Associate Manager, Research & Innovation

The company (600+ clients like TikTok, Microsoft, Salesforce, Bain, Figma and many more) is a research intelligence company helping organizations make better business decisions and train better AI models through verified human intelligence.

We turn specialized human expertise into reliable business decisions (e.g., product launches, marketing strategy, brand reputation tracking, M&A due diligence) and AI training data (frontier model improvements and evals).

We have several million domain experts that we have sourced over the last few years (150+ industries including finance, legal, coding, tax & accounting, healthcare, semiconductors, cybersecurity, STEM and more).

We have worked with AI Labs and Enterprises on topics ranging from sourcing senior electrical and SW engineers for a chip design benchmark to pediatricians and psychiatrists for clinical data to ML engineers and PhD-level statisticians proficient in 3D modeling.

About the Role

The company builds research methods and products that will define the future of B2B research. We are looking for a Research & Innovation Associate Manager to design, test, and scale new research offerings. Examples of products we’ve previously / are currently rolling out include synthetic personas, the company Augmented Data (NXAD), and other AI-powered capabilities. The role also helps run the team’s operations and raise AI fluency across the company.

This is a builder’s role. Innovation and methods will be 60-70% focus of the role. Operations and enablement make up the rest to ensure seamless team functioning and execution while rolling out new methods. What you help build to enable colleagues on the strategic insights team will feed directly into the products you build.

Location: Hybrid (NYC) or Remote (US/Canada)

In this role you will

• Innovation & Methods (primary focus)

• Design, build, and validate new research methods and products based on industry trends and client pain points. These may include novel analytics methodologies or AI-powered tools

• Maintain and enhance existing products (e.g., synthetic personas), as needed

• Develop rigorous validation frameworks that test AI-generated and simulated outputs against primary research data

• Apply statistical and behavioral modeling, such as choice modeling, simulation, and psychometrics, to improve the accuracy and reliability of new methods

• Use AI agents and LLM workflows as core tools in product development, from prototype to production

• Turn methodological advances into client-ready offerings, working with Strategic Insights, Sales, and Product

• Track developments in AI, behavioral science, and research methods, and identify opportunities for the company

• Team Operations

• Own team productivity metrics, margin tracking, and reporting

• Manage contractor relationships, including scoping, onboarding, and quality oversight

• Automate recurring operational workflows with AI tools and agents

• Enablement

• Build and deliver training on new methods and AI tools for internal teams

• Support onboarding for R&I and adjacent teams

• Drive internal adoption of AI skills, and help develop skills that increase internal efficiencies

Who you are

Required

• Master’s degree or PhD in psychology, statistics, economics, behavioral simulation, or a related quantitative field

• Strong statistical skills and hands-on coding experience in R

• Heavy, daily AI user with hands-on experience building or working with AI agents

• Ability to turn ambiguous ideas into working prototypes and tested methods

• Clear written and verbal communication, including explaining technical methods to non-technical audiences

• Comfortable working independently in a fast-moving, evolving environment

Preferred

• PhD in one of the fields above

• Experience in market research, survey design, or applied B2B or consumer research

• Familiarity with methods such as conjoint, MaxDiff, segmentation, and key driver analysis

What we offer

• Competitive compensation - base salary, annual performance bonus, and employee equity plan. (Please note that salary and compensation may vary based on factors such as skills, experience, performance and location.)

• Career advancement and training opportunities.

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• 401k match with immediate vesting.

• Health savings/flexible savings account, and pre-tax commuter benefits.

• Paid time off: vacation, holidays, sick, and parental leave.

• A diverse, collaborative, and positive culture where we invest in and celebrate each other's success.

• Good vibes (happy hours, team projects, and retreats).

The company is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.