Managing or Senior Managing Consultant, Research & Evaluation

E Source; Northern (KY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off / flexible time off

Job summary

E Source is a research, data analytics, and technology focused professional services firm serving utilities in the US and Canada. We are seeking a Managing or Senior Managing Consultant to lead applied research engagements from design through delivery, shaping evidence-based guidance for utility clients.

You will manage scopes, budgets, and multidisciplinary teams, mentor staff, and deliver executive-ready findings.

Qualifications

• Experience leading applied research, evaluation, customer research, UX research, or consulting engagements from design through delivery.
• Expertise in qualitative research methods; familiarity with quantitative or mixed-method evaluation approaches.
• Ability to manage client relationships, project scope, budgets, timelines, risks, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong client-ready writing, presentation, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Experience mentoring, coaching, or developing junior team members.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of applied research and evaluation engagements.
• Apply qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research approaches to answer client questions, assess program performance, understand customer experiences, and generate actionable insights.
• Design and oversee field research methods such as in-depth interviews, surveys, focus groups, observational research, usability testing, and user experience research.
• Interpret research and evaluation findings in context, identify implications, risks, and opportunities for utility clients and their customers.
• Develop high-quality client deliverables, including reports, presentations, memos, papers, and executive summaries.
• Mentor and develop team members in applied research methods and consulting skills.

Skills

Applied research leadership

Qualitative methods

Client management

Team mentoring

Proposal development

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Job description

At E Source, we help utilities make sense of complexity in a rapidly changing landscape, and we're looking for either a Managing or Senior Managing Consultant to help shape how that impact shows up in the world. Learn more at www.esource.com

E Source is a research, data/analytics, and technology focused professional services firm focused exclusively on the utility industry in the US and Canada. We help utilities target and serve their customers more effectively, enhance and optimize their grid, and leverage operating best practices and technologies to manage their business more effectively. Headquartered in Texas, we have 450+ employees across the US and Canada.

As a Managing or Senior Managing Consultant, you will lead applied research, evaluation, and consulting engagements from design through delivery. You will shape rigorous research approaches, guide multidisciplinary teams, manage client relationships, and develop clear, defensible deliverables that connect evidence to action. This role requires someone who is equally comfortable designing a sound evaluation, facilitating a client conversation, managing project scope and budget, and mentoring team members in both technical and consulting skills.

In this role, you will:

Lead research and evaluation work

• Lead the design and delivery of applied research and evaluation engagements, including evaluation plans, research frameworks, data collection strategies, analysis approaches, and reporting plans.
• Apply qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research approaches to answer client questions, assess program performance, understand customer experiences, and generate actionable insights.
• Design and oversee field research methods such as in-depth interviews, surveys, focus groups, observational research, ethnographic interviews, usability testing, and user experience research.
• Interpret research and evaluation findings in context, identifying implications, tradeoffs, risks, and opportunities for utility clients and their customers.
• Develop high-quality client deliverables, including reports, presentations, memos, papers, and executive summaries that are clear, evidence-based, and decision-ready.
• Serve as a lead author and quality reviewer for executive-level findings, recommendations, and client-facing deliverables.

Advise clients and shape new opportunities

• Advise clients by combining technical expertise, business judgment, clear communication, and a practical understanding of utility programs and customer challenges.
• Build trusted client relationships by listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, managing ambiguity, and helping clients interpret findings and define next steps.
• Lead the development of scopes of work based on client needs, including research approach, timeline, budget, assumptions, and deliverables.
• Identify opportunities to expand or deepen client work when additional research, analysis, or advisory support would create value, and contribute to related proposals or scopes of work.

Manage projects and multidisciplinary teams

• Own the planning, budget management, financial tracking, risk management, and successful delivery of assigned projects.
• Manage multidisciplinary project teams that may include consultants, analysts, engineers, data scientists, data management specialists, and subject matter experts.
• Set clear expectations for tasks, timelines, roles, quality standards, and accountabilities, adjusting as needed to keep work on track.
• Lead project meetings, including kickoffs, client check-ins, internal working sessions, and debriefs, and contribute to financial projection reviews.
• Keep project sponsors, project directors, and internal leaders informed about progress, budget, cost-to-complete, staffing needs, risks, and key milestones.
• Identify project resource needs early and proactively resolve or elevate issues that could affect timeline, budget, quality, or client satisfaction.

Develop people and strengthen delivery quality

• Mentor and develop team members in applied research methods, evaluation practice, consulting skills, client communication, and high-quality deliverable development.
• Provide timely, constructive feedback that strengthens technical rigor, clarity, client readiness, and professional growth.
• Model strong consulting behaviors, including ownership, sound judgment, responsiveness, curiosity, and accountability.
• Contribute to a collaborative team culture that values substantive expertise, thoughtful problem-solving, and continuous improvement.

You're likely a great fit if you:

• Have a strong foundation in applied research, program evaluation, customer research, user experience research, or a related field.
• Can design a rigorous research approach and explain its value to a nontechnical audience.
• Bring strong client presence, sound judgment, and the ability to help clients clarify questions, interpret findings, and identify practical next steps.
• Communicate clearly in writing and verbally, including when presenting findings, recommendations, risks, and tradeoffs.
• Build trust quickly with clients and colleagues by being prepared, responsive, thoughtful, and accountable.
• Enjoy leading project teams, developing people, and helping others strengthen both technical and consulting capabilities.
• Can manage multiple workstreams, deadlines, budgets, and stakeholder expectations without losing sight of quality or client value.

And even better if you:

• Have experience evaluating utility, energy efficiency, demand-side management, electrification, customer experience, or distributed energy resource programs.
• Have developed a recognized area of subject matter expertise and enjoy contributing to thought leadership in that space.
• Have experience supporting proposal development, finalist presentations, client expansions, or other business development activities.
• Enjoy representing your organization in client meetings, industry discussions, webinars, conferences, or other professional forums.

Experience and Skills to Qualify Include:

• Demonstrated experience leading applied research, evaluation, customer research, UX research, or consulting engagements from design through delivery.
• Expertise in qualitative research methods and familiarity with quantitative or mixed-method evaluation approaches.
• Experience developing research or evaluation plans, designing data collection instruments, overseeing analysis, and translating findings into recommendations.
• Proven ability to manage client relationships, project scope, budgets, timelines, risks, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong client-ready writing, presentation, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Experience mentoring, coaching, or developing junior team members.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and make sound decisions when timelines, dependencies, or client needs shift.

At E Source, you'll work alongside people who are thoughtful, curious, and deeply knowledgeable about utility and energy systems. We value clarity over jargon, substance over flash, and collaboration over ego. You'll have the opportunity to grow your skills, contribute to meaningful work, and help shape a company that plays a real role in how the energy future unfolds.

What you can expect

• Excellent insurance options, including medical, dental, and vision plans; company-paid life insurance; company-paid long- and short-term disability insurance; medical and dependent-care flexible spending plans, and paid parental leave.
• A flexible time off (FTO) policy that provides paid time away from work, approved by your manager, while ensuring business needs, workload commitments, and appropriate coverage are maintained.
• A 401(k) plan with a 3% employer match.

The budgeted salary for this position is $95,000 – $130,000 USD + annual bonus. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience.

This role requires travel 1-4 times a year; otherwise, it is fully remote.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the US or Canada. We're unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas or Labour Market Impact Assessments (Cdn) at this time.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.