Research Operations Lead - £675 per day - Contract

Research Operations Lead - SC Cleared - Contract

Rate: £675 per day

Duration: 6 months

Location: Hybrid (London, Bristol or Manchester)

IR35: Inside

The role

A Government organisation is seeking an experienced Research Operations Lead to drive improvements in research operations across a major digital transformation programme. You will work closely with senior stakeholders, User Research leaders, and multidisciplinary teams to remove operational barriers, improve research delivery, and enable faster, more effective user centred decision making.

Key responsibilities

• Lead strategic improvements to Research Operations capability across multiple teams
• Remove operational blockers impacting research and content delivery
• Improve research processes, governance, tooling, and ways of working
• Optimise participant recruitment and access to diverse user groups
• Support research governance, GDPR compliance, and proportionate assurance processes
• Engage with suppliers, recruitment partners, and research platforms
• Work closely with senior stakeholders to deliver scalable, practical solutions
• Capture and share best practice to improve research delivery across the organisation

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience leading Research Operations within large, complex organisations
• Strong understanding of user research methodologies and agile delivery environments
• Experience improving participant recruitment, research tooling, and governance processes
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
• Experience balancing delivery pace with governance and compliance requirements
• Experience working with suppliers, agencies, and external research partners
• Excellent delivery, prioritisation, and organisational skills
• SC Clearance required or eligibility to obtain SC Clearance