Research Manager

Research Manager

M&C Saatchi World Services US is seeking a highly analytical and strategically minded Research Manager. This role leads the development of audience, stakeholder, and behavioral insights that inform communications, outreach, and engagement strategies, ensuring research findings are translated into actionable recommendations that strengthen decision-making and improve mission outcomes.

The role leads research, analysis, and insight-generation efforts across a diverse portfolio of federal programs. Working at the intersection of behavioral science, stakeholder engagement, communications, and analytics, you will design and execute research initiatives that help organizations better understand audiences, evaluate engagement effectiveness, and identify opportunities to improve communications and outreach strategies. You will leverage qualitative and quantitative methodologies to uncover meaningful insights, support strategic planning, and strengthen evidence-based decision-making.

The ideal candidate combines strong analytical capabilities with a deep understanding of research methodologies, stakeholder behavior, and audience engagement. They are comfortable translating complex data into compelling narratives, collaborating across multidisciplinary teams, and developing actionable recommendations that drive measurable impact.

This is a hybrid role; however, the ideal candidate will live in the greater NYC area or the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region.

• Lead research initiatives that support communications, outreach, stakeholder engagement, and organizational priorities.
• Design and execute qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research projects that generate actionable insights and support strategic decision-making.
• Analyze stakeholder behaviors, audience needs, sentiment trends, engagement patterns, and perception drivers across multiple channels and stakeholder groups.
• Conduct segmentation analysis to identify priority audiences, engagement opportunities, and communications strategies tailored to stakeholder needs.
• Develop research-backed recommendations that strengthen communications planning, stakeholder engagement, behavior-change initiatives, and organizational effectiveness.
• Produce reports, dashboards, visualizations, briefings, and executive summaries that communicate findings clearly and effectively.
• Collaborate with communications, stakeholder engagement, UX, analytics, policy, and program teams to ensure research findings inform planning and execution.
• Support stakeholder journey mapping, persona development, audience intelligence efforts, and engagement measurement initiatives.
• Manage research methodologies, data collection approaches, survey instruments, discussion guides, and analytical frameworks.
• Maintain research documentation, metadata structures, taxonomies, datasets, and reporting standards to ensure consistency and quality.
• Partner with external research vendors, fieldwork partners, and subject matter experts when required to support project execution.
• Identify and evaluate emerging research tools, methodologies, and technologies that improve insight generation and organizational understanding.

Degree or relevant experience in Communications, Marketing, Behavioral Science, Sociology, Public Relations, Public Affairs, Analytics, Research, or a related field preferred. Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance, as required by the position. Experience conducting qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods research within communications, stakeholder engagement, behavioral science, market research, public affairs, or related environments. Strong understanding of audience research, stakeholder analysis, behavioral science, segmentation methodologies, and communications effectiveness measurement.

Experience designing research approaches, developing data collection tools, and translating findings into strategic recommendations. Experience utilizing AI-assisted research, media monitoring, social listening, or audience intelligence tools to support analysis and strategic recommendations. Curiosity in technology landscape and how AI is changing communications. Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills with the ability to identify trends, opportunities, risks, and actionable insights. Experience developing reports, dashboards, visualizations, executive briefings, and stakeholder-facing research products.

Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills. Experience working with analytics, visualization, social listening, research, or audience intelligence platforms. Ability to synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative data into clear and compelling narratives. Strong attention to detail and commitment to methodological rigor, data quality, and research integrity. Experience collaborating across communications, stakeholder engagement, UX, analytics, policy, and program management teams. Experience…