GPI (Global Product Insights) is seeking a Chief Research Operations Officer (CROO) to lead and scale the operational engine behind our global research and research-technology delivery. This executive role sits at the intersection of consumer research operations, fieldwork execution, digital platforms, IHUT programs, and cross-functional leadership.

You will oversee global research services operations, ensuring consistent quality, reliability, and efficiency across large-scale IHUTs, in-market tests, sensory studies, and rapid digital evaluations.

The ideal candidate brings proven experience managing market research operations at scale, including distributed teams of 15–40+ people, and thrives in highly technical environments where automation, platform workflows, and operational discipline drive performance.

You will shape the operational backbone of the organization during a phase of accelerated growth, expanding product categories, and increasingly complex research programs, partnering closely with the CEO, Head of Research, CTO, and Chief Growth Officer.

Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Organizational Management

We are seeking an experienced and visionary operations executive to lead our global research operations, with responsibility for:

• Serving as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, defining the operational vision and strategy for global research services. You will partner with other key members of the management team, including the CEO, Head of Research, CTO, and Chief Growth Officer. 

• Leading and mentoring a distributed operations organization, including Research Ops, Project Management, Fieldwork Ops, Tech Ops, QA, and specialized operational teams.

• Designing organizational structures, capacity planning models, hiring strategies, and long-term resource allocation across continents.

• Driving a culture of ownership, accountability, operational discipline, and excellence across all teams.

Research Operations (IHUTs, Fieldwork, Sensory & Multimarket Programs)

• Oversee the full lifecycle of IHUTs, in-home use testing logistics, shipping frameworks, mission management, product handling, and QC.

• Manage day-to-day operational execution for global product tests, sensory studies, panel recruitment, and multi-country programs for clients like PepsiCo, Kellanova, Molson Coors, CJ, and others.

• Standardize best practices for product handling, respondent verification (photo, video, ID), data quality, and compliance across markets.

• Own execution KPIs: turnaround time, feasibility, delivery performance, risk management, margins, and escalations.

Research Technology Operations (Digital Platforms, Integrations & Automation)

• Oversee operational performance of the company’s research-technology platforms, including mission workflows and respondent management systems.

• Partner with Engineering and Product teams to enhance operational automation, data pipelines, integrations with client systems, and platform scalability.

• Define technical requirements to support IHUT-specific workflows (shipping tracking, consumption tasks, product rotation, media capture, QC automation).

• Ensure high uptime, reliability, and seamless adoption of all research-technology capabilities across teams.

Quality, Governance & Delivery Excellence

• Own global quality standards for every study delivered across the organization.

• Create SOPs, playbooks, and compliance frameworks to ensure consistent global execution.

• Implement advanced QC workflows for large-scale media review, multi-step missions, and complex verification steps.

• Ensure compliance with global standards: data handling, privacy (GDPR), sampling validity, and client expectations.

Strategic Operations & Continuous Improvement

• Shape long-term operational roadmaps aligned with company strategy, revenue growth, and margin optimization.

• Identify and implement efficiency initiatives across tooling, teams, and processes.

• Lead cross-functional strategic projects, including automation initiatives, shipping scaling, global category expansion, and high-volume IHUT infrastructure.

• Partner with Finance to forecast operational capacity, resources, and budget requirements.

Client Delivery & Commercial Support

• Partner with Client Success, Research Leads, and Business Development to ensure operational feasibility during project scoping.

• Actively contribute to key client programs (global TEA programs, superiority testing frameworks, multi-market IHUT implementations).

• Support proposal creation, operational pricing models, volume-based efficiencies, and margin design.

• Join executive client conversations when strategic operational alignment is required.

What We’re Looking For

• 12+ years of experience managing large-scale research operations, consumer insights operations, IHUTs, or fieldwork execution.

• Proven experience leading remote teams of 15–40+ people across multiple regions.

• Deep operational expertise in IHUTs, fieldwork execution, logistics, shipping compliance, sensory testing, or high-volume consumer research.

• Strong background with digital research platforms, workflow automation, integrations, data pipelines, or modern research technology methodologies.

• Executive-level experience in operational design, capacity planning, multimarket execution, and operational optimization.

• Demonstrated ability to build standardization, automation, and modern operational systems in a fast-growth environment.

• Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• High degree of comfort operating in the EU, US, LATAM, Africa, and APAC time zones.

• Ability to travel occasionally for client meetings, leadership sessions, or operations workshops.

Work Conditions

• Fully remote, global leadership role with a distributed team across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

• Requires reliable high-speed internet, strong video-communication ability, and flexibility for multi-time-zone coordination.

• Occasional travel for leadership off-sites, client meetings, and fieldwork logistics workshops.

Why Join GPI

• Help scale a next-generation AI platform transforming product experience research

• Work directly with the Chief Growth Officer and leadership team

• Engage with global enterprise consumer brands

• Play a key role in building the operational infrastructure of a fast-growing global research organization

About GPI

GPI (Global Product Insights) is transforming how companies understand and optimize product experience at scale.

Our AI-enabled platform connects real-world consumer behavior, product insights, and performance, giving global brands continuous visibility into how their products perform in market.

We work with leading companies across food, beverage, and consumer products, helping insights, innovation, and R&D teams make faster, more confident product decisions.

As a fast-growing global startup, we are building the operational foundation needed to support rapid expansion, strengthen enterprise client partnerships, and scale our revenue engine.

How to Apply

If you are an experienced research operations leader ready to shape the future of global consumer insights delivery, we would love to hear from you.

To apply, please:

1. Complete the online form.

2. Submit your CV in English (PDF only).

3. 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.