The Market Research Manager is responsible for helping the Company (in particular the Product Management group)  obtain the managerial information to make correct product, competitive, and pricing decisions while minimizing the risk of expensive incorrect decisions (risk aversion).  The information provided helps make certain that the products and services we create delivers the benefits that the customer wants in the manner expected (i.e., correct implementation of desired features).  The qualified candidate does this by compiling and summarizing secondary research and by directing primary quantitative and qualitative research.  The primary research would be conducted among our prospective customers, existing customers, competitor’s customers (and their customer base), sales, management, engineering, analyst and others in the form of round tables, discussion groups, focus groups, personal interviews, surveys, usability studies, etc. Results would be delivered in the form of reports and formal de-briefings. In addition, the qualified candidate would be responsible for managing the competitive research process and benchmarking efforts and will also manage other types of research such as customer satisfaction or brand research/studies.
 

Key Job Responsibilities include:

• Work with the Product Management Group to compile, evaluate, summarize and prioritize secondary research such as analyst reports, trade publications, competitive reviews, press coverage, etc.  Results would be organized within a department library and the Intranet to allow easy, quick access.
  
• Conduct qualitative research in the form of focus groups, discussion groups, round tables, and low volume personal interviews / one to one interviews.  In addition, usability studies would be conducted on our hardware products,  software products (ease of use, interface design, menu positioning, etc.), consumer products and product documentation.
  
• Conduct quantitative research in the form of statistically valid phone, mail and Internet (on-line) studies to help identify and prioritize customer preference.
  
• Collaborate and direct other research done by analyst, other divisions, groups and sectors, by trade publications, etc.
   

Knowledge & Skills

The ideal candidate has the following:

• At least 7 years of experience with research related to software/high tech and mechanical / electromechanical products (business to business products) as well as consumer equipments, sporting equipments and consumer products as a contributor and manager/director.
  
• Research agency consumer and business research experience.
  
• A bachelors or masters degree with an emphasis in statistics, math, economics or business—or exceptional real-world experience.
  
• Experience determining customer requirements (via quantitative and qualitative research, including focus groups, surveys (paper and Internet), roundtables, etc.). 
  
• Experience with hundreds of focus groups, tens of thousands/millions of surveys, dozens of roundtables and several software/hardware GUI usability studies
  
• An understanding of competitive analysis and benchmarking methodologies.
  
• Must know all methods of research methodology including statistical analysis with an understanding of achieving a high degree of confidence.
  
  
  
  • In particular specific experience with all of the following qualitative and quantitative research methods :
    
    
    
    • Review of secondary information
      
    • Focus groups and related techniques (brainstorming, etc.)
      
      
      
      • Specific experience as a Focus Group moderator
      
      
    • Interviews
      
    • Observations/ethnographic studies (in setting where product or service is actually used)
      
    • Surveys – mail, telephone, online
      
    • Usability studies
      
    • Field testing
      
    • Laboratory testing
      
    • Conjoint analysis
  
  
• The ability and track record of setting up all research systems from scratch

·         Management of the product management/product marketing research budget including research and research related activities.

• The willingness and adaptability to work in a high-speed organization.
  
• Works well with product management, customers, alliances, sales, engineering and management.
  
• A highly credible personality.

Other Areas:

·         Relationship management

·         Excellent writing and presentation skills

·         Excellent English language (written and oral) skills

Required Travel: 20% to 40%