About the Role Skillz is looking for a Lead, Consumer & Player Research and Insights to build a deeper understanding of our players and bring their perspectives into critical business decisions. You will lead research across the player experience, translating player needs, motivations, and behaviors into actionable insights that inform product features, promotions, prize structures, and LiveOps. This is a highly cross-functional role that will help teams make more confident, player-centered decisions.
Responsibilities - Build and lead Skillz's Consumer and Player Research function, establishing clear intake, prioritization, research standards, and an accessible insights repository.
- Design and execute quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method research to uncover player motivations, pain points, churn drivers, and emerging experience risks.
- Establish a recurring Voice of the Player program, including pulse surveys, player panels, targeted outreach, and segmentation across key player groups.
- Partner with Product, LiveOps, Analytics, and VIP teams to validate changes to features, promotions, prize structures, and player economics before launch.
- Translate research findings into clear recommendations that influence roadmaps, player-retention strategies, and business decisions.
- Develop and manage a high-performing research team, setting clear expectations while coaching analysts toward independent execution.
Key Competencies - Expertise in consumer insights, player research, UX research, and mixed-method research design.
- Strong ability to translate player feedback and behavioral data into practical business recommendations.
- Strategic judgment and confidence influencing high-stakes decisions in a fast-moving environment.
- Cross-functional collaboration with Product, LiveOps, Analytics, Marketing, and customer-facing teams.
- Clear executive communication, research storytelling, and stakeholder management.
- Strong people leadership, coaching, prioritization, and operational discipline.
Experience - 7+ years of experience in consumer insights, player research, UX research, market research, or a related discipline.
- Experience building or scaling an insights function, research program, or Voice of the Customer/Player program.
- Demonstrated expertise across quantitative and qualitative methods, including surveys, interviews, segmentation, panels, and behavioral analysis.
- Track record of influencing product, retention, monetization, or customer-experience decisions through research.
- Experience managing and developing researchers or analysts.
- Gaming, mobile consumer technology, digital entertainment, marketplace, or other high-engagement product experience strongly preferred.
Total Starting Compensation including Base + Bonus + Equity: $160,000
Location: Onsite, Las Vegas, NV
