Research Manager

Darwin Research Group is seeking an operations-minded, people-focused Research Manager to lead and mentor a team to produce high-quality, actionable intelligence on U.S. organized systems of care. The Research Manager reports to the Research Director, working with substantial independence as the day-to-day operational anchor: managing people, optimizing workflows, maintaining standards, and continuously improving the production of intelligence outputs.As a hands-on leader, you will thrive at the intersection of people management, research excellence, and content quality. You do not need to arrive as a health care expert. However, you must bring the motivation, intellectual curiosity, and learning aptitude required to quickly establish content knowledge and credibility and build deeper expertise over time. The position is located in our Scottsdale office.Key ResponsibilitiesTeam Leadership & Supervision Mentor and manage a team of 12-15 early-career researchers responsible for producing the company’s research and intelligence for life sciences clientsManage day-to-day personnel requirements, conduct performance reviews, deliver coaching sessions, and lead career development planning for the teamIdentify, develop, and promote growth of high-potential team members toward advanced research analyst and consultant rolesLead hiring, onboarding, and training of new research team membersFoster a culture of accountability, quality, and continuous developmentProduction & Operations Management Own the end-to-end workflow and deadlines for project workBalance workloads across the team, optimizing for capacity, skill development, and deadlinesWork closely with the Operations team, the owner of our internal systems, research applications, and client delivery processes, to ensure production and workflow changes are properly reflected in systems and processesDevelop and monitor performance metrics (KPIs) for throughput and quality, providing the Director with data-driven staffing recommendationsDrive our in-house panel development, and the research interview and survey processes that provide valuable insights for our projects and intelligence platformContent Quality & Subject Mastery Develop deep knowledge of our report content, research methodologies, and quality standardsReview work to ensure it defines commercial impact and recommendations for our clientsTrain researchers to go beyond data to solve for structural variables and institutional logic that govern market access in organized systems of careEnsure qualitative and quantitative insights are accurately incorporated into our research and intelligence; maintain high standards for analyses, annotation, and incorporation into our workMaintain awareness and understanding of relevant healthcare industry trends to build credibility as a leader who can provide meaningful content and analytical feedbackCollaborate with editorial staff and peer reviewers on language, style, and delivery format decisionsStrategic Support & Product Input Over time, grow to support the Director’s strategy, client, and commercialization effortsBring a “product manager” mindset to research and intelligence production: what do our clients need, what’s working, what’s not, what needs to changeIdentify holes, gaps, or opportunities to improve the research and intelligence offeringsSupport bespoke research projects when appropriate (especially after year one)What Success Looks LikeResearch production is smooth and consistent, with met deadlines and top-quality outputAssigned researchers understand expectations, grow in capability over time, and see a career development pathWorkflows are clear, efficient, and proactively managedThe Research Director spends more time on strategic work, not supervising daily research operationsYou quickly become a credible voice in discussions about improving research content and structureQualificationsRequired5–8 years of professional experience, including at least 2 years in team leadership, with direct experience coaching or supervising othersExperience with qualitative and quantitative research methodsResearch operations and/or project management experienceProven ability to manage workflows, prioritize competing demands, and optimize team productivityHigh emotional intelligence, strong organizational skills, and exceptional attention to detailDemonstrated learning agility, with the ability to rapidly understand new industries, concepts, and approachesExcellent written and verbal communication skillsComfort with ambiguity, change, and the ability to make sound, independent decisionsStrongly PreferredExperience in health care, life sciences, or related scientific field (deep expertise not required)Experience with standardized content products, syndicated reports, or recurring publication cyclesTrack record of significant, large-scale process improvement and change managementBachelor’s degree in business, communications, social sciences, or related fieldWho Thrives in This RoleYou're energized by leading teams, navigating growth, and keeping things running smoothly. You seek signals and can cut through the noise of a high-volume research department to ensure deliverables identify access levers for our partners. You're equally comfortable having a coaching conversation with a struggling team member or building a capacity-planning spreadsheet. You can credibly assess the quality of work, even in areas where you're not the official expert. You prefer to solve problems yourself rather than escalate everything up the chain, but you know when to involve your boss. About DarwinSince 2010, Darwin Research Group has transformed complex health care data into actionable commercial intelligence. While traditional providers focus on the "what" and "why," we reveal the "so what", the direct commercial impact of institutional shifts on your business. Using proprietary panels and market access frameworks, we map the levers that govern complex, organized systems of care, from integrated delivery networks and academic medical centers to cancer networks and federal systems.Trusted by 16 of the top 20 global pharmaceutical innovators, we translate insights from nearly 600 U.S. systems into the "Now What." We equip life sciences teams to align with integrated care delivery, accelerating commercialization success and securing a sustainable market advantage.