Qualitative Research Director & Moderator

Qualitative Research Director & Moderator

NRG is a leading global insights and strategy firm at the confluence of content, culture, and technology. We stay ahead of what’s next, providing fresh insights to spark new ideas. We’re a trusted partner to our clients, working behind the scenes to bring imagination, depth, and clarity to their biggest challenges—in entertainment, technology, lifestyle, sports, and gaming. Together, we create with confidence.

• Experience – 7+ years designing and conducting a range of qualitative methodologies and studies.
• Education – B.A./B.S. in psychology, anthropology, information science, UX design, computer science, or a related field.
• Moderation Mastery – Skilled in leading engaging user sessions that uncover meaningful insights.
• UX Research Expertise – Expert at understanding user behaviors and conducting UX research.
• Qualitative Rigor – Able to write screeners, manage recruitment, and craft thoughtful discussion guides.
• Communication & Storytelling – Strong writing skills to craft stories around data insights and clearly communicate key points. Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Data Driven – Expert at working with data to identify trends and insights, including structured and unstructured data. Advanced data visualization skills using Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, and Slides.
• Passion – Enthusiasm for research, data‑driven approaches, and strategic thinking. Stays up to date on social media trends, user behaviors, and platform design.
• Client‑Centric – Proven experience nurturing and building relationships with clients, understanding their goals, and delivering on them while providing strategic guidance.
• Leadership – Ability to mentor and inspire junior team members.
• Self‑Starter – Internally motivated, continuously strives to get things done well regardless of challenges.
• Expert Multitasker – Manages time and multiple competing priorities to ensure deadlines are always met. Organizes projects efficiently.
• Attention to Detail – Errors do not pass; focus on high levels of quality control and reporting.
• Team Player – Works collaboratively and harmoniously within and across teams. Welcomes feedback and grows from it.

We are seeking a seasoned and strategic Director of Qualitative Research to lead a flagship workstream within our Devices & Services team. This role will serve as a primary lead for an ongoing, high‑impact research program for one of the world’s most influential social media platforms, directly shaping how millions of users engage with and experience the product every day. This is the largest and highest‑visibility qualitative track of the broader research program, directly impacting how our client optimizes the platform’s design, features, and content to create more engaging and user‑centered experiences.

• Lead the full lifecycle of a high‑volume qualitative program, managing rolling design, advanced session moderation, rapid synthesis, and strategic reporting across 30+ iterative rounds annually.
• Develop rigorous research frameworks, crafting expert‑level screeners and discussion guides, adapting approaches in real time, and surfacing patterns across iterative cycles.
• Own the largest and most visible component of the client program, ensuring stability, continuity, and a consistently elevated standard of insight, polish, and reliability.
• Lead in‑person and remote research leveraging diverse qualitative methods such as interviews, diary studies, usability testing, focus groups, concept evaluations, journey mapping, and more.
• Conduct and oversee expert moderation—both in‑person and remote—creating an environment where users share deeply and authentically.
• Synthesize complex signals into strategic guidance, turning fast‑moving qualitative inputs into clear, actionable recommendations for product, design, and content decisions.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects with efficiency and precision, ensuring all deliverables meet the highest standards of quality and anticipating risks across projects.
• Serve as a senior strategic partner to client leadership, offering perspective, anticipating needs, and helping…