Research Manager

Research Manager

Answer Lab helps pioneering leaders Own the Unknown — transforming uncharted territory into clarity, direction, and competitive advantage. We build strategic insight through deep human understanding and validate future possibilities with real people in real contexts. For more than 20 years, we've worked alongside some of the world's most forward-looking organizations, helping them deliver breakthrough moments when no playbook exists.

As we evolve as a human-grounded experience strategy firm, our Research Managers sit at the heart of that transformation — leading the people who do the work, shaping the quality of our work, and helping our clients see what comes next.

The Research Manager is a frontline research leader and a critical driver of Answer Lab's delivery excellence, research innovation, and people development. Embedded within a client-aligned portfolio, the Research Manager ensures their team delivers rigorous, strategic, high-caliber research — and that every researcher on their team is growing, supported, and set up to do their best work.

This role has been intentionally designed to be client-facing and strategically oriented. With dedicated operational and "back of house" support in place, Research Managers focus on driving impact and results through exceptional research, exceptional people, and exceptional client partnerships.

• People Management & Development
• Strategic Growth Partner
• Delivery Excellence
• Research Innovation Development & Adoption

• Reports to:
  
  Research Director (portfolio-aligned)
• Dotted-line partnership with:
  Managing Director, Research & Product Innovation (for research quality standards, methodology, and innovation adoption)
• Close collaboration with:
  Customer Success Lead(s) within your portfolio, Research Ops, and fellow Research Managers
• Client engagement:
  Active partnership with client stakeholders, ranging from researchers to senior product executives, and anyone in between

• 5+ years of professional experience leading qualitative UX research in a client-facing environment
• 2+ years managing or formally mentoring a team of researchers
• Experience in a fast-paced, client-driven consulting or agency environment
• Demonstrated experience translating research insights into strategic recommendations for senior stakeholders

• Well-versed in a wide range of research methodologies, including 1:1 usability studies (in-person and remote), contextual interviews, ethnography, co-design and innovation workshops, journey mapping, unmoderated usability, card sorting, surveys, and more
• Experience crafting and evaluating discussion guides, screeners, test protocols, and research reports
• Familiarity with AI-augmented research tools and a genuine curiosity about their role in the future of the practice

• Clear, engaging presentation skills — both in building presentations and delivering them to clients
• Ability to build trust quickly across a range of relationships, including researchers, CSLs, Research Ops, and client stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal communication, with the ability to adapt your voice for a UX practitioner and a C-suite executive alike
• Comfortable giving and receiving direct, constructive feedback

• Curious, optimistic, and energized by ambiguous, high-stakes challenges
• A systems thinker who anticipates downstream impact and takes ownership through the finish line
• Committed to inclusive, empathetic leadership and to making Answer Lab a place where diverse talent thrives

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Sociology, Statistics, or a related field preferred

• Ability to travel approximately 25% of the time to Answer Lab offices, client sites, or offsite locations as needed

Value

What It Means

Find the Edge

We push into uncharted territory because breakthroughs don't happen in the safe zone

Run the Play

We treat every idea as an experiment worth trying and every outcome as data worth sharing

Push the Ask

We challenge the consensus to go beyond…