Mgr - Strategic Market Research

Our team members are at the heart of everything we do. At Cencora, we are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures, and every person here is essential to us being able to deliver on that purpose. If you want to make a difference at the center of health, come join our innovative company and help us improve the lives of people and animals everywhere. Apply today! Job Details Job Profile Summary Manager - Market Research (Strategic Market Assessments) will lead complex, multi‑workstream market research and analytics engagements that support enterprise strategy, growth initiatives, and leadership decision‑making across Cencora’s global businesses . This role combines strong market research leadership with hands‑on data and analytics fluency , including SQL, Databricks, advanced Excel and Powerpoint , to ensure analytical rigor, scalability, and consistency of insights. The Manager must possess solid working knowledge of clinical trials, pharmaceutical pipelines, and therapy landscapes , enabling effective oversight, hypothesis framing, and quality review. The role is highly stakeholder‑facing and requires the ability to translate ambiguous business questions into structured research programs and executive‑ready outputs . Primary Duties and Responsibilities Team Leadership & Delivery Oversight Lead, mentor, and performance‑manage a team of Senior Research Analysts and Research Analysts , ensuring high standards of analytical quality, storytelling, and on‑time delivery. Review and guide analytical approaches across market sizing, forecasting, competitive intelligence, pipeline assessments, and value‑chain analyses. Foster a culture of analytical rigor, learning, and continuous improvement , particularly around data usage and reproducibility. Strategic Research & Problem Structuring Translate senior leadership and business stakeholder questions into structured research programs covering market dynamics, competition, growth opportunities, and strategic risks. Guide the design and execution of secondary research and, where applicable, primary research , ensuring methodological soundness and appropriate triangulation. Provide informed oversight on analyses involving clinical pipelines, trial progression, and therapy area evolution , without requiring day‑to‑day clinical deep dives. Data, Analytics & Technology Enablement Drive increased use of data‑driven approaches across the team, including: Advanced Excel‑based models SQL‑driven data extraction and validation Working knowledge of Databricks or similar analytics platforms for scalable data analysis Ensure consistency in data definitions, taxonomies, assumptions, and documentation across projects. Oversee development of repeatable analytical frameworks, reusable datasets, and BI‑enabled outputs where relevant. Stakeholder & Cross‑Functional Collaboration Partner closely with Strategy, M&A, Therapeutic Area teams, Innovation, and other global functions to align research priorities with business needs. Own intake and workflow management for research requests from the Strategy Enablement Team (SET), including scope definition, prioritization, and resource planning. Act as a trusted thought partner to senior stakeholders, synthesizing complex findings into clear implications and recommendations. Knowledge & Thought Leadership Identify emerging trends, unmet information needs, and best practices across healthcare markets, analytics, and competitive intelligence. Contribute to the evolution of research frameworks, market taxonomies, and knowledge assets used across Strategic Market Assessments. Ensure all outputs meet high standards of documentation, narrative clarity, and executive‑level presentation . Experience, Skills, and Knowledge Requirements Experience Master’s degree in Business, Life Sciences, Economics, Public Health, or a related field. 9–12 years of relevant experience in market research, strategic insights, competitive intelligence, analytics, or consulting , with strong exposure to healthcare and/or pharmaceutical domains . Demonstrated experience managing mid‑sized research or analytics teams in a fast‑paced, matrixed environment. Experience working across multiple therapeutic areas, healthcare verticals, or value‑chain segments is strongly preferred. Market Research & Domain Knowledge Strong grounding in market research methodologies , including secondary research rigor, primary research design, and data triangulation. Working knowledge of pharmaceutical pipelines, clinical development stages, and therapy landscapes , sufficient to guide teams and challenge assumptions. Familiarity with leading healthcare and life sciences data sources such as IQVIA, Evaluate Pharma, Citeline, Definitive Healthcare, Symphony Health / Metys, IPD Analytics, public registries, PitchBook, and Capital IQ . Analytics & Tools Advanced Excel skills for market sizing, forecasting, and scenario analysis. Strong SQL proficiency for querying, validating, and integrating structured datasets. Working knowledge of Databricks or comparable analytics environments ; experience with Power BI or similar BI tools is a plus. Ability to guide teams toward scalable, well‑documented, and auditable analytical outputs. Communication & Leadership Excellent PowerPoint and executive storytelling skills , with a track record of delivering clear, decision‑ready insights. Strong stakeholder management capabilities, including comfort engaging with senior leaders. Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and delivery excellence. . EXPERIENCE AND MINIMUM SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS: Master’s degree in Business, Life Sciences, Economics, Public Health, or a related field. 8-12 years of relevant experience in market research, strategic insights, or consulting (healthcare/pharma domain preferred). Demonstrated experience managing mid-sized research or analytics teams in a fast-paced, matrixed environment. Strong understanding of forecasting methodologies and data triangulation approaches. Proficiency in secondary research and familiarity with primary research design. Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills; knowledge of Power BI or SQL is preferred. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with a track record of working with senior internal stakeholders. Experience in working across multiple therapeutic areas or healthcare verticals is a plus. Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and delivery excellence. What Cencora offers ​Benefit offerings outside the US may vary by country and will be aligned to local market practice. The eligibility and effective date may differ for some benefits and for team members covered under collective bargaining agreements. Full time Affiliated Companies Affiliated Companies: CENCORA BUSINESS SERVICES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED Equal Employment Opportunity Cencora is committed to providing equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or membership in any other class protected by federal, state or local law. The company’s continued success depends on the full and effective utilization of qualified individuals. Therefore, harassment is prohibited and all matters related to recruiting, training, compensation, benefits, promotions and transfers comply with equal opportunity principles and are non-discriminatory. Cencora is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the employment process which are consistent with legal requirements. If you wish to request an accommodation while seeking employment, please call 888.692.2272 or email . We will make accommodation determinations on a request-by-request basis. Messages and emails regarding anything other than accommodations requests will not be returned