Research Director or Senior Director, Franchise & Entertainment Insights

About NRG

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’re proud of our company’s values – these values guide us as we navigate sunny days, gray skies and everything in between:   

• Do what you love. With conviction.
• Where discovery lives. And impact drives.
• Celebrate difference. Cultivate belonging.
• Big thinking. Collectively inspired.
• Embrace the journey. Be human.

The Opportunity

Our Trends & Futures team is looking for a Research Director or Senior Director to lead our Franchise IQ product. Clients rely on this essential data for timely intelligence on more than 1,300 franchises across the US and other international markets. This product tracks franchises from all different verticals, including Film, Series, Gaming, Stage and Merchandise. Our insights provide ongoing measurement to quantify what makes IP valuable to consumers, assess demand for new touchpoint expansions and inform franchise acquisition decisions.

Your Impact

• Lead all phases of quantitative research projects, including research design, questionnaire development, data analysis and storytelling.
• Translate research data into clear, actionable insights and recommendations through story-driven reports.
• Fast paced management of client and vendor needs to keep each survey wave on track.
• Partner with internal and external operations teams (programming, fieldwork, data processing) to drive projects forward on stringent timelines.
• Cultivate and foster deep client relationships through effectively managing day-to-day client interaction, solving client issues and concerns and successfully executing projects.
• Troubleshoot any complicated issues that arise in an efficient and effective manner.
• Provide oversight on quality control processes at each step of the research lifecycle.
• Become a product and subject matter expert on the nuances of franchises, tracking data norms, common requests, and how business needs translate into operations.
• Manage a small team of researchers, ensuring the team functions effectively and delivers on all stakeholders’ needs.
• Collaborate with leaders across all our syndicated tracking products to ensure best practices and consistency for a wide variety of client types.
• Lead product enhancement initiatives and present those findings to senior leadership.

Who We're Looking For

• Experience – We’d love for you to have 5 years’ experience working in consumer insights, consumer research or in an analyst/strategy role at an entertainment/media company.
• Your degree(s) – Ideally looking for a BA/BSc degree with a strong academic record, and with a degree in areas such as Social Sciences, Business, Marketing, Market Research, Statistics, Economics or a related field. Additional degrees are welcome!
• Passion – An enthusiasm for research, data driven approaches, and strategic thinking. You live and breathe all things entertainment and enjoy staying up to date on industry trends and developments. Small talking or deep diving on entertainment fuels you.
• Research practitioner – In depth understanding and experience with complex quantitative research methodologies and flexibility to work on both quantitative and quantitative projects, especially with quantitative tracking studies.
• Curiosity and critical thinking – You are genuinely interested in seeking information on the “whys.” You have the ability to address issues using creative and collaborative tactics.
• Data viz chops – Expert at navigating data sets and extracting insights. Experience visualizing data with tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, Slides, Keynote and more. Ability to demonstrate specific advanced functions to ensure data manipulation and reporting are able to keep up with the industry’s fast pace.
• Storytelling – Strong writing skills where you can craft a story around data insights and clearly communicate key points in a succinct manner. You have great oral communication skills as well.
• Client-centric – You love nurturing and building relationships and can confidently provide strategic guidance to your clients.
• Self-starter – Internally-motivated who continuously strives to get things done well, regardless of challenges encountered.
• Expert multitasker – Successfully manages time and multiple competing priorities to ensure deadlines are always met. Staying organized is a must for managing projects!
• Hawk-eyed attention to detail – No errors get past you, and you do all that you can to ensure nothing slips through the cracks when it comes to quality control and reporting.
• Great Team Member – Team player who is able to work collaboratively and harmoniously within a team and across teams and is comfortable working virtually/asynchronously in a work environment. You will roll up your sleeves to help get the job done and no task is beneath you. You welcome feedback because you have a zest for learning and growing.

Position Type

This is a full-time, exempt position.

What We Offer

We embrace the current era of work and what it means to be a best-in-class employer. We understand the flexibility that is required to recruit and retain incredible talent, whether it’s empowering you to do your best work from the comfort of your home or supporting you if you need to take a mental health day for self-care and rest. Below is a unique blend of benefits tailored to meeting the ever-changing professional landscape.

• Flexible/remote working environment with optional usage of our great office in Playa Vista. We expect some in person work at the office for training purposes but down the line after onboarding is complete there will be flexibility around using the office.
• 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
• 401K with company match
• Generous 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 $100-150k Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and location.

Salary : $100,000 - $150,000