Qualitative Research Manager

About The Opportunity

We're seeking a seasoned qualitative research manager to design qualitative studies, develop discussion guides, moderate, analyze and synthesize transcripts and video, and report results with an emphasis on storytelling. A thorough understanding of qualitative research techniques, tools, processes, and procedures is essential. You must have strong interpersonal and organizational skills and be detail-oriented, flexible and above all, collaborative.

What You'll Do

• Design qualitative research studies for clients across a wide variety of industries — projects will vary not only by industry, but also by general approach (IDIs, in-person and online focus groups, online communities/bulletin boards, ethnographies, shop-alongs, etc.) and project type (exploratory/discovery, concept and message testing, journey mapping, positioning, persona development, etc.)
• Translate client business objectives into creative, effective qualitative research designs
• Develop discussion guides that move beyond direct questioning — incorporating projective techniques, visual and enabling exercises, and other approaches to surface underlying motivations and dynamics
• Moderate in-depth interviews and focus groups, in person and over the internet, with skill, warmth and adaptability
• Analyze and synthesize transcripts and video to identify the themes, tensions and insights that matter most to the business question
• Report qualitative findings in PPT and other formats (memos, white papers, video reels, etc.) with an emphasis on storytelling
• Select and manage qualitative vendors and facilities, and oversee recruiting against target specifications
• Lead discussions and debriefings with clients in person or over the internet
• Provide professional development training for colleagues/junior staff
• Develop and present webinars for clients/prospects

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of relevant experience in qualitative research with a demonstrable track record of high performance
• A portfolio of past work you can share — including discussion guides, video clips and reports (redacted as necessary to preserve client confidentiality)
• A demonstrated ability to translate business objectives into creative and effective qualitative research designs
• Mastery of moderation, including projective techniques, visual and enabling exercises, and other methods for getting beyond surface responses to capture underlying dynamics
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to plan, prioritize, manage, and effectively deliver on multiple projects simultaneously with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment
• A dynamic personality with excellent client-handling and presentation skills
• Strong storytelling and reporting skills, with fluency in PowerPoint as well as a sense of how best to leverage AI
• Experience with qualitative analysis and transcription/video tools a plus
• Superior customer focus, and willingness to work evenings and weekends if needed to support our clients
• A can-do, positive and collaborative attitude, with a willingness to support the development of team members across the organization

Pay & Schedule

• Competitive base salary: $100,000-$120,000/year
• Flexible vacation policy – take the time you need to recharge
• Comprehensive health, vision & dental insurance
• 401k with company contribution
• Beautiful downtown Denver or Back Bay office with company-paid commuter benefits (parking or MBTA/RTD EcoPass)
• Please note that we are fully onsite work environment, and require daily presence at our LoDo/Union Station or Back Bay (Boston) office. We are not considering remote, hybrid, or out-of-area candidates, and do not work with outside recruiting agencies.

Posted August 28, 2026. Boston, MA (Back Bay). 1st Round: 30-45 minute interview with the Recruiter. 2nd Round: 60-minute interview with the Hiring Manager. 3rd Round: 2 hours of onsite interviews with the Hiring Team. MarketOnce will accept applications for this role on an ongoing basis.