Research Manager (Healthcare)

Darwin Research Group is seeking an operations-minded, people-focused Research Manager to lead our research team and ensure efficient, high-quality production of our flagship product: a library of syndicated profiles analyzing the most important hospital systems, cancer treatment centers, and physician groups in the United States, as well as other company research offerings.In this role, you will report to the Research Director. You will be the operational anchor, working with substantial independence to manage people, optimize workflows, maintain standards, and continuously improve how Darwin’s products are produced.This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of people management, production excellence, and content quality. You do not need to arrive as a health care expert. Yet, you must bring the intellectual curiosity, motivation, and learning aptitude required to thrive in a start-up environment, establish product knowledge and credibility quickly, and build deeper expertise over time.The position is located in our Scottsdale office.Key ResponsibilitiesTeam Leadership & Supervision Mentor and manage a team of 10-12 early-career researchers responsible for producing the company’s primary product and other research offeringsHandle day-to-day personnel tasks, 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, integrity, quality, and continuous developmentProduction & Operations Management Own the end-to-end workflow and deadlines for research product productionBalance 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 systemsTrack throughput and quality, identify and resolve bottlenecks, and make resource allocation/staffing recommendations to the DirectorDrive the general research interview process that provides valuable insights for the syndicated profiles and other Darwin product offeringsContent Quality & Subject Mastery Develop deep knowledge of our profile and research report content, research methodologies, and quality standardsReview work for completeness, consistency, and proper response to editorial feedbackEnsure interview insights are accurately incorporated into each report; maintain high standards for interview analysis, annotation, and incorporation into research reportsMaintain awareness of relevant healthcare industry trends to build credibility as a leader who can provide meaningful content, analytical feedback, and report offering recommendationsCollaborate with editorial staff and peer reviewers on language, style, and layout decisionsStrategic Support & Product Input Over time, grow to support the Director’s strategy, client, and commercialization effortsBring a “product manager” mindset to Darwin report offerings: what do our clients need, what’s working, what’s not, what needs to change?Identify holes, gaps, or opportunities to improve product offeringsSupport custom research projects and client engagements when appropriate (especially after year one)What Success Looks LikeProduct 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 pathCareer paths and workflows are clear, efficient, and proactively managedThe Research Director spends more time on strategic work, not supervising daily production operationsYou quickly become a credible voice in discussions about improving research and product content and offerings, quality, and structureQualificationsRequired5–8 years of professional experience, including at least 2 years in a formal team leadership, operations, or project management roleProven track record in managing workflows, prioritizing competing demands, and optimizing team productivity in a fast-paced environmentDemonstrated ability to mentor early-career professionals, deliver constructive performance feedback, and design clear career progression pathsStrong organizational skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to make sound, independent decisionsAbility to rapidly understand new industries, concepts, and research methodologiesExcellent written and verbal communication skills with the high emotional intelligence needed to navigate a growing startup environmentExperience in healthcare and/or life sciences (deep expertise not required)Comfort with ambiguity, shifting priorities, and evolving product requirementsStrongly PreferredDirect experience in research operations, publishing, or content creationExperience with standardized content products, syndicated reports, or recurring publication cyclesExperience working in a start-up environmentTrack record of significant, large-scale process improvementBachelor’s degree in business, communications, social sciences, or related fieldWho Thrives in This RoleYou're energized by making things run smoothly. You like building systems, solving workflow puzzles, and creating order out of chaos. 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. You enjoy coaching and managing a team and working in an evolving environment.