Research Program Manager

The Demography and Survey Sciences (DSS) team at Meta is a centralized research group specializing in rigorous research to answer strategic product and business questions. They are not tied to a specific app or product, but instead work across the company, leveraging expertise in survey research, metric development, causal inference, large-scale data analysis, and qualitative methods like cognitive testing and focus groups. DSS is known for designing and implementing robust measurement and research approaches to address complex, cross-product challenges, such as evaluating machine learning models and improving user and behavior measurement.

Research Program Managers build and scale global research programs to strengthen the impact of our research teams. We drive efficiency, cultivate relationships, increase knowledge sharing, and build capacity within our organization to enable Researchers to do their most impactful work. As a Research Program Manager, DSS Research Operations, you will work in conjunction with the existing DSS ResOps team and the larger Global Research Organization team to identify overlaps and synergies between research programs and practices across DSS enabling increased research effectiveness. In this role, you will define, establish, and maintain global operational and team-wide programs as well as create, manage, and scale processes to support the growing team. You'll utilize a full range of organizational and effective communication to help our team operate at their highest and most effective level.

Responsibilities

Define and manage strategic initiatives that improve team efficiency and impact, establishing operational systems and outcomes Proactively identify and partner with stakeholders on internal processes, templates, and guidelines to improve team optimization and documentation Partner with team leadership on establishing effective team communication, information distribution, and cross-team collaboration Partner with cross-functional teams such as Sourcing and Vendor Engagements to enable customized DSS contracting processes Manage relationship with select group of preferred vendors, building the business-specific operations and processes needed to streamline intake Support research planning and allocation by tracking, aligning and executing project specific contracting/PO’s and invoice tracking against open PO’s Manage the operational and financial efficiency of the DSS budget by maintaining accurate and up-to-date financial datasets, files, and reports Perform data analysis and provide insights to inform and support business decisions Prepare metric-driven status reports by gathering, analyzing and summarizing relevant information Proactively manage expectations: define clear program roadmaps, provide frequent program updates, identify and communicate risks and adjustments, and ensure commitments are delivered Provide adaptable approaches that meet team needs, including the ability to adapt approaches based on shifting priorities and remove obstacles by escalating or proposing alternatives Serve as a link to the Global Research Ops team, leveraging new processes or best practices when relevant and collaborating on programs specific to the team’s needs Facilitate relationships between teams, move initiatives forward, find resources, escalate and raise concerns to appropriate owners early and resolve open issues that prevent progress

Qualifications

5+ years of experience in program management, research operations, or a related field Experience with establishing programs and leading them end-to-end while scaling for growth Experience integrating AI tools and workflows into business operations or program management Demonstrated ability to drive responsible and ethical AI adoption in cross-functional settings Demonstrated ability to translate AI/ML concepts for business stakeholders Experience building relationships with peers and executive stakeholders and collaborating with cross-functional teams across multiple locations Experience leveraging data to inform decisions and drive change Track record of identifying process gaps and independently designing and implementing solutions in evolving or undefined environments Experience managing competing deadlines by prioritizing tasks based on impact and stakeholder needs, and identifying and resolving blockers to maintain project momentum Experience communicating program status, risks, and recommendations to researchers, cross-functional stakeholders, organizational leaders, and external partners, with experience adapting communication style to suit different audiences Experience with vendor management and contract negotiation Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies Track record of leading or supporting AI transformation initiatives in a business context Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews) Demonstrated track record of (1) organization and (2) prioritization approaches and frameworks Experience working directly with UX researchers, Finance, and Legal teams Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements) Experience with AI/ML-powered products, business process automation, or AI-driven analytics