Research Operations Principal

As a Research Operations Principal, you will lead the Research Operations team to provide the strategic infrastructure and high-level support that enables every product team at Trade Me to get closer to our customers. Rather than just conducting research, you will be the architect of the systems, tooling, and processes that make capturing high-quality research insights possible at scale.

By combining deep research expertise with a pragmatic, collaborative approach, you will empower stakeholders to lead their own research with confidence and autonomy. You’ll be a key partner in ensuring our teams are equipped to design successful product solutions that strike the perfect balance between user needs and Trade Me’s commercial goals.

Here is what you can expect from this role:

• Lead Research Operations at Trade Me, planning and executing the high-level strategy for the team.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of our UX research processes, policies, and templates to ensure that research is conducted efficiently and effectively.
• Prioritise research projects based on the strategic priorities of the business, and the capacity of the Research Operations team.
• Manage the UX research budget, ensuring we keep research activities within our cost envelope.
• Audit our current research, analysis, and repository tools, and implement new ones where appropriate
• Work with stakeholders across the Trade Me verticals (Jobs, Marketplace, Motors, Property) to ensure high quality user research, including surveys, usability testing, and interviews
• Coach stakeholders on how to improve their research skills, including; interview facilitation, writing survey questions, and analysis of research data
• Collaborate with product and design teams to design and evaluative user research, and assist these teams in making customer-centric decisions
• Collaborate with marketing and sales teams on external-facing research projects for our clients
• Support teams with tools and skills to analyse and distil data from customer research, and effectively communicate key insights and learnings at different levels across the business
• Mentor and support members of the Research Operations team on their technical research skills, stakeholder management, and presentation and storytelling of research findings.

What you will bring to our team:

• 5+ years experience in a similar role and/or evidence of skills
• Experience and evidence of leadership.
• Excellent communication skills, both for presenting research insights, and for managing stakeholders during projects
• Experience leading user research projects and bringing stakeholders and non-research colleagues along the journey.
• Expertise on common research methodologies, specifically surveys, interviews, moderated user testing, and unmoderated user testing
• Skills and strategies for the analysis of both quantitative and qualitative research data
• Excellent time management and project management skills, including managing multiple projects simultaneously
• A passion for research excellence, paired with a pragmatic approach to delivering high-impact insights within the constraints of the business.
• Strong problem-solving skills. The ability to see opportunities for improvement and creatively solve these.
• A track record of elevating team capability through coaching, mentorship, and support.
• A friendly, people-first attitude centered on empathy and collaboration

You'll have the best time working at Trade Me, and this is why: #Flexibility: Flexibility means different things to different people and we support you to find what works, including a home office set up and utilities allowance. We value team connection and come together in person on Monday and at least one other day a week. #Leave: We support you with leave when you need it, including 5 days of wellness leave each year and 10 days of sick leave from day 1. #Social: Nothing beats getting together to have some fun and celebrate our success. Join us in the office on payday for company paid lunches. Regular Friday drinks and nibbles, annual Trade Me company awards, celebrations and more.

We know some candidates can be reluctant to apply for roles if they feel they don't 'tick all the boxes'. If you're excited about this opportunity, we'd still really like to hear from you so please send us your resume and a short cover note outlining the "Why".

Trade Me is an INZ accredited employer. We truly value diversity and embrace a flexible workplace where people are encouraged to achieve their potential.