Strategic Research Lead

About Fuel Cycle:

Fuel Cycle empowers leading organizations with agile research solutions that deliver decision-ready insights — fast, flexible, and fully integrated. As a market research disruptor, our AI-powered Insights Platform is built for speed, precision, and scale. With cutting-edge tools and seamless audience connectivity, we help brands ditch the guesswork and make smarter, customer-led decisions at lightning speed.

Why work at Fuel Cycle?

Join a high-growth team where curiosity is valued, ownership is encouraged, and your work drives real-world impact. Whether you’re based at our Los Angeles HQ, New York City hub, working remotely across the U.S., or part of our global team in India, you’ll help shape the future of decision intelligence for some of the world’s most iconic brands.

Overview: 

Fuel Cycle is currently seeking a Strategic Research Lead to join our team and strengthen our partnerships with existing market research clients.  

Your primary responsibility as Strategic Research Lead will be to act as the primary point of contact to our customers for research, handling complex conversations/communications around research project design and analysis, acting as a trusted advisor for strategic research decision making for the customers in your book of business to ensure successful renewals, and operational excellence.  

Location: New York, NY

Work Arrangement: This is an onsite role requiring five days per week in the office.

Key Responsibilities: 

Market Research, Project Management & Insight Delivery  

• Act as a strategic research advisor/consultant and research subject matter expert to your clients, sharing recommendations on best practices and offering thoughtful considerations and suggestions.   

• Transform business questions into strategic research plans, that produce insights for your clients which empower them to make data driven business decisions.  

• Analyze data and craft insightful narratives that address market objectives and business goals in a clear, concise, and visually engaging format.  

Client Relationship Management and Advisory

• Own the account relationship and serve as the primary market research point of contact for your assigned clients, facilitating complex conversations and communications related to project design, analysis, and unexpected challenges.   

• Foster and develop strong research relationships with your clients, cultivating them into advocates for Fuel Cycle.  

• Gain a deep understanding of the customer journey and proactively address points of concern or feedback, including usage, satisfaction, and engagement.  

• Ensure client satisfaction by delivering high-quality market insights and managing client expectations.  

• Identify opportunities to expand client relationships through upsell and cross-sell initiatives.  

Project Scope & Pricing   

• Develop market research project proposals, allocate research hours within budget constraints, and oversee project outcomes by assigning tasks to internal staff, contractors, or personal involvement. Translate business inquiries into comprehensive market research plans, utilizing our internal platform to design and program research instruments.  

• Renewal & Expansion Support  

Quality Assurance, Client Satisfaction and Deliverable Management

• Execute tasks with meticulous attention to detail to produce market research deliverables of exceptional quality and accuracy. Ensure data accuracy and its alignment with market objectives at every stage of the project to maintain both internal consistency and face validity, through management and oversight of internal teams.  

• Lead and ensure data accuracy and quality of market research deliverables with relevance to objectives to ensure the data is both internally consistent and demonstrates face validity.  

• Maintain high standards of data integrity and reporting accuracy.  

• Assume responsibility for project quality, gross margin, and contract compliance.  

Travel Requirement: Up to 25% travel expected for client meetings, team collaboration, and industry events.

Your Success Metrics: 

• Client satisfaction ratings. CSAT / NPS  

• Client Assigned Project Margins  

• Utilization of Billable hours  

Who you’ll work with? 

• Clients, Account Directors, Research Excellence, Audience Experience 

Core Skills, Competencies & Attributes: 

• Market Research Expertise: Extensive knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.  

• Client Relationship Management: Strong interpersonal skills to foster client relationships and address their needs. 

• Project Management: Experience in managing research projects from proposal to delivery, including budgeting and task delegation. 

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to translate business questions into actionable research plans.  

• Data Analysis: Proficiency in analyzing data and crafting insightful narratives to address business objectives. 

• Technical Skills: Familiarity with market research software tools such as SPSS, SAS, Qualtrics, SurveyGizmo, SurveyMonkey, R, and Tableau. 

• Organizational Skills: Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively. 

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for client interactions and report writing. 

• Problem-Solving: Ability to address challenges and provide innovative solutions during research projects. 

• Team Collaboration: Capability to work independently and collaborate effectively within a research team. 

What you’ll bring:

• Minimum 7 years of custom market research experience.  

• Minimum 5 years of client-facing research consultation experience.  

• Prior success managing portfolio of clients; $500k - $1.5M of research volume. 

• Proficiency in market research software and Microsoft Office Suite.  

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.  

• Proficiency in SPSS, SAS, Qualtrics, SurveyGizmo, SurveyMonkey, R, Tableau, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.  

• Self-motivated, flexible, and organized.  

• Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills.  

• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.  

Benefits & Perks:

Fuel Cycle is committed to supporting the well-being, flexibility, and growth of our team. We offer a competitive and inclusive benefits package that includes:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans

• 401(k) with Company Match: Plan for your future with our retirement savings program

• Equity Purchase Option: Participate in Fuel Cycle’s long-term success

• Flexible Work Schedule: Empowering you to balance life and work

• Generous Time Off:

  • 15 vacation days and 7 sick days per year

  • 12 company holidays

  • 4 floating holidays/recharge days to rest or celebrate what matters to you

• Paid Parental Leave: Time to bond with your growing family

• Monthly Internet & Phone Stipend: Support for remote work setup

• Wellness & Lifestyle Perks: Access to tools like Rightway (healthcare navigation), Headspace (mental wellness), Peloton (fitness), and more

• Team Connection Perks:

  • Weekly community lunches, refreshments, and snacks at our LA & NY headquarters

  • Pet-friendly office environments

Compensation Overview:

The expected starting salary range for this position is $90,000 - $115,000. This range represents the typical starting compensation offered to candidates hired into this role. Final base salary will be determined based on a variety of factors, including location, work experience, skills, knowledge, education, and certifications.

In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for a discretionary bonus with a target of 8% of base salary. Actual bonus amounts, if any, are determined at the company’s sole discretion and may vary based on individual performance, company performance, and market conditions. This role may also be eligible for an equity grant or purchase option. These components make up your total compensation package, which will be reviewed in greater detail during your initial recruiter conversation.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Equal Opportunity:

At Fuel Cycle, we embrace the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion and are committed to fostering an inclusive company culture. We believe that everyone, regardless of their background or identity, should have equal access to opportunities for growth and advancement. Our selection processes and career pathways are designed to be fair, transparent, and free from bias. We value the unique perspectives and contributions of each team member, knowing that this diverse range of experiences strengthens our team. Fuel Cycle stands firmly against discrimination based on disability, sex, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, or any other protected status under the law.

Fuel Cycle is an equal opportunity employer and fully comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, as needed, to enable them to perform the essential functions of their job and participate in the application and interview process. If you require accommodations during any part of the application process, please contact us at [email protected] to discuss your needs.

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