Research Operations Lead, Community Engagement

About the role

You will define and lead the strategy for growing and engaging the WHOOP Labs Research Collective while managing the team responsible for executing it. You will build scalable community engagement programs and develop strategic partnerships to ensure WHOOP maintains a diverse, high-quality participant community capable of supporting an expanding research portfolio. Success in this role requires balancing strategic planning with operational execution while building high-performing teams and partnering cross-functionally. You will continuously improve participant recruitment, engagement, and retention through data-driven insights and thoughtful community design. This position demands ownership of the end-to-end participant journey from acquisition through long-term retention. You will serve as the operational backbone for community initiatives that amplify the WHOOP Labs presence. Your work will directly influence the quality and diversity of research data gathered from participants. You will represent the voice of the panel within senior leadership and cross-functional discussions.

Key facts

What you'll do

Drive the overarching vision and tactical implementation of recruitment efforts for the WHOOP Labs Research Collective, ensuring a diverse and high-caliber community that fulfills evolving study requirements.

Mentor and lead the Community Engagement team by establishing clear goals, offering consistent feedback, and cultivating an inclusive, high-performance environment that supports professional development.

Construct and refine scalable operational frameworks and standard procedures to enhance recruitment productivity, elevate the participant journey, and enable sustainable program growth.

Define and track core metrics for panel growth, demographic representation, and operational health, utilizing data-driven insights to direct strategy and effectively distribute resources.

Cultivate high-impact strategic alliances with local organizations to broaden our reach and foster deep community trust in WHOOP Labs.

Oversee the design and execution of in-person community activations, regional events, and marketing initiatives intended to amplify the WHOOP Labs presence and stimulate interest in research participation.

Collaborate with internal partners across Research, Marketing, and Legal to harmonize recruitment objectives, mitigate potential risks, and safeguard project timelines.

Manage the operational budget for community engagement, overseeing expenditures for campaigns and incentives while uncovering efficiencies to maximize the return on recruitment investment.

Serve as the primary voice for community engagement to senior leadership, presenting performance reports, operational trends, and future strategic recommendations.

Evaluate and optimize the participant onboarding experience to ensure clarity, efficiency, and alignment with study protocols.

Implement systematic approaches to monitor participant retention and identify barriers to ongoing engagement.

Coordinate with data and analytics teams to translate community feedback into actionable improvements for research operations.

Leverage qualitative insights from community members to inform more effective outreach messaging and event design.

Maintain compliance with research ethics and regulatory standards in all community engagement activities.

Requirements

5+ years of professional experience in community engagement, research operations, or program management, with demonstrated success leading complex operational initiatives.

2+ years of experience in a leadership capacity, including direct management of individuals or the coaching of multidisciplinary teams.

Demonstrated expertise management of a customer/user/participant panel and/or experience with Community-Based Participatory Research.

Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing cross-functional partners and presenting to senior leadership.

Willing to work flexible hours (evenings and/or weekends) to attend community events as a representative of WHOOP Labs.

Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while managing multiple priorities.

Commitment to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and diverse research community aligned with WHOOP values.

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for this position.

Practical notes

This role is based in the WHOOP office located in Boston, MA. Candidates must be prepared to work in person in the WHOOP office or at relevant activations 5 days each week.

The U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $90,000 - $130,000. Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within each range, individual offers will vary based on candidate skills and experience, as well as business needs. Equity, benefits, and additional compensation elements may be added based on role level and location.