The Associate Research Director is a strategic partner responsible for leading client relationships, shaping research-led business decisions, and driving commercial growth. This role goes beyond research execution, translating human understanding into actionable recommendations that influence senior stakeholders and organizational strategy.
The ideal candidate combines strong research expertise with commercial instinct, strategic thinking, and the ability to thrive in evolving, AI-enabled ways of working.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Client Leadership
- Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, building strong relationships with senior stakeholders.
- Lead strategic conversations that connect research findings to business objectives and decision-making.
- Challenge briefs constructively and identify opportunities to broaden project impact.
Research & Insight Leadership
- Design and oversee complex qualitative and quantitative research programs.
- Guide teams in synthesizing data into clear, compelling narratives and recommendations.
- Ensure insights are translated into actionable business implications rather than standalone reports.
Commercial Growth
- Identify opportunities to expand client relationships and generate new business.
- Collaborate on proposals, pitches, and thought leadership initiatives.
- Connect client challenges with organizational capabilities to drive revenue growth.
Team Leadership
- Mentor and develop researchers across different levels.
- Foster a culture of curiosity, innovation, and strategic thinking.
- Champion the adoption of AI-enabled tools and modern research methodologies.
Innovation & Future Ways of Working
- Leverage AI, automation, and emerging technologies to improve research effectiveness and efficiency.
- Experiment with new approaches to insight generation and storytelling.
- Stay ahead of market trends, consumer behavior shifts, and industry developments.
Candidate Profile
Required Experience
- 8-12+ years of market research, insights, consulting, or strategy experience.
- Proven experience managing senior client relationships.
- Strong qualitative and quantitative research expertise.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams.
Key Competencies
- Strategic thinking and business acumen.
- Strong commercial instinct.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to work effectively in ambiguity and changing environments.
- Exceptional storytelling and presentation capabilities.
- Curiosity-driven mindset with a passion for understanding people and behavior.
- Comfort using AI and technology to enhance work processes.
Success Measures
- Growth and retention of client accounts.
- Quality and strategic impact of delivered insights.
- Development and engagement of team members.
- Contribution to business growth and thought leadership.
- Adoption of innovative and AI-enabled research practices.
