Title: Research Manager
Location: Remote, USA
Compensation: $85-110k
Contact : Lindsey Bartlett - lbartlett@smithhanley.com
Position Description:
This is a really nice opportunity for a researcher who likes being close to the work, close to clients, and involved in figuring out how to answer the business question, not just executing what’s already been scoped.
We’re partnering with an established, full-service market research and consulting firm that designs and executes custom research programs for clients across a variety of industries, with a significant presence in pharmaceutical and life sciences. Their work spans both quantitative and qualitative research, helping clients tackle everything from understanding customers and markets to informing strategy, positioning, product decisions, and growth opportunities.
They’re looking for a Manager-level researcher who can take a consultative approach with clients, think strategically about research design, and lead projects from the initial business question through analysis and final recommendations.
This is not a sales or account ownership role. The client-facing piece is about being a strong research partner: understanding what the client is trying to solve, recommending the right approach, and making sure the research ultimately tells them something useful.
Because pharma represents an important part of the business, pharmaceutical / healthcare market research experience is important here. You don’t need to have spent your entire career exclusively in pharma, but you should be comfortable with the industry, its audiences, and the nuances that come with designing research in this space.
What You’ll Do
- Lead custom quantitative market research engagements from research design through final delivery
- Serve as a strategic research partner to clients, helping translate business questions into the right research approach
- Recommend methodologies and study designs based on client objectives rather than simply executing against a predetermined plan
- Apply your understanding of pharma / healthcare markets and audiences to research design, analysis, and recommendations
- Develop questionnaires, discussion guides, research plans, and other study materials
- Guide analysis and storytelling, ensuring the research gets beyond the data to clearly answer “so what?”
- Oversee the development of client deliverables, including PowerPoint reports and Excel-based simulators
- Present findings, implications, and recommendations directly to clients
- Lead and mentor research teams throughout project execution
- Provide oversight across timelines, budgets, fieldwork, vendors, and overall project quality
- Partner with external vendors across recruitment, programming, logistics, and data processing
- Support proposals and project scoping as needed
- Maintain a high bar for quality control across research materials, analysis, and final deliverables
What They’re Looking For
- 5–8+ years of experience in market research, insights, consulting, or a related field
- Meaningful pharmaceutical, healthcare, or life sciences market research experience
- Strong knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
- Experience designing custom research based on broader business questions
- Confidence working directly with clients and acting as a strategic research advisor
- Ability to turn complex findings into clear, actionable stories and recommendations
- Experience leading projects and mentoring more junior researchers
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills
- Ability to juggle multiple studies and priorities without sacrificing quality
