Chief Research Operations Officer

FlavorWiki is seeking a Chief Research Operations Officer (CROO) to lead and scale the full operational engine behind our global research and research-technology delivery. This role sits at the intersection of consumer research operations, fieldwork execution, digital research platforms, IHUT programs, and cross-functional leadership. You will oversee all research operations across FlavorWiki, ensuring exceptional quality, reliability, and efficiency across thousands of IHUTs, in-market tests, sensory studies, and rapid digital evaluations. The ideal candidate brings deep experience running market research operations at scale, including remote teams of 15–40+ people, and thrives in a technical environment where workflows, automation, and operational discipline are critical. You will partner with other key members of the management team including the CEO, Head of Research, CTO and Chief Growth Officer. Responsibilities Executive Leadership & Organizational Management Serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, defining operational vision and strategy. Lead and mentor a global distributed operations organization (Research Ops, Project Management, Fieldwork Ops, Tech Ops, QA, specialized teams). Design scalable structures: capacity models, hiring strategies, and resource allocation. Drive a culture of accountability, ownership, and operational excellence. Research Operations (IHUTs, Fieldwork, Sensory & Multimarket Programs) Oversee the full lifecycle of IHUTs: logistics, shipping, missions, product handling, QC. Manage execution of global product tests, sensory studies, panel recruitment, and multi-country programs. Standardize best practices for handling, verification (photo/video/ID), data quality, and compliance. Own KPIs: turnaround time, feasibility, margins, delivery performance, risk management, escalations. Research Technology Operations (Digital Platforms, Integrations & Automation) Oversee operational performance of FlavorWiki's research-tech platform. Work with Engineering and Product to enhance automation, pipelines, integrations, and scalability. Define requirements for IHUT workflows (tracking, rotation, media capture, QC automation). Ensure high uptime, reliability, and seamless internal adoption. Quality, Governance & Delivery Excellence Own global quality standards across all studies. Develop SOPs, playbooks, and compliance frameworks. Implement QC workflows for media review, multi-step missions, and verification. Ensure global compliance: privacy, GDPR, data handling, sampling validity. Strategic Operations & Continuous Improvement Shape long-term operational roadmaps aligned with revenue, growth, and margins. Lead efficiency initiatives across processes, teams, automation, and tooling. Oversee scalability initiatives: shipping frameworks, category expansion, IHUT infrastructure. Partner with Finance for forecasting, budgets, and capacity planning. Client Delivery & Commercial Support Support feasibility during project scoping with CS, Research Leads, and BD. Contribute to strategic client programs (TEA, superiority testing, multi-market IHUTs). Support pricing models, operational design, and margin structures. Join executive client conversations where operational alignment is critical. What We're Looking For 12+ years managing large-scale research operations, consumer insights, IHUTs, or fieldwork. Proven experience leading remote teams of 15–40+ people across multiple regions. Strong operational expertise in IHUTs, logistics, sensory testing, shipping compliance, or high-volume studies. Strong background in research-tech platforms, automation, integrations, or data pipelines. Executive-level experience in operational design, multimarket execution, and optimization. Ability to scale standardized and automated systems in fast-growth environments. Excellent communication, leadership, and collaboration skills. Comfort working across EU, US, LATAM, Africa, APAC time zones. Availability for occasional travel. Work Conditions Fully remote global leadership role. Requires strong video communication, reliable internet, and flexibility across time zones. Occasional travel for client meetings and operational workshops. Why Join Us? Lead operations serving major global CPG brands. High-impact role shaping two fast-growing businesses. International, collaborative team and flexible remote culture. Competitive senior-level compensation. How to Apply If you're a talented SDR professional ready to shape the future of consumer insights, we'd love to hear from you. To apply, please: Complete the online form. CV in English (PDF). Upload a short video in English introducing yourself. Please explain: Why is this role the right next step for you? Your experience in building businesses and selling ideas. One way you think AI or data science will change consumer research. We review every application carefully, and candidates selected for the next stage will be contacted via email to schedule an online interview.