Research Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

NRG is a leading global insights and strategy firm at the confluence of content, culture, and technology.  We stay ahead of what’s next, providing fresh insights to spark new ideas. We’re a trusted partner to our clients, working behind the scenes to bring imagination, depth, and clarity to their biggest challenges—in entertainment, technology, lifestyle, sports, and gaming.  Together, we create with confidence.

We’re proud of our company’s values – these values guide us as we navigate sunny days, gray skies and everything in between:   

• Do what you love. With conviction.
• Where discovery lives. And impact drives.
• Celebrate difference. Cultivate belonging.
• Big thinking. Collectively inspired.
• Embrace the journey. Be human.

At NRG, we’re always on the lookout for sharp, curious, and creative minds who are excited about diving deep into what makes audiences tick—across entertainment, technology, gaming, sports, and beyond.

This posting is for future opportunities across all of our client services teams at the Research Manager or Senior Manager level. We’re always on the hunt for great talent and are excited about the possibility of teaming up in the future. If you’re passionate about working with a team that partners with the world’s top brands to shape content, products and strategies that fuel cultural conversations, we want to hear from you!

Below is a snapshot of what a typical Research Manager or Senior Manager role looks like at NRG. The specifics may shift depending on the hiring needs, but this should give you a sense of what we’re about and what we’re looking for. If you don’t hear back for several weeks, don’t worry – we regularly review general applications but prioritize active openings. If there is a potential fit when the position opens, we’ll be in touch! 

In this role, you will manage a wide range of initiatives across the full project lifecycle from proposal to report delivery. You will bring your intellectual curiosity, entrepreneurial mindset, and storytelling ability to lead research initiatives that help solve our clients’ biggest challenges. If you’re passionate about qualitative and quantitative research; if you enjoy visualizing data and discovering insights with confidence; if you love being a trusted consultant to clients – this opportunity is for you!    

• Manage all phases of quantitative and qualitative research projects, including research design, questionnaire and discussion guide development, data analysis and storytelling.
  • Projects will include audience, landscape, and brand studies, with methods such as concept and creative testing, messaging/positioning evaluation, market sizing, and segmentation.
• Translate research data into clear, actionable insights and recommendations through visual, creative and story-driven reports.
• Partner with internal and external operations teams (programming, fieldwork, facilities, moderators, data processing) to drive projects forward on stringent timelines.
• Assist with proposal writing through researching relevant industry trends and topics.
• Build relationships through effectively managing day to day client interaction and helping solve client issues and concerns.
• Troubleshoot any issues that arise in an efficient and effective manner.
• Help provide direction to analysts on the team, giving meaningful feedback on all aspects of a project and training analysts across methodologies.
• Drive successful project execution, collaborating with senior team members and providing input and oversight to junior team members on quality control processes at each step of the research lifecycle, from checking survey programming logic, questionnaire proofing, number checking and proofing reports and presentations for accuracy.

• Experience – We’d love for you to have 3+ years’ experience working in consumer insights, consumer research or in an analyst/strategy role at an entertainment/media/technology company.
• Your degree(s) – Ideally looking for a B.A./B.S. degree in areas such as Social Sciences, Business, Marketing, Market Research, Statistics, Economics or a related field. Additional degrees are welcome!
• Passion – An enthusiasm for research, data driven approaches, and strategic thinking. You enjoy staying up to date on industry trends and developments. Small talking or deep diving on entertainment, technology, gaming, sports and or/lifestyle fuels you.
• Research practitioner – Experience with and flexibility to work on both qualitative and quantitative projects.
• Curiosity and critical thinking – You are genuinely interested in seeking information on the “whys,” always digging for more information to understand what makes consumers tick. Whether it’s understanding why one marketing message is more effective than another or what consumers think we could be using AI for in the future, you can always find something interesting to sink your teeth into. Simply put, you love to learn.
• Data driven – Excellent at working with data to identify trends and insights, including both structured (i.e. data and hard numbers) and unstructured (i.e. interviews and qualitative) data. Experience visualizing data with tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs and Slides.
• Data analysis techniques and software – Experience with the following data analysis techniques would be awesome: statistical significance testing, correlation analysis, multivariate analysis techniques (such as cluster/segmentation analysis) and conjoint and discrete choice analysis. Experience with statistical packages, like SPSS or Q, are a plus.
• Communication and storytelling – Strong writing skills where you can craft a story around data insights and clearly communicate key points in a succinct manner. You have great verbal communication skills as well and are comfortable with presenting to groups and sharing your point of view.
• Client-centric – You love nurturing and building relationships and can confidently provide strategic guidance to your clients.
• Problem Solver –You are a natural problem solver. When something doesn’t go as planned, your first instinct is to look for a solution, rather than viewing it as a roadblock. You’re always on the lookout for new ways to accomplish tasks and have the ability to address issues using creative and collaborative tactics.
• Self-starter – Internally-motivated who continuously strives to get things done well, regardless of challenges encountered.
• Expert multitasker – Successfully manages time and multiple competing priorities to ensure deadlines are always met. Staying organized is a must for managing projects!
• Hawk-eyed attention to detail – Errors don’t get past you and you are always focused on ensuring high levels of quality control and reporting.
• Great Team Member – Team player who is able to work collaboratively and harmoniously within a team and across teams. You will roll up your sleeves to help get the job done and no task is beneath you. You welcome feedback because you have a zest for learning and growing.

This is a full-time, exempt position.

We embrace the current era of work and what it means to be a best-in-class employer. We understand the flexibility that is required to recruit and retain incredible talent, whether it’s empowering you to do your best work from the comfort of your home or supporting you if you need to take a mental health day for self-care and rest. Below is a unique blend of benefits tailored to meeting the ever-changing professional landscape.

• Flexible/Remote work with optional usage of our great offices in Culver City or New York
• Unlimited PTO, volunteer days and a generous number of recharge days including a full office closure during the week of Christmas and New Year’s
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Plans
• 401K with company match
• Generous paid Parental Leave
• Regular performance evaluations with opportunities for promotions and merit increases
• Educational and training reimbursement plan and other training and professional development opportunities
• Employee perks program (includes discounts on travel, hotels, cars, fitness, movie tickets and more)
• Resources available for mental health, inclusive care and family building
• NRGratitude – our company-wide employee recognition program
• Regular team/company events and activities including annual summer and holiday parties
• Pet friendly headquarters and pet insurance options

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is at the center of all our practices to ensure that NRG is a place where people from all identities and backgrounds can thrive. NRG is committed to recruiting and retaining diverse talent by supporting their growth through learning programs, internal mobility, affinity group participation and leadership development. Our differences make us a stronger workforce and enhance our creativity and innovation. We are proud to be an inclusive workplace for all and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law. 

In order to comply with equal pay and salary transparency laws in various locations, we believe the target range of base compensation in all locations within the United States for this role is $75,000 -$100,000. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and location.