Senior Manager, Ecosystem Research

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 three core values:

• Continuously learn.
• Act with intention.
• 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 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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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…