Research Program Manager IV

Location: Fully Remote – U.S. only 
Duration: 12-month contract with potential for extension/conversion
Pay rate: $90-$94/hr W2
Target start: September 14, 2026
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision; PTO & sick leave

Lead High-Visibility Research Programs from Strategy to Execution

Are you a seasoned Program Manager, Research Operations professional, or Operations leader who thrives on turning ambiguity into action?

Our client is looking for a highly autonomous Research Program Manager IV to take ownership of the operational execution behind high-visibility research initiatives. This is an opportunity to do much more than coordinate tasks—you'll build the systems, manage the moving pieces, solve complex problems, and drive programs forward from end to end.

You'll work across vendors, budgets, procurement, research teams, and cross-functional stakeholders, helping ensure complex programs stay on track, well-funded, and fully supported.

If you're someone who naturally asks "What needs to happen next?" and takes ownership of making it happen, this could be an excellent opportunity for you.

What You'll Do

Vendor & Partner Operations

• Manage the full vendor lifecycle, from SOW scoping and negotiation through PO creation, invoice reconciliation, amendments, and renewals.

• Serve as a key operations partner for multiple research vendors and vendor project managers.

• Monitor vendor performance, identify risks, and drive timely resolution of issues and SLA concerns.

Budget & Financial Management

• Manage rolling forecasts and burn-rate tracking across multiple research workstreams.

• Identify budget risks early and develop recommendations for reallocations or corrective action.

• Deliver clear, leadership-ready budget updates and program health reporting.

Procurement & Compliance

• Navigate procurement and sourcing processes to establish new vendor engagements.

• Partner with sourcing and procurement teams on competitive bids, contracts, and vendor requirements.

• Ensure engagements follow internal procurement and compliance standards.

Program Infrastructure

• Create and maintain trackers, dashboards, intake systems, canonicals, and other operational tools that serve as the source of truth.

• Build scalable processes that help research teams, vendors, and cross-functional partners work more effectively.

• Continuously improve systems and workflows as programs expand.

Multi-Market Program Management

• Coordinate interdependent timelines across vendors, international markets, and internal teams.

• Manage dependencies and sequencing across multiple workstreams and time zones.

• Anticipate potential blockers and address risks before they impact program delivery.

Stakeholder Communication

• Proactively communicate program health, milestones, risks, and key decisions.

• Develop concise, polished reports, dashboards, and updates for senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Make sure stakeholders always have visibility into what's happening without having to chase you for updates.

Problem-Solving & Knowledge Management

• Diagnose operational challenges and independently develop and drive solutions.

• Resolve issues involving vendor performance, budget variances, procurement, and research pipelines.

• Document processes, decisions, and institutional knowledge so programs remain sustainable and easy for others to navigate.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who combines strategic program management with strong operational execution.

Required Qualifications

• 7–8+ years of experience in program management, operations, research operations, consulting, or a comparable cross-functional environment.

• Proven experience managing vendors, budgets, procurement, and complex programs.

• Comfortable working independently with limited direction and bringing structure to ambiguous situations.

• Advanced Google Sheets and/or Microsoft Excel skills, including financial modeling, forecasting, and dashboards.

• Experience managing complex timelines involving multiple vendors, markets, and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex program information into clear, executive-ready updates.

• Highly organized, analytical, proactive, and comfortable managing competing priorities.

• Familiarity with AI tools and their use in improving workflows, efficiency, and operational scale.

Must-Have Experience

• 7–8+ years in program or operations management

• End-to-end vendor lifecycle management

• Budget ownership, forecasting, burn-rate tracking, and financial reporting

• Experience with Coupa, Buy@, or comparable procurement systems

• Multi-market and cross-functional program management

• Building operational infrastructure and systems from the ground up

• Executive-level stakeholder communication and reporting

• Advanced Google Sheets / Excel

• Proven ability to operate autonomously and thrive in ambiguity

Nice-to-Have Experience

• UX Research Operations

• Consulting

• Large-scale research programs

• International or global vendor management

• Experience using AI to automate, streamline, or scale operational processes

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This role is ideal for a senior program leader who wants ownership—not just coordination.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Own high-visibility research programs with meaningful business impact

• Build systems and processes that teams will rely on as their source of truth

• Work across research, procurement, vendors, finance, and cross-functional teams

• Influence how complex programs are structured and executed

• Solve challenging operational problems in a fast-moving environment

• Work remotely while collaborating with teams across multiple markets and time zones

• Bring your experience and judgment to programs where your ability to take initiative can make a measurable difference

Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified applicants will be considered for assignment with arrest and conviction records. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness, meet client expectations, standards, and accompanying requirements, and safeguard business operations and company reputation.