Research & Development Specialist

Gamer's Choice is a dynamic and passionate retailer specializing in Trading Card Games (TCGs) and collectibles, based in Long Island City, Queens, New York. Established initially as a small local shop, Gamer's Choice has rapidly grown into a premier destination for players and collectors worldwide. The company fosters a vibrant community through both its engaging online presence and its bustling physical store, which serves as a hub for tournaments, events, and social gatherings. With a deep foundation in Yu-Gi-Oh!, Gamer's Choice continues to expand its portfolio by embracing popular new titles like Pokémon, One Piece, Riftbound League of Legends, and Disney Lorcana, appealing to a diverse and growing fanbase.

The company prides itself on combining innovation with community spirit, offering a space where enthusiasts can come together to share their passion for gaming, compete, and celebrate their favorite games. Their commitment to providing excellent customer experiences, coupled with a forward-thinking approach to e-commerce and live commerce opportunities, positions Gamer's Choice as a leader in the TCG retail market.

The role of Research & Development Specialist at Gamer's Choice is a full-time, salaried, exempt position that offers a competitive annual salary ranging from $65,000 to $85,000, depending on experience. This role is vital to the company’s growth strategy and involves close collaboration with executive leadership. The Specialist will be tasked with owning the pipeline of new revenue opportunities across various platforms including livestream, e-commerce, retail, and emerging digital channels.

In this high-visibility role, the individual will conduct market and competitive intelligence to uncover actionable insights within the TCG and live commerce sectors. They will translate these insights into detailed business cases, evaluating market potential, financial feasibility, operational impact, and risk to present clear recommendations for go or no-go decisions to leadership. The role requires cross-functional collaboration, engaging teams in streaming, fulfillment, marketing, retail, and operations to ensure proposed initiatives are realistic and ready for execution.

Key responsibilities include maintaining performance tracking and conducting post-mortems for launched projects to determine successes, challenges, and future improvements. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and be comfortable with rapid iteration from concept to market testing. Working with data analytics and AI tools for research and synthesis will be essential for effective decision-making.

Within the first year, the Research & Development Specialist is expected to become thoroughly familiar with Gamer's Choice’s operations, develop a competitive landscape overview, and advance multiple initiatives from ideation to scaled deployment that materially impact revenue or profitability. The role demands strong strategic thinking, excellent communication skills, and the ability to deliver timely, actionable insights that shape the company's strategic direction. This position reports directly to the Chief of Staff and works on-site in Long Island City, fostering a close connection to the company’s core community and operations.