Research Manager/Sr. Manager - Custom Insights

Collage Group • Bethesda, MD

3d • Remote

About The Position

Collage Group is seeking a Research Manager or Senior Research Manager to join its Custom Insights market research team. The role leads full-service custom consumer market research engagements using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, from project kickoff through presentation. It serves as a strategic thought partner to major brand clients, combining primary research with Collage’s proprietary cultural intelligence assets to create actionable insights and compelling stories that support decision-making. This is a consumer market research position, not a business analyst, UX research, or evaluation research role.

The position involves hands-on research design and execution, insight synthesis, project coordination, client communication, and mentorship of junior analysts. It has no direct reports or management responsibilities. The role is remote and limited to candidates based in specified U.S. states and Washington, D.C. Full-time direct employees must be authorized to work in the United States.

Requirements

• 5–8+ years of demonstrated experience in consumer market research; agency, supplier, or consultancy experience is preferred.
• Hands-on proficiency in quantitative research, including survey design, statistical analysis, and data visualization.
• Hands-on proficiency in qualitative research, including discussion guide design, online bulletin boards, IDIs, focus groups, qualitative data analysis, and reporting.
• Proven ability to create visually compelling, action-oriented presentation decks that translate complex data into clear recommendations for non-researchers and senior executives.
• Direct client experience, such as presenting research findings to client stakeholders.
• Strong organization, follow-through, deadline management, and ability to manage multiple tasks or projects concurrently.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a co-creative team environment and independently on self-directed responsibilities.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States and based in an eligible state or Washington, D.C.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with survey platforms such as Decipher or Qualtrics.
• Experience with qualitative platforms such as Recollective, Qualboard, or Discuss.io.
• Experience with analytical or statistical tools such as SPSS or R.
• Spanish-language proficiency.
• Intellectual curiosity and a passion for consumer culture, human behavior, and developing insights and creative research designs.

Responsibilities

• Manage and execute custom quantitative and qualitative research studies from kickoff through presentation, ensuring research quality throughout.
• Design questionnaires and discussion guides; manage fieldwork; perform survey and data quality checks; analyze data; and create quantitative and qualitative visualizations and reports in PowerPoint.
• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative findings into strategic reports with compelling narratives and actionable recommendations.
• Represent the consumer voice by delivering culturally informed insights on under-represented audiences and empathetic perspectives on consumer tensions.
• Oversee project timelines and task execution to meet research objectives, deadlines, and client expectations.
• Coordinate with project team members and vendors on task assignments, timelines, and project objectives.
• Identify and communicate capacity, quality, or timing issues early, and help the team proactively resolve them.
• Provide direction and mentorship to junior analysts on project teams, including slide-building best practices.
• Serve as the client contact on key projects or support the project lead with client management and communication.
• Lead project kickoff calls and presentations, ensuring research objectives and core business questions are addressed with meaningful insights and brand-specific recommendations.

Benefits

• Premium medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and loved ones.
• Generous paid time off program.
• 12 company holidays and one floating holiday.
• A dedicated day to give back to a cause of the employee’s choice.
• Eight weeks of fully paid parental leave for all parents, regardless of path to parenthood.
• Competitive 401(k) match.
• Bonus.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed