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Senior Research Manager

New York, NY

About Understood

Understood is a nonprofit focused on shaping the world for difference. We raise awareness of the challenges and strengths of people who learn and think differently. Our resources help people navigate challenges, gain confidence, and find support and community so they can thrive. 

Having a shared commitment to our values is a key factor in any hire we make. We have five core values: 

  1. Continuously learn.
  2. Act with intention.
  3. Champion difference.
  4. Inspire change.
  5. Grow together. 

Come be part of an organization with an entrepreneurial spirit that’s helping to shape the world for difference. Together, we can build a world where everyone can reach their full potential. 

To learn more about Understood, please visit: www.understood.org.

Who you are 

To advance Understood’s mission and to further our impact, we’re hiring a Senior Manager, Strategic Ecosystem Research, reporting to the Associate Director, Ecosystem Research.

The Ecosystem Research team provides the external research and market perspective we need to ensure our evolution into a behavior-change organization is grounded in credible evidence. In this role, you translate complex market intelligence and scholarly research into clear, actionable recommendations for executive decision-makers. You are a curious strategic researcher who can independently lead high-impact secondary research from concept to completion, while also collaborating effectively with junior and senior colleagues.You bring together insight into social impact and market trends with a strategic approach to address pressing societal issues. You skillfully connect precise research details to big-picture strategy.

This is a hybrid role that requires a minimum of three (3) days a week in our NYC office, with a focus on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

What you’ll do

Lead secondary research projects

  • Independently define research questions, choose methods, and manage timelines.
  • Conduct secondary research across competitive landscapes, industry trends, and academic literature (roughly 70% market/competitive, 30% evidence review).
  • Synthesize findings into clear insights and recommendations for internal partners, including senior leadership.
  • Analyze competitors, adjacent organizations, and broader industry trends.
  • Identify emerging opportunities, threats, gaps, and shifts across education, tech, health, and mental health.

Support and collaborate with others

  • Provide informal guidance to junior team members on research plans, analysis, and synthesis.
  • Work closely with Product, Content, Partnerships, ESD and other teams to ensure research informs key decisions and strategic planning.
  • Occasionally develop thought leadership pieces, authoring published briefs and external reports, positioning Understood as a key voice in the market.

Review scientific literature & support thought leadership

  • Analyze academic studies and grey literature to identify evidence-based practices that inform internal and external strategy.
  • Occasionally write external briefs or reports that help position Understood as a credible voice in our field.

Must-haves 

  • Experience: 3–5 years of applied research, strategy, or market intelligence experience in a dynamic professional setting.
  • Research Expertise: Demonstrated career experience conducting secondary desk-research and analysis, preferably within a think tank, research institution (e.g., Pew Research, Cochrane), or a dedicated strategy/research function.
  • Business Acumen: Strong working knowledge of the for-profit landscape across industries relevant to Understood (education, tech, health, and mental health).
  • Critical Thinking: Proven ability to frame ambiguous questions into structured research plans and distill many sources of information into powerful, high-impact insights.
  • Collaboration: Proven ability to build consensus and drive projects forward with colleagues across the organization.
  • DEIB Stewardship: Committed to embodying and being a steward of our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Nice-to-haves

  • AI Fluency: Comfort and demonstrable experience utilizing AI tools (e.g., LLMs) to streamline research, build efficiency, and automate data, while maintaining a critical awareness of their limitations and applying established methods for accuracy checking.
  • Advanced Degree: A Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Public Health, Library Science, Data Science, Strategy).
  • Presentation Skills: Strong visual presentation design skills to effectively communicate complex data and insights.
  • You have a 'think-on-the-spot' mentality and are open to adapting and improving research processes to meet evolving needs.
  • Experience developing ways to build repositories that sort and categorize knowledge.

The base salary range for this role is minimum $115,000 - $130,000 maximum, depending on years of experience and qualifications. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that supports wellness for our team members and their families. You can learn more about our benefits and offerings.

Understood.org does not sponsor applicants for work visas or legal permanent residence, including providing assistance with OPT extensions.

Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Understood encourages individuals of all learning styles and ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds, including those whose life experiences may include the challenge of access due to a disability, to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to supporting this work.

Understood is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, alienage or citizenship status, marital or familial status, domestic partnership status, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, change of sex or transgender status, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, physical or mental disability (where the applicant or employee is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation), any protected military or veteran status, or status as a victim of domestic or dating violence, sexual assault or offense, stalking, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local law or that of persons with whom that individual associates, or any other legally protected characteristics.

For additional information on learning and thinking differences, including ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, executive function challenges, nonverbal learning disabilities, processing issues, and more, please visit www.understood.org.

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