[Remote] Research Operations Project Manager

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. OGC Global is a boutique research and consulting agency specializing in data-driven strategy, market research, and Customer Experience (CX). They are seeking a Research Operations Project Manager to ensure efficient vendor onboarding, compliance, and operational effectiveness while collaborating with various internal and external stakeholders. The role will focus on vendor management, budget tracking, compliance, and process optimization.ResponsibilitiesLead the end-to-end lifecycle of research vendors, including onboarding, contracting, renewals, offboarding, and ongoing relationship managementServe as the primary liaison between internal stakeholders and external research vendors, coordinating across Legal, Privacy, Procurement, Cybersecurity, Finance, and other partner groups to facilitate vendor onboarding, approvals, compliance reviews, contract execution, and governance requirementsCoordinate the creation, review, execution, and administration of vendor agreements, including SOWs, MSAs, NDAs, amendments, renewals, and related contractual processesEstablish, maintain, and oversee centralized vendor management documentation, tracking, and governance frameworks, including vendor records, contracts, compliance status, risk assessments, privacy and security reviews, audit documentation, and other required records to ensure operational transparency, regulatory compliance, and audit readinessMonitor vendor performance through scorecards, KPIs, service-level metrics, and compliance tracking, identifying and escalating operational, contractual, privacy, security, or performance risks as neededDevelop, document, and continuously improve vendor management processes, standards, and governance practices that drive consistency, accountability, transparency, and scalability across the organizationPartner with internal stakeholders and external vendors to resolve operational issues, mitigate risk, and improve overall vendor effectiveness, compliance, and business partnership outcomesManage vendor budgets, forecasts, purchase orders, invoices, accruals, and financial tracking processes across research initiatives and vendor engagementsDevelop, maintain, and enhance budget trackers, dashboards, reporting tools, and operational metrics using Smartsheet and other platforms to provide visibility into budget performance, spending trends, and financial healthMonitor budget utilization, forecast accuracy, and financial performance, proactively identifying variances, risks, and opportunities for improvement while recommending appropriate mitigation strategiesPartner with leadership to support annual planning, forecasting, budget reviews, and financial reporting activitiesCollaborate with Finance and Procurement to ensure accurate budget allocation, timely invoice processing, payment reconciliation, and compliance with financial controlsReconcile invoices against contracts, purchase orders, project budgets, and approved expenditures to ensure financial accuracy and accountabilityEstablish, maintain, and continuously improve documentation, operating procedures, and governance frameworks that support budget oversight, approval workflows, financial management, and expense controlsDrive improvements in financial transparency, operational efficiency, and audit readiness through process standardization, workflow optimization, and the implementation of scalable and automated financial management solutionsPartner with Vendor Management teams to ensure vendors and research activities meet corporate security, privacy, legal, and compliance requirementsCreate and maintain governance documentation, policies, procedures, and audit-ready recordsSupport vendor compliance reviews and ongoing monitoring activities, ensuring adherence to contractual obligations, company policies, and regulatory requirementsMonitor departmental workflow and operational processes for compliance risks and recommend mitigation strategiesDrive consistency in operational controls and governance practices across the departmentAssist in developing compliance training materials, documentation, and process guidanceSupport audit preparation, evidence collection, and compliance reporting activitiesPromote awareness and understanding of compliance requirements across internal stakeholders and department membersOwn and administer operational systems and platforms, including Smartsheet and related tools, that support vendor management, budget governance, compliance oversight, reporting, and associated workflow executionDesign, document, and optimize vendor management, budget management, compliance, and governance workflows to improve operational efficiency, transparency, consistency, and scalabilityIdentify and implement opportunities to automate manual processes, streamline cross-functional coordination, and strengthen operational controls related to vendor onboarding, contract administration, budget tracking, compliance reviews, and governance activitiesDevelop and maintain documentation, SOPs, governance standards, training materials, operational playbooks, and user guidance supporting vendor management, budget administration, compliance requirements, and governance processesDevelop and enhance dashboards, reporting frameworks, budget trackers, compliance monitoring tools, and operational metrics that improve visibility into vendor performance, financial management, compliance status, and governance activitiesResearch, evaluate, and recommend technologies, tools, and process improvements that strengthen vendor management, budget oversight, compliance monitoring, and operational governance capabilitiesDrive continuous improvement initiatives that reduce operational complexity, increase process maturity, and ensure vendor, budget, compliance, and governance processes remain measurable, repeatable, audit-ready, and aligned with organizational objectivesSkills3+ years relevant experience in operations, vendor management, procurement operations, research operations, compliance, project management, financial operations, or a related operational roleExperience supporting vendor onboarding, contract administration, supplier management, compliance reviews, governance activities, and audit readiness processesExperience supporting budget management, including financial tracking, forecasting, invoice reconciliation, spend management, and operational reportingDemonstrated success coordinating complex cross-functional processes involving internal stakeholders, external vendors, and multiple business functionsExperience developing, documenting, and optimizing operational workflows, governance processes, SOPs, and business proceduresExperience creating and maintaining dashboards, reporting frameworks, trackers, operational metrics, and KPI monitoring toolsExperience utilizing Smartsheet, Monday.com, or similar workflow and operational management platforms to support vendor management, budget tracking, compliance oversight, reporting, and process executionStrong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and project management skills, with exceptional attention to detail and follow-throughStrong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively coordinate and influence stakeholders across all levels of the organizationAbility to quickly learn and adapt to new systems, tools, and technologiesAbility to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholdersAbility to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and navigate ambiguity within a fast-paced, evolving operational environmentStrong proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and PowerPointExperience supporting Market Research, Consumer Insights, Research Operations, Vendor Management, Procurement Operations, or similar professional services functionsExperience partnering with Legal, Privacy, Procurement, Compliance, Cybersecurity, and Finance teams within a large or highly matrixed organizationAdvanced experience with Smartsheet, including workflow automation, dashboards, reporting, system administration, and process optimizationExperience leading or supporting operational transformation, process improvement, workflow automation, systems implementation, or governance initiativesFamiliarity with vendor governance frameworks, compliance programs, audit readiness practices, and risk management methodologiesExperience developing executive-level reporting, dashboards, performance metrics, and operational scorecardsKnowledge of vendor performance management practices, including KPIs, SLAs, scorecards, and vendor oversight frameworksFamiliarity with operating within a continuous improvement modelCompany OverviewOGC is a boutique research and consulting firm specializing in data-driven strategy, innovation testing, and CX program design and optimization. It was founded in 2012, and is headquartered in New York, New York, USA, with a workforce of 11-50 employees. Its website is https://www.ogconsulting.co.il.