Manager Qualitative Insights

Material; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Material is seeking a Manager of Qualitative Insights to oversee and frequently lead multiple research engagements for top-tier clients. You will partner with junior to mid-level stakeholders, educating them on methods and translating findings into strategic recommendations.

This hybrid role is based near one of Material's offices in New York City or Los Angeles and requires strong client-facing communication, project management, and the ability to guide teams through complex research programs.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in market research.
• Experience leading multiple research engagements.
• Strong understanding of qualitative methodologies (focus groups, IDIs, online communities).

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead multiple research engagements.
• Educate clients on processes and frame actionable recommendations.
• Develop reports and client-ready deliverables (slides, videos, microsites).
• Oversee project management, scope, and escalation of roadblocks.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality work.

Skills

Qualitative research

Moderation

Project management

Stakeholder management

Critical thinking

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (plus)

Tools

Microsoft Suite

Google Suite

Job description

Sep 10, 2026

$70,000 - $80,000/year

Manager, Qualitative Insights

T__this is a hybrid role to be based near one of our offices in New York City or Los Angeles

About Us

We drive intelligent growth for ambitious businesses and leading brands.

Customer understanding is more potent and drives greater value when insights go to work directly within marketing and experience priorities. To give our clients that advantage, we put an insights-driven operating system at the core of our design, go-to-market and digital experience solutions.

Material clients make smarter growth choices because they can see clearly how and when to take the shots that count. Together, we connect consumer intelligence with customer demand generation to build lasting, profitable relationships.

Job Description

As a Manager, you willbe responsible forem anaging and in some cases leading multiple research and insights engagements at a time. You will act as a thought partner to our junior to mid-level clients, educating them about every step of the process, framing insights for actionable recommendations, while developing trust and building lasting relationships.

Specific delivery-oriented responsibilities include but are not limited to discussionandactivity guide development, online and face-to-face moderation, managing internal project members, notetaking, financial project management, developing nearly client ready reports/deliverables (including slides, video deliverables, microsites), overall account/project management and managing scope/knowing when to escal. roadblocks to push work through effectively. This also includes working with and collaborating with internal cross-functional teams (e.g., Insight Ops - Qual, Insights Design, India Cohort, Behavioral Sciences, Quantpracticeand other practices) in support of executing the highest quality work.

Insightsreporting responsibilities include translating data into learnings, telling visual stories throughdataand comprehensive narratives that frame impactful and strategic recommendations. This processtobe overseen in partnership with a Senior Project Lead/Senior Team member.

Team & client management responsibilities include establishing,supportingand building thriving relationships with junior to mid-level Insights and Marketing client stakeholders. Mentoring, coaching, and delegatingappropriate workto Associates and Sr. Associates, sharing responsibility for their growth and development. You will be mentored by senior leadership and receive on-the-job formal training through Material.

Skillsrequiredfor success include critical thinking, strategic thinking, projectmanagementand problem identification oriented around solutions and POV. Ability to learn and adapt tocutting edgetechnologies to drive efficiency. And leading through practice of skillsestablishedin the Associate/Sr. Associate role (or other relevant career experience).

Qualifications

We are open to alternative modes of education and experience that qualify candidates for the role. Manysuccessful candidates hasBachelorsdegreesand/or studiesin a social science, communications, orbusiness relatedfieldand we welcomedifferent backgroundsof study.Mastersdegrees are a plus.

Minimum of 3 years of experience in market research, with a proventrack recordof managing multiple end-to-end research projects.

Strong understanding of and experience with qualitative methodologies, including focus groups, ethnographies, in-depth interviews (IDIs), online communities, etc. and broad experience across different types of objectives (JTBD/Needs, Segment Illumination, Audience Understanding, Journey Mapping, Product Innovation, Positioning, etc.)

Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex insights to diverse audiences.

Proven ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and manage relationships with external vendors.

Proficiencyin market research software and tools and Microsoft/Google Suites.

Proven ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and manage relationships with external vendors.

Demonstrated curiosity, willingness to learn (learning mindset), openness to sharing, receiving, asking for, and applying feedback.

Adaptability to new methodologies and technologies in the market

Why work for Material?

• Material is a global company and we work with best-of-class brands worldwide. We also create and launch new brands and products, putting innovation and value creation at the center of our practice. Our clients are in the top of their class, across industry sectors from technology to retail, transportation, finance and healthcare.
• Material employees join a peer group of exceptionally talented colleagues across the company, the country, and even the world. We develop capabilities, craft and leading-edge market offerings across seven global practices including strategy and insights, design, data & analytics, technology and tracking. Our engagement management team makes it all hum for clients.
• A community focused on learning and making an impact. Material is an outcomes focused company. We c reate experiences that matter, create new value and make a difference in our clients' lives and their customers' lives.

PayRange:$70,000.00 – $80,000.00

The range shown represents a grouping of relevant ranges currently in use at Material. Actual range for this position may differ, depending on location and specific skillset required for the work itself.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.

Material empowers ambitious businesses and leading brands through an insights-driven operating system, enhancing customer understanding, marketing strategies, and digital experiences for smarter growth decisions.

Business Consulting and Services

Company size 1,001–5,000 employees

Company type Privately held

Footprint

Where they work

440 Park Ave So, 16 Fl, New York, NY 10016 , US 1900 Avenue of the Stars, Ste 1600 19th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90067, US 200 S Wacker Dr, Suite 1600, Chicago, Illinois 60606, US 230 S Broad St, Suite 1500, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102, US 1801 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, Texas 78701, US 675 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308, US 401 Alice St, Oakland, California 94607, US 2033 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98109, US 14-18 Old Street, London, England EC1V9BH, GB 12th Floor, Tower C, DLF Cyber Greens, DLF Cyber City, DLF Phase 3, Gurugram, Haryana 122002, IN 345 Pacific Hwy, Suite 2, Lindfield, New South Wales 2070, AU