CLIENT SUMMARY

Our client is one of the world’s most trusted full-service market research firms, offering a comprehensive array of highly innovative, well integrated qualitative research, quantitative research and ideation services.  Their clients include many of the world’s most recognized global consumer, technology, healthcare, financial services, and entertainment brands.

JOB SUMMARY

The Qualitative Research Director (QRD) is responsible for overall research quality, as related to research design, moderating and reporting.  To ensure consistent high quality, the QRD is responsible for maintaining quality standards/procedures, training and supervising moderators to meet those standards, and guiding research design.  In addition, the QRD has client team leadership responsibilities.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Works as a leader on Client teams – Manages the client business overall and the moderators working on that business.

• Designs research and learning plans or works with lead senior moderator on the account.
• Identifies and communicates and develops appropriate moderators for the account.
• Actively seeks new opportunities and contacts.
• Provides ongoing consultation to the client team to develop the client’s research and business goals.
• Monitors client satisfaction and recommends and executes appropriate development within senior management.
• Works to integrate research capabilities for the client with other company divisions.

B.   Designs research and works as support/resource for client calls and proposal development.

• Fields inbound calls from prospective clients, presents  company capabilities, and converts leads into opportunities to provide project proposals
• Assesses research needs of prospective clients and assigns the work to appropriate moderator to develop the actual proposal
• Presents capabilities or represents company at client meetings as appropriate

C.   Supervises moderators to assess performance, refine skills, provide counsel on projects and assign projects.

• Works with Project Directors to assign appropriate moderators to projects and construct the optimal research design
• Reviews discussion guides and reports, and provides constructive feedback
• Counsels moderators throughout projects to ensure proper handling of client and research issues
• Meets annually with each moderator to review performance and update development plan; shares responsibility with each moderator for their progression
• Evaluates moderator performance on projects, using client feedback, tapes and internal feedback to assess skills
• Ensures assignment to projects and client teams is appropriate and provides information, tools and resources to set them up for success.
• Monitors workload to appropriate level.

IDEAL CANDIDATES’ QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Eight or more years in a role working extensively with qualitative market research (on client or supplier side) with global businesses and brands
• Strong consumer marketing expertise as a research manager, brand manager, marketing director, or senior ad agency/design firm client service manager
• Industry experience in healthcare or consumer products
• Client service orientation and experience
• Success managing a team of five or more individuals
• Experience as a moderator
• Four year college degree

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

This is a critical role with a global leader in its field.