Manager, Market Research & Insights

Project Management Institute, Inc.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

PMI is seeking a Manager, Market Research Insights to serve as the primary insights Business Partner for several operating groups and to translate findings into strategic action. The role includes leading a matrixed team, guiding priorities, and delivering high-impact research across enterprise functions.

You will work with executive leadership, marketing, product development, and strategy to ensure insights drive business decisions and scalable practices across PMI.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in market research, insights, or a strategic consulting role.
• Proven ability to lead complex research projects and deliver insights that drive business outcomes.
• Experience presenting to senior leadership and managing high-stakes projects.
• Experience leading insights analysts in a matrixed environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary insights partner for specific operating functions and shape research agendas.
• Act as a trusted advisor, translating insights into strategic recommendations for leaders.
• Lead high-impact research initiatives, including design, synthesis, and executive storytelling.
• Directly manage and develop a matrixed team of insights analysts and align priorities.
• Oversee resource allocation across portfolios and ensure quality of work.

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Executive storytelling

Data analysis

Statistical analysis

Python

Education

Bachelor’s degree in market research, business, marketing, psychology, statistics, economics, or related field

Master’s degree or MBA preferred

Tools

SPSS

R

Python

Job description

How will you make a difference to PMI?

PMI is looking for a Manager, Market Research Insights, who will serve as the primary insights Business Partner to several operating groups, responsible for shaping research agendas, advising stakeholders, and translating insights into strategic action. This role involves working closely with executive and senior leadership teams, marketing, product development, community, strategy, and growth teams to ensure insights align with business goals and drive strategic decisions.

This role also leads and manages a team of insights analysts operating in a matrixed model, with direct and dotted-line alignment across multiple operating groups.

Accountable for both hands-on delivery within assigned operating groups and the prioritization, allocation, and quality of work delivered through the team, ensuring insights efforts are aligned to business priorities. Partners closely with other Market Research and Insights Business Partners and Research Operations Lead to ensure alignment across the portfolio of research and insights, effective use of shared resources, and scalability of insights practices across the enterprise.

What you’ll bring to the role:

Business Partner

• Serve as the primary insights Business Partner for specific operating functions, leading problem framing and defining research agendas aligned to business priorities
• Act as a trusted advisor to functional leadership, translating insights into strategic recommendations
• Lead high-impact research initiatives within research portfolio, including design, synthesis, and executive storytelling
• Represent stakeholder needs within the broader insights function and ensure alignment with enterprise priorities

Matrixed Team Leadership

• Directly manage and develop a team of insights analysts, including performance management, coaching, and career development
• Lead a matrixed team structure, where analysts support multiple portfolios through both direct and dotted-line relationships
• Provide day-to-day direction, quality oversight, and support to analysts across all assigned work, regardless of portfolio alignment
• Ensure clarity of roles, expectations, and accountability across solid and dotted-line reporting relationships

Resource Allocation Across Portfolios

• Prioritize and allocate analyst resources across competing portfolio needs
• Balance direct portfolio ownership responsibilities with shared service support across the team
• Collaborate with other Business Partners to align on analyst utilization and priorities
• Collaborate with Research Operations Lead to ensure efficient workflows, tools, and processes across the team

Research Execution Oversight

• Oversee and guide the design, execution, and analysis of research conducted for assigned operating functions, ensuring methodological rigor and alignment with business objectives
• Review and provide direction on research outputs to ensure consistency, accuracy, and strategic relevance
• Maintain accountability for the overall quality and impact of insights delivered by the team

Role Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in market research, business, marketing, psychology, statistics, economics, or a related field.
• Master’s degree, MBA, or a relevant advanced degree is strongly preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in market research, consumer insights, or a strategic consulting role.
• Proven track record of successfully leading complex research projects and delivering insights that drive business outcomes.
• Experience working with senior leadership and managing high-stakes projects.
• Experience leading and developing insights analysts in a matrixed, cross-functional environment.
• Expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, with a deep understanding of advanced analytical techniques.
• Advanced experience with identifying research objectives, methodology planning, and maximizing data reliability for complex research initiatives.
• Advanced experience in presenting market research analysis to an executive audience.
• Ability to think strategically and holistically about market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive dynamics.
• Proven experience in developing actionable strategies that drive business impact.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in statistical analysis and modeling techniques.
• Expertise in data analysis software (e.g., SPSS, R, Python)
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex findings in a clear, concise, and compelling manner.
• Ability to influence and drive alignment among stakeholders through storytelling and evidence-based recommendations.
• Ability to manage and influence team members across both direct and dotted-line reporting relationships
• Ability to balance hands-on Business Partner responsibilities with team leadership and oversight
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• High level of attention to detail and ability to ensure the quality and accuracy of research deliverables.
• In-depth knowledge of data collection and measurement methodologies. Complex quantitative survey design and qualitative discussion guide experience required.
• Proficiency in the business language for PMI (English)
• Travel requirements up to 30%