Senior Research Manager

About Fuel Cycle:

Fuel Cycle empowers leading organizations with agile research solutions that deliver decision-ready insights — fast, flexible, and fully integrated. As a market research disruptor, our AI-powered Insights Platform is built for speed, precision, and scale. With cutting-edge tools and seamless audience connectivity, we help brands ditch the guesswork and make smarter, customer-led decisions at lightning speed.

Why work at Fuel Cycle?

Join a high-growth team where curiosity is valued, ownership is encouraged, and your work drives real-world impact. Whether you’re based at our Los Angeles HQ, New York City hub, working remotely across the U.S., or part of our global team in India, you’ll help shape the future of decision intelligence for some of the world’s most iconic brands.

Overview:

As a Senior Market Research Manager, you will lead a diverse range of qualitative research projects, serving as the primary point of contact, and managing the complete execution of projects that address the major business questions for our Fortune 500 clients across a variety of industries. Responsibilities include executing market research projects, nurturing client relationships, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate market insights into decision-making processes. Additionally, you will oversee junior researchers while ensuring the quality of project deliverables.

The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of qualitative research methodologies (including moderation experience), effective organizational skills, experience leading a team, the ability to delegate tasks efficiently, a keen attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering accurate and comprehensive market insights. While hands-on project delivery experience is essential, our ideal candidate will also excel in the role of a trusted advisor, contributing to strategic decision-making for our high-profile clients. The role offers a robust career path and a dynamic learning environment where you can enhance and refine your leadership and market research skills.

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Work Arrangement: This is an onsite role requiring five days per week in the office.

Key Responsibilities:

Market Research Strategy and Execution

• Help translate business inquiries into comprehensive market research plans, utilizing our internal platform to design and program research instruments.

• Play the role of lead moderator/interviewer in the gathering of insights, primarily through moderation of focus groups and in-depth interviews.

• Assure data accuracy and relevance to objectives at every step in the project process to ensure the data is both internally consistent and demonstrates face validity.

• Learn and become an expert user of the Fuel Cycle Research Engine platform to execute research projects efficiently and effectively.

Team Leadership and Mentorship

• Lead and mentor junior market research team members (RM/SRA), ensuring high-quality deliverables and adherence to timelines.

• Participate in training, coaching, performance management, and support to continuously enhance team skills and market research acumen.

Project Coordination and Management:

• Efficiently manage time to coordinate and execute project components for multiple projects

• Prioritize tasks, communicate effectively, and remain flexible to meet client needs.

• Assist in project scoping, cost estimations, and client communication in support of Senior Research Leads

• Ensure all project components are executed within scope contract and/or project proposal, and all timelines for met.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (community management, programming and data processing teams, Customer Experience) to deliver all project components in a high quality, timely manner.

• Assist with daily moderation of research activities in the communities and extract insights. Oversee data collection and ensure quotas are met and data quality is achieved.

Deliverable Management & Project Satisfaction:

• Serve as the primary market research point of contact for your assigned clients, facilitating complex conversations and communications related to project design, analysis, and unexpected challenges.

• Ensure client satisfaction by delivering high-quality market insights and managing client expectations.

• Analyze data and develop insightful results or “story” that addresses business objective in a clear and concise, visually appealing format.

• Utilize advanced data analysis techniques to interpret research findings and generate recommendations.

• Prepare and present reports summarizing research findings and recommended actions.

Your Success Metrics

• Quality and Accuracy: Maintain a data accuracy rate of 95% or higher across all research projects.

• Project Efficiency: Complete 90% of projects within the agreed timelines and budget.

• Internal Customer Experience Satisfaction and Client Satisfaction (Receive a rating of 4 or higher on a 5-point scale for 90% or more of your projects)

• Insights and Impact: Generate actionable insights that lead to measurable business impact for clients.

• Team performance: Ensure that SRAs and RMs under your direct management consistently deliver Quality, Accuracy, Efficiency, and Client Satisfaction metrics, demonstrate growth in their role and meet established goals.

