Manager, Global Creative Strategy & Research - Theatrical

Sonypictures; Culver City (CA); Hybrid; USD 93,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Sony Pictures Entertainment in Culver City seeks a senior research lead to drive global research programs that inform production, marketing and creative strategy across theatrical releases. You will partner with senior leadership, coordinate cross-functional teams, oversee external vendors, and translate insights into actionable recommendations across global stakeholders.

You will design rigorous methodologies, manage budgets, mentor junior analysts, and help shape testing protocols while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in market research, consumer insights, strategy, or entertainment research.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex, high-visibility projects and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Excellent strategic thinking with the ability to translate research into actionable business recommendations.
• Strong presentation and executive communication skills with experience presenting to senior leadership.
• Experience managing research vendors and project budgets.
• Experience leveraging AI-enabled tools and emerging technologies to enhance research, synthesize insights, improve efficiency, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, survey platforms, and Tableau.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end quantitative and qualitative research programs across multiple high-profile global theatrical releases, serving as the primary research lead or support on assigned titles.
• Partner with Vice Presidents and Co-Heads on the Global Creative Strategy and Research teams to shape research strategy and marketing decisions.
• Provide strategic recommendations by synthesizing survey results, creative testing, domestic and international tracking, exits, consumer trends, social insights, and analytics into cohesive title strategies.
• Design research methodologies, questionnaires, discussion guides, vendor briefs, and reporting frameworks while ensuring high analytical rigor and data quality.
• Coordinate localization of creative materials for research stimulus as needed.
• Present findings and strategic recommendations to senior marketing leadership and global stakeholders, influencing campaign direction and investment decisions.
• Manage relationships with external research vendors, ensuring quality, timelines, budgets, and continuous process improvement.
• Identify emerging audience, consumer, and marketplace trends and proactively recommend new research approaches and innovation opportunities.
• Oversee weekly global tracking, box office forecasting inputs, custom studies, and executive reporting.
• Attend and communicate findings from focus groups as needed. Occasional domestic and/or international travel may be required.
• Develop scalable reporting templates, best practices, and knowledge-sharing resources for the department.
• Coach and mentor junior analysts and coordinate work with the Administrative Assistant, providing day-to-day guidance and supporting professional development.
• Lead or contribute to department-wide strategic initiatives and special projects.

Skills

Market research

Consumer insights

Strategy

Executive communication

Project management

Excel

PowerPoint

Tableau

Vendor management

AI research tools

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree (preferred)

Tools

SPSS

Survey platforms

Job description

Position Summary

Lead and support high-impact global research initiatives that inform production, creative and marketing strategy across the theatrical lifecycle. Serve as a strategic thought partner to senior research leadership by translating quantitative and qualitative insights into actionable recommendations. Manage complex cross-functional projects, oversee external research vendors, influence marketing decisions across global stakeholders, and mentor junior team members. Serve as title lead or support on select high-profile film campaigns while driving continuous improvement of research methodologies and team processes.

Responsibilities

This position plans, manages, and conducts research and analytical projects that address the Global Creative Strategy and Research team’s needs. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead end-to-end quantitative and qualitative research programs across multiple high-profile global theatrical releases, serving as the primary research lead or support on assigned titles.
• Partner with Vice Presidents and Co-Heads on the Global Creative Strategy and Research teams to shape research strategy and marketing decisions.
• Provide strategic recommendations by synthesizing survey results, creative testing, domestic and international tracking, exits, consumer trends, social insights, and analytics into cohesive title strategies.
• Design research methodologies, questionnaires, discussion guides, vendor briefs, and reporting frameworks while ensuring high analytical rigor and data quality.
• Coordinate localization of creative materials for research stimulus as needed.
• Present findings and strategic recommendations to senior marketing leadership and global stakeholders, influencing campaign direction and investment decisions.
• Manage relationships with external research vendors, ensuring quality, timelines, budgets, and continuous process improvement.
• Identify emerging audience, consumer, and marketplace trends and proactively recommend new research approaches and innovation opportunities.
• Oversee weekly global tracking, box office forecasting inputs, custom studies, and executive reporting.
• Attend and communicate findings from focus groups as needed. Occasional domestic and/or international travel may be required.
• Develop scalable reporting templates, best practices, and knowledge-sharing resources for the department.
• Coach and mentor junior analysts and coordinate work with the Administrative Assistant, providing day-to-day guidance and supporting professional development.
• Lead or contribute to department-wide strategic initiatives and special projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• ~5+ years of relevant experience in market research, consumer insights, strategy, or entertainment research.
• Deep expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, including advertising testing, brand positioning, audience segmentation, tracking, and focus groups.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex, high-visibility projects and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Excellent strategic thinking with the ability to translate research into actionable business recommendations.
• Strong presentation and executive communication skills with experience presenting to senior leadership.
• Experience managing research vendors and project budgets.
• Experience leveraging AI-enabled tools and emerging technologies to enhance research, synthetize insights, improve efficiency, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Advanced analytical capabilities; proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, survey platforms, and Tableau.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, organizational, and project management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree a plus.
• Proficiency with statistical tools such as SPSS preferred.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $92,879 - $120,743. This role may also qualify for annual incentive and/or comprehensive benefits. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position.

Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.

SPE will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with applicable law.

To request an accommodation for purposes of participating in the hiring process, you may contact us at [e-mail].