Research Manager OR Associate Director

Carrot Pharma recruitment; United States; On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Carrot Life Sciences is seeking an experienced Research Manager or Associate Director to join its US team. You’ll lead healthcare market research projects, manage client relationships and mentor junior researchers, while embracing AI and new methodologies to deliver high‑impact insights.

The role combines rigorous qualitative and quantitative work with strategic storytelling, proposal design, and cross‑functional collaboration across pharma clients. You’ll shape projects from concept to delivery.

Qualifications

• Strong background in pharmaceutical/healthcare market research, ideally in an agency or consultancy.
• Comfortable with both qualitative and quantitative research approaches.
• Confident in managing projects and client relationships.
• Ability to translate findings into actionable, commercial insights.

Responsibilities

• Manage healthcare/pharma market research projects from brief through delivery.
• Design research approaches and contribute to proposals and costings.
• Create screeners, discussion guides, questionnaires and debriefs.
• Apply both qualitative and quantitative methods; moderate as needed.
• Analyse findings and turn insights into clear client stories and recommendations.
• Present implications and strategic recommendations to clients with confidence.
• Oversee timelines, budgets, suppliers and multiple projects.
• Build strong relationships with pharmaceutical clients and act as a trusted contact.
• Identify opportunities to grow existing client relationships.
• Mentor junior researchers and support team development.
• Embrace AI tools to improve efficiency and quality of outputs.
• Bring new methodologies, platforms and approaches to the team.

Skills

Healthcare MR

Qual & Quant

Client relations

Project management

Mentoring

Innovation mindset

Job description

The Opportunity

Are you an experienced healthcare market researcher looking for somewhere that does things a little differently?

We're working with a rapidly growing global healthcare insights and strategy agency looking to add a Research Manager or Associate Director to its US team.

This is an opportunity to join an ambitious and innovative agency working with leading pharmaceutical and healthcare clients. They combine high-quality market research with new technology, digital approaches and AI to deliver more agile, engaging and impactful insight.

They're looking for someone who loves the fundamentals of great healthcare market research but is also curious about how things can be done differently. You don't need to be an AI expert - they want strong researchers who are excited by innovation and keen to embrace new tools, methodologies and ways of working.

The role

Depending on your level, you'll take ownership of healthcare market research projects and client relationships, working across a variety of pharmaceutical and healthcare challenges.

You'll be involved across the research lifecycle, including:

• Managing healthcare/pharma market research projects from initial brief through to final delivery
• Designing research approaches and contributing to proposals and costings
• Writing screeners, discussion guides, questionnaires and debriefs
• Working across both qualitative and quantitative methodologies
• Moderating qualitative research where appropriate
• Analysing and interpreting findings and turning them into clear, engaging and commercially meaningful stories
• Presenting findings, implications and recommendations confidently to clients
• Managing timelines, budgets, suppliers and multiple projects simultaneously
• Building strong relationships with pharmaceutical clients and becoming a trusted point of contact
• Identifying opportunities to add value and grow existing client relationships
• Supporting, mentoring and developing more junior researchers
• Embracing technology and AI tools to improve efficiency, quality and the way research is delivered
• Bringing ideas around new methodologies, platforms and approaches rather than simply relying on how things have always been done

At Associate Director level, there will be greater emphasis on leading more complex projects, senior client relationships, account development, strategic input and supporting the development of the wider team.

What we're looking for

You'll already have a strong background in pharmaceutical / healthcare market research, ideally gained within an agency or consultancy environment.

Alongside strong research skills, they're looking for people who are:

• Comfortable across qualitative and quantitative research
• Confident managing projects and client relationships
• Strong storytellers who can move beyond the findings to what they actually mean for the client
• Proactive and comfortable taking ownership rather than waiting to be told what to do
• Independent thinkers who are confident giving an opinion
• Able to juggle multiple projects and priorities
• Strong presenters with excellent communication skills
• Comfortable mentoring and supporting more junior colleagues
• Curious about technology, AI and new approaches to research
• Positive, collaborative and genuinely enjoyable to work with

Why join?

This isn't a huge, traditional research agency where you're simply another person in the structure.

You'll be joining a growing international business where individuals have genuine visibility and the opportunity to influence how things are done. The culture is built around being brave enough to try something new, being proud of the quality of the work produced and succeeding together as a team.

There's plenty of autonomy and flexibility, but also an expectation that everyone gets involved and helps where needed. It's an environment that suits people who want responsibility, enjoy learning and want to have a genuine impact as the business continues to grow.

If you're currently operating at Research Manager or Associate Director level within healthcare/pharma market research - or you're ready to make that next step - we'd be keen to hear from you.

Unless otherwise stated, if applying for a job within the UK or European Union, you must ensure that you are already authorised to work there. Carrot Life Sciences acts as an Employment Business and an Employment Agency on behalf of our client in recruitment for this role. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, colour, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression.

If there are any arrangements or adjustments we can make to assist you at interview then please let us know and we'll be more than happy to assist.