National Research Group
Qualitative Research Director & Moderator
National Research Group, New York, New York, us, 10261
Qualitative Research Director & Moderator
Join to apply for the
Qualitative Research Director & Moderator
role at
National Research Group .
Company Overview 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.
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.
Opportunity We are seeking a seasoned and strategic Director of Qualitative Research to lead a flagship workstream within our Devices & Services team. This role will have you serve as a primary lead for an ongoing, high‑impact research program for one of the world’s most influential social media platforms. You will directly shape how millions of users engage with and experience the product every day, impacting how the client optimizes the platform’s design, features, and content to create more engaging and user‑centered experiences.
You’ll lead complex qualitative research at scale, shaping study design, elevating methodological rigor, and delivering insights that influence product, design, and leadership decisions. The role requires senior‑level craft expertise, exceptional judgment, and the ability to distill iterative learnings into strategic direction. As the consistent lead on this track, you will partner directly with cross‑functional teams, including UXR, Design, and Product Management to translate user perspectives into concrete product action.
Your Impact
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— 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 multiple projects.
Serve as a senior strategic partner to client leadership, offering perspective, anticipating needs, and helping shape long‑term research and product strategy.
Build strong cross‑functional partnerships with Design, UXR, and PM stakeholders, ensuring insights translate directly into product opportunities and prioritization.
Provide leadership across the Devices & Services team, mentoring researchers, shaping qualitative and UX best practices, and elevating the craft across the wider group.
Collaborate with senior team members and provide oversight to junior team members in coordinating logistics with internal and external operations teams (programming, fieldwork, facilities, data processing), partnering with these teams to drive projects forward on stringent timelines.
Model autonomy and sound judgment, navigating ambiguity, making senior‑level decisions, and upholding excellence without heavy oversight.
Qualifications
Experience: 7+ years of hands‑on experience designing and conducting a range of qualitative methodologies and studies.
Your degree(s): Ideally a 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 and storytelling: Strong writing and verbal communication skills; adept at presenting insights to groups.
Data‑driven: Expert using data to identify trends and insights, including structured and unstructured data; advanced visualization skills with Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs and Slides.
Passion: Enthusiasm for research, data‑driven approaches, and strategic thinking.
Client‑centric: Proven experience building relationships with clients and providing strategic guidance.
Leadership: Ability to mentor and inspire junior team members.
Self‑starter: Internally motivated who consistently delivers well, regardless of challenges.
Expert multitasker: Manages competing priorities and meets deadlines.
Hawk‑eyed attention to detail: Ensures high quality control and reporting.
Great team member: Collaborative, open to feedback, and willing to help.
Position Type Full‑time, exempt position.
Benefits
Flexible/Remote work with optional use 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.
401(k) with company match.
12 weeks 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 (including discounts on travel, hotels, cars, fitness, movie tickets and more).
Resources available for mental health, inclusive care and family building.
NRGgratitude – 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 NRG is a place where people from all identities and backgrounds can thrive. We are 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 $100,000–$120,000. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and location.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Qualitative Research Director & Moderator
role at
National Research Group .
Company Overview 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.
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.
Opportunity We are seeking a seasoned and strategic Director of Qualitative Research to lead a flagship workstream within our Devices & Services team. This role will have you serve as a primary lead for an ongoing, high‑impact research program for one of the world’s most influential social media platforms. You will directly shape how millions of users engage with and experience the product every day, impacting how the client optimizes the platform’s design, features, and content to create more engaging and user‑centered experiences.
You’ll lead complex qualitative research at scale, shaping study design, elevating methodological rigor, and delivering insights that influence product, design, and leadership decisions. The role requires senior‑level craft expertise, exceptional judgment, and the ability to distill iterative learnings into strategic direction. As the consistent lead on this track, you will partner directly with cross‑functional teams, including UXR, Design, and Product Management to translate user perspectives into concrete product action.
Your Impact
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— 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 multiple projects.
Serve as a senior strategic partner to client leadership, offering perspective, anticipating needs, and helping shape long‑term research and product strategy.
Build strong cross‑functional partnerships with Design, UXR, and PM stakeholders, ensuring insights translate directly into product opportunities and prioritization.
Provide leadership across the Devices & Services team, mentoring researchers, shaping qualitative and UX best practices, and elevating the craft across the wider group.
Collaborate with senior team members and provide oversight to junior team members in coordinating logistics with internal and external operations teams (programming, fieldwork, facilities, data processing), partnering with these teams to drive projects forward on stringent timelines.
Model autonomy and sound judgment, navigating ambiguity, making senior‑level decisions, and upholding excellence without heavy oversight.
Qualifications
Experience: 7+ years of hands‑on experience designing and conducting a range of qualitative methodologies and studies.
Your degree(s): Ideally a 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 and storytelling: Strong writing and verbal communication skills; adept at presenting insights to groups.
Data‑driven: Expert using data to identify trends and insights, including structured and unstructured data; advanced visualization skills with Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs and Slides.
Passion: Enthusiasm for research, data‑driven approaches, and strategic thinking.
Client‑centric: Proven experience building relationships with clients and providing strategic guidance.
Leadership: Ability to mentor and inspire junior team members.
Self‑starter: Internally motivated who consistently delivers well, regardless of challenges.
Expert multitasker: Manages competing priorities and meets deadlines.
Hawk‑eyed attention to detail: Ensures high quality control and reporting.
Great team member: Collaborative, open to feedback, and willing to help.
Position Type Full‑time, exempt position.
Benefits
Flexible/Remote work with optional use 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.
401(k) with company match.
12 weeks 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 (including discounts on travel, hotels, cars, fitness, movie tickets and more).
Resources available for mental health, inclusive care and family building.
NRGgratitude – 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 NRG is a place where people from all identities and backgrounds can thrive. We are 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 $100,000–$120,000. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and location.
#J-18808-Ljbffr