Consumer Insights Research Manager, Product.

Overview

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest-circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin.

AARP’s Policy, Research and International Affairs leads the development and communication of AARP’s public policies and, research and insights on the issues that matter to people 50-plus.

The Consumer Research Insights Manager, Products conceptualizes, develops, and conducts primary and secondary research that informs product strategy, consumer experience, and organizational decision-making. This role generates actionable insights to identify consumer needs, evaluate opportunities, and guide product innovation throughout the development lifecycle. Working closely with cross-functional stakeholders, the manager helps shape product roadmaps, evaluate concepts and experiences, establish measurement frameworks and consumer feedback systems, and assess product performance through key metrics and analytics. The role also advances research capabilities through the use of emerging tools, including AI-enabled research solutions, while driving alignment across teams and delivering insights in a fast-paced, evolving environment characterized by change, ambiguity, and continuous innovation. In addition, the manager may assist with evaluating programs and business priorities to identify improvements and to measure outcomes, while identifying opportunities to streamline consumer insights processes and develop new procedures that support the business unit/department.

Responsibilities

• Advises clients, stakeholders, and senior management on all phases of research, including conceptualization, recommendations for research methodology, and recommendations for action from research findings. Manages complex and conflicting relationships among multiple stakeholders. Represents Association’s research to external audiences including the media, legislators, and other organizations in venues including press conferences and professional meetings.
• Manages and collaborates on a major research portfolio with broad Association impact and synthesizes the complex array of data into clear, actionable insights. Develops and manages the overall research plan for the portfolio of work including specific project work plans, project budgets, requests for proposals, vendor selection and management of vendor work. Oversees the work of staff assigned to projects within the portfolio and provides direction, feedback, and contributions to staff performance reviews.
• Conceptualizes and designs complex research projects, including with high-risk or innovative methodologies and highly constrained timelines and resources. Selects the most appropriate data sources and collection methods to maximize the value and utility of the research across the organization, with the goal of building and aggregating a base of knowledge around key issues. Oversees vendors or supervises other staff who implement the data collection plan.
• Determine strategies for data analysis. Conducts and/or supervises data analyses including bivariate analysis, multivariate analysis, and other complex statistical techniques as required. Advises other research staff on statistical and data analytic issues.
• Communicates research findings, often from complex studies or from a program of research, by integrating related research and identifying implications of the research for action by decision-makers. Determines methods to communicate research results and work closely with others to develop clear, impactful deliverables for stakeholders including data visualization and graphics. Responds effectively to complex and challenging requests for clarification and elaboration of research results.
• Serves as an expert resource and is often responsible for work with high visibility and critical outcomes. Plays a leadership role in managing knowledge resources by actively sharing knowledge, collaborating with others, synthesizing research to provide integration and context, and ensuring the maintenance of up-to-date research records that are accessible by others. Stays abreast of key news, policies, and consumer trends related to assigned core issue areas and research portfolio and applies that knowledge to proactively frame future research.
• Develops capacity by coaching and mentoring junior staff, participating in efforts to redesign workflow and systems, and providing peer review and technical assistance to other researchers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social science or marketing and a minimum of 5 years of experience in conducting applied research, including product, customer, or digital experience initiatives to inform business, consumer, and product decisions.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and conducting both primary and secondary research to gather relevant data and generate insights utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
• Ability to analyze and translate complex research findings into actionable insights and recommendations that inform and drive product strategy, innovation, consumer experience improvements, and business decision-making.
• Excellent consultation, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence decisions and build alignment across functional teams.

Preferred:

• Advanced degree in social science, policy, or psychology.
• Experience supporting product innovation, concept development, digital products, mobile applications, customer/member experiences, or human-centered design processes, including usability testing.
• Experience working in agile product development environments and leveraging advanced analytics, AI-enabled research tools, customer feedback systems, and measurement frameworks to evaluate product performance and user outcomes.
• Strong background in both quantitative and qualitative research methods and data analysis (including data analysis software such as SPSS).

AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position.

Additional Requirements

• Regular and reliable job attendance.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships.
• Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions.
• In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise.

AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position.

Hybrid Work Environment

AARP observes Mondays and Fridays as remote workdays, except for essential functions. Remote work can only be done within the United States and its territories.

Compensation and Benefits

AARP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including a 401(k); 100% company-funded pension plan; health, dental, and vision plans; life insurance; paid time off to include company and individual holidays, vacation, sick, caregiving, and parental leave; performance-based and peer-based recognition and tuition reimbursement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.