Operations and PMO Leaders - Subject Matter Expert - Austin, US

About Prolific

Prolific is building the biggest pool of quality human data in the world. Over 35,000 AI developers, researchers, and organizations use Prolific to gather data from paid study participants with a wide variety of experiences, knowledge, and skills.

The role

We're looking for Operations and PMO leaders with hands-on experience in operations, project governance, portfolio management, and operational planning to join our Expert Network as subject matter experts. If you have the necessary experience, you'll complete a 10- to 15-minute test to assess your skills and suitability for research tasks. If successful, you'll join as a participant and get paid to share your expertise with researchers and organisations who need real-world planning and operations insight.

Researchers tend to pay up to $200 per hour. You must be prepared to complete paid tasks that require one hour of uninterrupted work, though many are shorter.

What you'll bring

• Professional Experience: Director-level or above experience in an Operations or PMO function across sectors such as Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail, Technology, Professional Services, Financial Services, Utilities, or Government.
• Domain Knowledge: Deep background in one or more areas such as project governance, resource planning, portfolio management, capacity planning, or operational strategy.
• Planning Tool Experience: Current or recent hands-on use of a planning or PPM platform such as Microsoft Project, Planview, Smartsheet, Jira, or ServiceNow.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to draw on complex planning workflows and portfolio experience to answer research questions and provide clear, nuanced expert insight.
• Communication: Exceptional written communication skills and high attention to detail when responding to questions on project governance, operational planning, or portfolio management topics.
• A PayPal account to receive payment from clients.

What you'll be doing in the role

• Answering Research Questions: Share your expert perspective on topics such as project prioritisation, resource allocation, portfolio governance, and operational planning processes.
• Scenario Review: Apply real-world experience to assess and respond to planning and PMO scenarios, such as programme governance cycles, capacity reviews, milestone escalations, and budget forecasting workflows.
• Surveys & Interviews: Participate in structured surveys or interviews where your domain expertise informs research into planning practices and PMO operations.
• Product & Process Feedback: Provide informed feedback on tools, workflows, and processes related to planning and portfolio management platforms in operations and PMO contexts.
• Framework Input: Contribute subject matter expertise to help research teams better understand how Operations and PMO functions use and evaluate planning tools and governance frameworks.