Principal Program Manager, Research & Insights Operations

About the role

The Research Operations team within the Experience Organization supports Product Research and Design at Salesforce. As a Principal Program Manager and Strategic Research Program Lead, you will drive the evolution of Research Operations towards an AI-enabled model.

Responsibilities

• Apply systematic, long-term strategic thinking to research operations—building repeatable mechanisms, infrastructure, and AI solutions that drive efficiency at scale.
• Design, build, and execute comprehensive operational and participant recruitment strategies tailored for new or immature product lines and highly specialized, hard-to-find niche personas.
• Serve as the steady hand in high-visibility, fast-moving initiatives—effectively translating vague or evolving research requirements into structured, actionable program plans.
• Lead, influence, and coordinate across multiple internal teams, cross-functional partners, and executive stakeholders to ensure research operations align with broader business objectives.
• Define and maintain operational health metrics for the research participant pipeline, including database growth, lead conversion rates, recruitment cycle times, and self-service adoption to surface trends and inform strategic decisions.
• Deeply analyze telemetry, platform usage, and sales data to proactively identify untapped participant sourcing opportunities, keeping the research pipeline ahead of product needs.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in Program Management, Research Operations, Technical Program Management, User Experience Research (UXR), or a closely related field within a fast-paced technology environment.
• Experience working alongside Product Research, User Research, User Experience, Product Management, or Data Science teams.
• A proven track record of scaling operations or research programs from the ground up, and strong experience leading cross-functional projects.
• Exceptional communication skills with a demonstrated ability to influence, align, and collaborate with cross-functional leadership and high-level stakeholders.
• Experience leveraging product telemetry, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), or sales data to drive strategic operational decisions.
• A related technical degree required.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with enterprise research and AI tools such as Qualtrics, UserTesting, Outset AI, ListenLabs, User Interviews, or Salesforce CRM.
• Comfortable operating in AI-first workflows with a demonstrated interest in automation and self-service design.
• Familiarity with compliance, privacy (e.g., General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)), and strict participant privacy protocols regarding research participants.
• Background in designing sourcing infrastructure for early-stage (0-to-1) products or highly technical target audiences.

Skills

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, ability to manage multiple priorities, and a passion for innovation and customer-centricity are essential. Proficiency in project management methodologies and experience with AI tools are preferred.

Benefits

At Salesforce, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including time off programs, medical, dental, vision, mental health support, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and an employee stock purchasing program. For more details, visit this link.

Pay

The typical base salary range for this position is $171,200 - $273,000 annually. In select cities within the San Francisco and New York City metropolitan area, the base salary range is $205,800 - $298,400 annually.

Schedule

Full-time position available.