Who you’ll work with?

• Research Excellence and Customer Experience

• Community Management

• Programming and data processing partners

Core Skills & Competencies

• Market Research Expertise: Proficiency in designing and executing qualitative research methodologies, including surveys, focus groups, interviews, and data analysis.

• Project Management: Experience in managing end-to-end research projects, including budgeting and task delegation.

• Team Leadership: Experience in leading and mentoring a team of market research analysts.

• Client Relations Management: Ability to understand client perspectives, develop and foster effective client relationships, effectively communicate with them, and deliver high quality, value-added thinking to address their needs.

• Analytical Acumen: Proficiency in data analysis, statistical methods, and research techniques.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to translate business questions into actionable research plans and translate research findings into actionable strategies.

• Communication: Effective presentation and communication skills to convey insights effectively.

• Team Collaboration: Capability to work independently and collaborate effectively within a research team and other company functions.

• Problem-Solving: Ability to address challenges and provide innovative solutions during research projects.

• Organizational Skills: Attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.

What you’ll bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field

• A minimum of 5 years of prior custom, qualitative research experience (specifically interviews and focus groups), preferably with a research vendor, with a track record of successful research initiatives.

• A minimum of 2 years of staff management experience in market research.

• A minimum of 3 years of client relationship management experience.

• Moderating experience of IDIs or focus groups.

• Strategic thinker with a passion for market research.

• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook is required.

• Attention to detail and ability to prioritize tasks and contribute to multiple projects simultaneously.

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

• Self-motivated, flexible, and organized.

• Capable of working independently and within teams.

• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving and project management skills.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred (but not required)

• Ability to stay informed about industry trends, consumer behavior, and emerging technologies to identify growth opportunities.

Benefits & Perks:

Fuel Cycle is committed to supporting the well-being, flexibility, and growth of our team. We offer a competitive and inclusive benefits package that includes:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans

• 401(k) with Company Match: Plan for your future with our retirement savings program

• Equity Purchase Option: Participate in Fuel Cycle’s long-term success

• Flexible Work Schedule: Empowering you to balance life and work

• Generous Time Off:

  • 15 vacation days and 7 sick days per year

  • 12 company holidays

  • 4 floating holidays/recharge days to rest or celebrate what matters to you

• Paid Parental Leave: Time to bond with your growing family

• Monthly Internet & Phone Stipend: Support for remote work setup

• Wellness & Lifestyle Perks: Access to tools like Rightway (healthcare navigation), Headspace (mental wellness), Peloton (health & fitness), and more.

• Team Connection Perks:

  • Weekly community lunches, refreshments, and snacks at our LA & NY headquarters

Compensation Overview:

The expected starting salary range for this position is $85,000 - $110,000. This range represents the typical starting compensation offered to candidates hired into this role. Final base salary will be determined based on a variety of factors, including location, work experience, skills, knowledge, education, and certifications.

In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for a discretionary bonus with a target of 7% of base salary. Actual bonus amounts, if any, are determined at the company’s sole discretion and may vary based on individual performance, company performance, and market conditions. This role may also be eligible for an equity grant or purchase option. These components make up your total compensation package, which will be reviewed in greater detail during your initial recruiter conversation.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Equal Opportunity:

At Fuel Cycle, we embrace the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion and are committed to fostering an inclusive company culture. We believe that everyone, regardless of their background or identity, should have equal access to opportunities for growth and advancement. Our selection processes and career pathways are designed to be fair, transparent, and free from bias. We value the unique perspectives and contributions of each team member, knowing that this diverse range of experiences strengthens our team. Fuel Cycle stands firmly against discrimination based on disability, sex, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, or any other protected status under the law.

Fuel Cycle is an equal opportunity employer and fully comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, as needed, to enable them to perform the essential functions of their job and participate in the application and interview process. If you require accommodations during any part of the application process, please contact us at hr@fuelcycle.com to discuss your needs.