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About the role

Market Research at Thumbtack partners closely with marketing and product teams to serve as an advocate for our customers and pros. As a senior, genuinely mixed-methods researcher, you'll scope and run both qualitative and quantitative studies end to end — from brand, positioning, and message testing to strategic segmentation and product discovery — and turn them into insights that shape marketing strategy and key product decisions. You'll do this with a high degree of independence in a fast-paced environment, and you'll use AI fluently to work faster and at greater scale.

What you’ll do

Research Planning & Execution: Independently scope and run mixed-method studies end to end — including surveys you design, program, field, weight, and analyze yourself — ranging from strategic, exploratory work to tactical tests.
Marketing & Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner closely with marketing, brand, product, design, and data science to identify high-impact research opportunities, and influence decisions.
AI-Accelerated Research: Use AI tools across the research lifecycle (synthesis, analysis, instrument and guide drafting, reporting) to work faster and at scale, while critically evaluating AI outputs for accuracy and bias.
Synthesize & Share Insights: Turn qualitative and quantitative data into compelling, trustworthy stories through reports and presentations that influence direction at all levels of the company.
Methodology Selection: Choose the right method (or combination) for the problem — surveys, segmentation, brand and message testing, in-depth interviews, diary studies, unmoderated testing, and more.
User & Market Advocacy: Champion the needs of pros and customers, and bring an outside-in market and competitive perspective to how we position and communicate.

In order to be successful, you must bring

10+ years of market research experience in fast-paced, consumer-facing organizations, with a track record of senior, staff-level independent impact.
Genuinely mixed-methods and hands-on with quant: you personally run surveys end to end — design, programming, fielding, weighting, and analysis — and bring a strong qualitative toolkit (e.g., in-depth interviews, focus groups, diary studies, unmoderated testing).
Deep expertise in survey design and analysis, segmentation, weighting and response effects, competitive analysis, and large-scale quantitative data, plus positioning, message testing, value proposition, and brand/advertising research.
High AI fluency: hands-on use of AI to accelerate and scale research, paired with the judgment to evaluate outputs critically and apply them responsibly.
Highly independent and influential: self-directed in scoping and driving studies to decisions with minimal oversight, with a track record of moving marketing and product decisions through research — including with skeptical stakeholders.
Proficiency with research tools (e.g., Qualtrics, dScout) and data analysis tools (e.g., SPSS, R, Python), and a strong grasp of when to apply qualitative vs. quantitative methods.
Degree in a human-behavior-related field (e.g., Market Research, Business, HCI, Economics, Psychology) or equivalent practical experience (MA/MS/PhD preferred), with excellent communication, influence, and collaboration skills.

Expected salary ranges

For candidates living in San Francisco / Bay Area, San Jose, New York City, or Seattle metros, the expected salary range for the role is currently $227,800.00 - $294,800.00.
For candidates living in Austin, TX or Washington DC metros or in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, or Washington states, the expected salary range for the role is currently $204,900.00 - $265,100.00.
For candidates living in all other US locations, the expected salary range for this role is currently $193,800.00 - $250,800.00.

Actual offered salaries will vary and will be based on various factors, such as calibrated job level, qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role.

Thumbtack embraces diversity. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, state, or local law. We also will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, consistent with applicable law.

Thumbtack is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation for a medical condition or disability during any part of the application process, please contact: recruitingops@thumbtack.com.

If you are a California resident, please review information regarding your rights under California privacy laws contained in Thumbtack’s Privacy policy available at https://www.thumbtack.com/privacy/.

We put as much craftsmanship into candidate safety as we do into the hiring experience itself. While scammers may try to impersonate our team, we’ll never ask you for money, banking info, or SSNs during hiring. Check out our blueprint on how to spot the fakes.