Senior Managing Consultant, Research & Evaluation

E Source is a research, data/analytics, and technology-focused professional services firm dedicated exclusively to the utility industry in the US and Canada. We help utilities target and serve their customers more effectively, enhance and optimize their grid, and leverage operating best practices and technologies to manage their business. Headquartered in Texas, we have 450+ employees across the US and Canada.

About the role

As a Senior Managing Consultant, you will lead applied research, evaluation, and consulting engagements from design through delivery. You will shape rigorous research approaches, guide multidisciplinary teams, manage client relationships, and develop clear, defensible deliverables that connect evidence to action. This role requires someone equally comfortable designing sound evaluations, facilitating client conversations, managing project scope and budget, and mentoring team members in both technical and consulting skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of applied research and evaluation engagements, including evaluation plans, research frameworks, data collection strategies, analysis approaches, and reporting plans.
• Apply qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research approaches to answer client questions, assess program performance, understand customer experiences, and generate actionable insights.
• Design and oversee field research methods such as in-depth interviews, surveys, focus groups, observational research, ethnographic interviews, usability testing, and user experience research.
• Interpret research and evaluation findings in context, identifying implications, tradeoffs, risks, and opportunities for utility clients and their customers.
• Develop high-quality client deliverables, including reports, presentations, memos, papers, and executive summaries that are clear, evidence-based, and decision-ready.
• Serve as a lead author and quality reviewer for executive-level findings, recommendations, and client-facing deliverables.
• Advise clients by combining technical expertise, business judgment, clear communication, and a practical understanding of utility programs and customer challenges.
• Build trusted client relationships by listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, managing ambiguity, and helping clients interpret findings and define next steps.
• Lead the development of scopes of work based on client needs, including research approach, timeline, budget, assumptions, and deliverables.
• Identify opportunities to expand or deepen client work when additional research, analysis, or advisory support would create value, and contribute to related proposals or scopes of work.
• Own the planning, budget management, financial tracking, risk management, and successful delivery of assigned projects.
• Manage multidisciplinary project teams that may include consultants, analysts, engineers, data scientists, data management specialists, and subject matter experts.
• Set clear expectations for tasks, timelines, roles, quality standards, and accountabilities, adjusting as needed to keep work on track.
• Lead project meetings, including kickoffs, client check-ins, internal working sessions, and debriefs, and contribute to financial projection reviews.
• Keep project sponsors, project directors, and internal leaders informed about progress, budget, cost-to-complete, staffing needs, risks, and key milestones.
• Identify project resource needs early and proactively resolve or escalate issues that could affect timeline, budget, quality, or client satisfaction.
• Mentor and develop team members in applied research methods, evaluation practice, consulting skills, client communication, and high-quality deliverable development.
• Provide timely, constructive feedback that strengthens technical rigor, clarity, client readiness, and professional growth.
• Model strong consulting behaviors, including ownership, sound judgment, responsiveness, curiosity, and accountability.
• Contribute to a collaborative team culture that values substantive expertise, thoughtful problem-solving, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience leading applied research, evaluation, customer research, UX research, or consulting engagements from design through delivery.
• Expertise in qualitative research methods and familiarity with quantitative or mixed-method evaluation approaches.
• Experience developing research or evaluation plans, designing data collection instruments, overseeing analysis, and translating findings into recommendations.
• Proven ability to manage client relationships, project scope, budgets, timelines, risks, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong client-ready writing, presentation, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Experience mentoring, coaching, or developing junior team members.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and make sound decisions when timelines, dependencies, or client needs shift.

Qualifications

• A strong foundation in applied research, program evaluation, customer research, user experience research, or a related field.
• Ability to design a rigorous research approach and explain its value to a nontechnical audience.
• Strong client presence, sound judgment, and the ability to help clients clarify questions, interpret findings, and identify practical next steps.
• Clear communication in writing and verbally, including when presenting findings, recommendations, risks, and tradeoffs.
• Ability to build trust quickly with clients and colleagues by being prepared, responsive, thoughtful, and accountable.
• Enjoyment in leading project teams, developing people, and helping others strengthen both technical and consulting capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams, deadlines, budgets, and stakeholder expectations without losing sight of quality or client value.

Nice to have

• Experience evaluating utility, energy efficiency, demand-side management, electrification, customer experience, or distributed energy resource programs.
• Developed a recognized area of subject matter expertise and enjoy contributing to thought leadership in that space.
• Experience supporting proposal development, finalist presentations, client expansions, or other business development activities.
• Enjoyment representing your organization in client meetings, industry discussions, webinars, conferences, or other professional forums.

Benefits

• Excellent insurance options, including medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Company-paid life insurance.
• Company-paid long- and short-term disability insurance.
• Medical and dependent-care flexible spending plans.
• Paid parental leave.
• Flexible time off (FTO) policy.
• 401(k) plan with a 3% employer match.

Pay

The budgeted salary for this position is $105,000 – $130,000 USD plus an annual bonus. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience.

Schedule

This role is fully remote with travel required 1–4 times a year.