Entertainment Senior Research Manager or Director

About NRG

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.

We’re proud of our company’s values – these values guide us as we navigate sunny days, gray skies and everything in between:   

• Do what you love. With conviction.
• Where discovery lives. And impact drives.
• Celebrate difference. Cultivate belonging.
• Big thinking. Collectively inspired.
• Embrace the journey. Be human.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a Senior Research Manager or Research Director to join our Entertainment team, focusing on Series Content Testing - partnering with some of the most impactful TV and streaming brands in the world, who trust us with their biggest creative and strategic challenges.

You’ll oversee end-to-end research initiatives, from crafting surveys and discussion guides to transforming data into compelling narratives that answer key strategic questions for our clients. In this role, you’ll lead episode testing for broadcast, cable and streaming studios, to uncover how audiences connect with stories, characters, and creative elements - helping clients refine content and marketing strategies for upcoming series releases. You’ll also drive franchise studies, post-release research, and other initiatives that reveal insights shaping long-term audience engagement and franchise success, aiding the development of future series under consideration.

If you’re passionate about both qualitative and quantitative research, love visualizing data and uncovering insights with clarity and confidence, and thrive as a subject matter expert in the entertainment space—while eager to mentor, grow, and inspire top-tier junior talent—this is the role for you.

Your Impact

• Manage end to end quantitative and qualitative research projects, including client consultation and proposal design, methodological approach, pricing and scoping, questionnaire and discussion guide development, data analysis and storytelling.
• Serve as a trusted and strategic consultant to clients, identifying business challenges and designing research solutions that drive long-term partnerships and testing programs.
• Translate research data into clear, actionable insights and recommendations through visual, creative and story-driven reports.
• Partner with internal and external operations teams (programming, fieldwork, facilities, moderators, data processing) to drive projects forward on stringent timelines.
• Build relationships through effectively managing day-to-day client interaction and helping solve client issues and concerns.
• Help provide direction to analysts and managers on the team, giving meaningful feedback on all aspects of a project and training analysts across methodologies.
• A proven track record of being able to operate with a high degree of independence in managing client relationships and project delivery, demonstrating readiness for senior-level ownership, accountability and strategic leadership, with minimal oversight required from Director or VP levels.
• Drive successful project execution, collaborating with senior team members and providing input and oversight to junior team members on quality control processes at each step of the research lifecycle, from checking survey programming logic, questionnaire proofing, number checking and proofing reports and presentations for accuracy.
• Contribute to business growth through thought leadership, proactive client engagement, and the development of new research frameworks and capabilities.

Who We're Looking For

• Experience – We’d love for you to have 5+ years’ experience working in consumer insights, consumer research or in a strategy role. A strong focus on entertainment is required, with experience in content testing preferred.
• Your degree(s) – Ideally looking for a B.A./B.S. degree in areas such as Social Sciences, Business, Marketing, Market Research, Statistics, Economics or a related field. Additional degrees are welcome!
• Passion – You live and breathe all things TV, and love turning audience behavior into strategy.
• Research practitioner – In-depth understanding and experience with a range of complex qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
• Custom research expertise – You have a strong foundation in custom research, including survey writing, data tab review, quality control, and analytical rigor. Our work is highly tailored—each project addresses a unique client challenge, with no standard playbook. You’re comfortable navigating ambiguity, applying core research principles to build smart, strategic approaches from the ground up. Your ability to adapt, think critically, and solve problems is key to delivering high-quality insights in a fast-paced, client-centric environment.
• Exceptional communication and storytelling – You can craft compelling narratives from complex data, identifying key insights and translating them into clear, strategic recommendations. You bring a strong point of view to your analysis and can confidently articulate that perspective in both written reports and verbal presentations. You're adept at presenting to different audiences, simplifying complex ideas, and influencing stakeholders through clear, persuasive communication.
• Self-starter – Internally-motivated who continuously strives to get things done well, regardless of challenges encountered. This person should be able to take direction, but not wait for direction (proactivity is essential at this level)!
• Flexible and resilient – You’re comfortable adapting to the fast pace of entertainment research, including shifting timelines and occasional off-hours work to meet client needs. You stay calm under pressure and thrive on delivering great work, no matter the challenge.
• Client-centric – Proven experience nurturing and building relationships with clients, understanding their goals and ensuring we deliver on those and confidently providing strategic guidance to them.
• Leadership – You can mentor and inspire junior team members.
• Data driven – Expert at working with data to identify trends and insights, including both structured (i.e. data and hard numbers) and unstructured (i.e. interviews and qualitative) data. Advanced data visualization skills using tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs and Slides.
• Data analysis techniques and software – Experience with the following data analysis techniques would be highly valuable: statistical significance testing, correlation analysis, multivariate analysis techniques (such as cluster/segmentation analysis) and conjoint and discrete choice analysis. Experience with statistical packages, like SPSS or Q, are a plus.
• Curiosity and critical thinking – You are genuinely interested in seeking information on the “whys,” always digging for more information to understand what makes consumers tick.
• Expert multitasker – Successfully manages time and multiple competing priorities to ensure deadlines are always met. Staying organized is a must for managing projects!
• Hawk-eyed attention to detail – Errors don’t get past you and you are always focused on ensuring high levels of quality control and reporting.
• Great Team Member – Team player who is able to work collaboratively and harmoniously within a team and across teams. You will roll up your sleeves to help get the job done and no task is beneath you. You welcome feedback because you have a zest for learning and growing.

Position Type

This is a full-time, exempt position.

What We Offer

We embrace the current era of work and what it means to be a best-in-class employer. We understand the flexibility that is required to recruit and retain incredible talent, whether it’s empowering you to do your best work from the comfort of your home or supporting you if you need to take a mental health day for self-care and rest. Below is a unique blend of benefits tailored to meeting the ever-changing professional landscape.

• Flexible/Remote work with optional usage of our great offices in Culver City and New York
• Unlimited PTO, volunteer days and a generous number of recharge days including a full office closure during the week of Christmas and New Year’s
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Plans
• 401K with company match
• Generous paid Parental Leave
• Regular performance evaluations with opportunities for promotions and merit increases
• Educational and training reimbursement plan and other training and professional development opportunities
• Employee perks program (includes discounts on travel, hotels, cars, fitness, movie tickets and more)
• Resources available for mental health, inclusive care and family building
• NRGratitude – our company-wide employee recognition program
• Regular team/company events and activities including annual summer and holiday parties
• Pet friendly headquarters and pet insurance options

Our Commitment

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is at the center of all our practices to ensure that NRG is a place where people from all identities and backgrounds can thrive. NRG is committed to recruiting and retaining diverse talent by supporting their growth through learning programs, internal mobility, affinity group participation and leadership development. Our differences make us a stronger workforce and enhance our creativity and innovation. We are proud to be an inclusive workplace for all and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law. 

Compensation

In order to comply with equal pay and salary transparency laws in various locations, we believe the target range of base compensation in all locations within the United States for this role is $90,000-$120,000. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and location.