem-solving skills and composure when circumstances change quickly
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds
- Strong working knowledge of spreadsheets, scheduling tools, collaboration platforms, and common business technology
- Ability to troubleshoot routine technology and operational issues independently
- Strong attention to detail while maintaining visibility over broader project objectives and business priorities
- Comfortable with regular travel and variable on-site schedules as business needs require
- Valid driver’s license
- Valid passport
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience in market research, user studies, data collection, experiential operations, or another fieldwork-driven industry
- Experience managing concurrent operational workstreams across multiple markets
- Experience developing SOPs, operational playbooks, or scalable processes
- Experience coordinating contractors, temporary staff, vendors, or other external resources
- Familiarity with data-quality and QC processes
- Experience evaluating vendors or operational solutions based on cost, quality, timing, and business requirements
- Demonstrated ability to balance participant experience, operational requirements, cost, and client expectations
- Working knowledge of advanced Excel functionality, SQL, Python, or other data tools is a plus
What Success Looks Like
- Assigned studies are operationally prepared before fieldwork begins and execute with minimal last-minute disruption
- Operational plans are developed with appropriate consideration for timing, resources, cost, participant experience, and client requirements
- Risks and resource requirements are identified early and addressed before they materially affect study delivery
- Venues, vendors, contractors, and other operational resources are appropriately evaluated, selected, and coordinated
- Operational decisions are made independently and efficiently, with material business or client risks escalated appropriately
- Study schedules and field requirements remain on track throughout execution
- Operational costs are considered when making venue, vendor, resource, and execution decisions
- Data collection is supported by consistent and reliable field processes
- Venue and vendor relationships are maintained with appropriate attention to performance, cost, reliability, and long-term value
- Recurring operational issues lead to process improvements rather than repeated problems
- Internal stakeholders have clear visibility into operational status, risks, and key decisions
About the Operations Team
The Operations team turns study plans into successful field execution. Working closely with Project Management, Recruitment, Data, and Quality Management, Operations ensures that the venues, vendors, contractors, resources, systems, and logistics required for each study come together effectively.
Operations Managers are individual contributors who own operational planning, resource coordination, vendor and venue management, and field execution for their assigned studies. The role does not have direct reports but carries responsibility for making operational decisions and coordinating the internal and external resources required for successful delivery.
Quality Management complements Operations by focusing on schedule and quota quality, data integrity, training, and continuous process improvement. Together, these functions provide the operational structure required to deliver consistent, high-quality studies across Kadence Americas.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $70,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: Remote
