National Research Group
Qualitative Research Director & Moderator
National Research Group, Culver City, California, United States, 90232
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.
We Are Looking For
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.
The 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 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.
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—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 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 oversee coordination with internal and external operations teams, driving projects forward on stringent timelines.
Model autonomy and sound judgment, navigating ambiguity, making senior‑level decisions, and upholding excellence without heavy oversight.
Position Type This is a full‑time, exempt position.
What We Offer
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.
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 (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 $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.
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We Are Looking For
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.
The 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 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.
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—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 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 oversee coordination with internal and external operations teams, driving projects forward on stringent timelines.
Model autonomy and sound judgment, navigating ambiguity, making senior‑level decisions, and upholding excellence without heavy oversight.
Position Type This is a full‑time, exempt position.
What We Offer
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.
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 (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 $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