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- Tasks: Lead research operations, manage projects, and ensure excellence in client delivery.
- Company: Focaldata is a tech-enabled research agency transforming insights with AI for impactful organisations.
- Benefits: Join a collaborative team, enjoy diverse work, and contribute to meaningful projects.
- Why this job: Shape the future of research while working with top brands and non-profits.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in research ops, strong leadership skills, and a passion for innovation.
- Other info: Focaldata values diversity and encourages all applicants to apply.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.
About us
We at Focaldata are on a mission to close the understanding gap between what organisations believe about people and reality. By leveraging AI, we provide deeper, more accurate insights at a fraction of the cost and time of traditional methods. We have built an amazing team of research industry experts and great engineers to reimagine what is possible in research. We do impactful work with amazing organisations ranging from well-known brands to life-changing non-profits. Join us!
About the role
We're looking for an Associate Director of Research Operations to supercharge our research delivery engine. You'll play a critical role in shaping the team, evolving our delivery model, and ensuring excellence and consistency across every client touchpoint. This is a senior role that blends operational leadership, hands-on project management, and strategic account growth.
What you'll do
- Build a World-Class Research Ops Function. Own the end-to-end research delivery workflow - from brief through proposal, delivery, and wrap-up. You'll refine processes and set the pace for excellence.
- Resource Planning at Speed and Scale. Lead monthly, quarterly and annual planning to ensure we have the right people in the right roles at the right time - balancing demand, capacity, and growth.
- Grow an Outstanding Team. Drive hiring pipelines and lead performance management and development for our research team. You'll mentor junior staff and instill a strong standard for training and development.
- Own High-Value Projects and Accounts. Take the reins on high-priority, high-impact client projects and own a set of key accounts - delivering excellence and building long-term relationships.
- Drive Operational Excellence. Spot bottlenecks before they happen. Redesign workflows where needed. You'll bring first-principles thinking, curiosity, and a strong sense of ownership to build systems that scale.
Who you are
- Experienced in Research Ops and Delivery. You have 5+ years of experience as a quant or mixed-methods researcher - over 90% of our projects are quant. You've led teams and owned complex research workflows, whether agency- or client-side. You understand the mechanics of good research delivery and know how to scale quality.
- A Natural Operator. You bring energy, urgency, and grip to everything you do. You thrive in a fast-paced environment and know how to make things happen - without waiting for a playbook.
- A Builder, Not a Borrower. You're not here to copy-paste best practice from elsewhere. You think in first principles, test ideas quickly, and design systems that work for Focaldata, our team and our tech.
- Strong on People and Process. You're outstanding at managing people, developing talent, and driving performance - while also building the processes and systems they need to thrive.
- High Standards, High Output. You hold a high bar for quality - in delivery, in hiring, in training - and you move fast without compromising standards.
About Focaldata
At Focaldata, we're building a new kind of tech-enabled research agency - that offers clients deep insight at the speed of software. You'll get the opportunity to work alongside a highly collaborative team of researchers, client leads, engineers, data scientists and product specialists. We do impactful work with leading organisations, from brands like New Balance to campaign groups like Hope not Hate and non-profits like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Join us.
Focaldata is an equal opportunities employer. We believe in the value of a diverse and inclusive workforce for our business, team and customers. We encourage all applications regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage, pregnancy, maternity, race or nationality, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We also understand that certain groups may not feel empowered to apply unless they match every single requirement. Please do apply even if you don't match 100% of every single requirement!
Contact Detail:
Focaldata Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director (Research Ops) (London)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in research operations and delivery. Understanding the current landscape will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to staying ahead in the field.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the research ops community. Attend relevant events or webinars, and connect with people on platforms like LinkedIn. This can provide insights into the role and may even lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've improved processes or led teams in previous roles. Highlighting your hands-on experience will show that you have the operational leadership skills they are looking for.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Focaldata's projects and clients to understand their mission and values. Tailoring your conversation to align with their goals will demonstrate your genuine interest in the company and the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director (Research Ops) (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in Research Operations and project management. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead teams and manage complex workflows, as these are key aspects of the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for research and operational excellence. Mention how your background aligns with Focaldata's mission and values, and provide examples of how you've driven performance and built effective teams in previous roles.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Emphasise your experience in mentoring and developing talent within your team. Highlight any specific instances where you have successfully led a team through challenges or implemented new processes that improved efficiency.
Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities: Include examples in your application that showcase your first-principles thinking and ability to redesign workflows. This will illustrate your proactive approach to spotting bottlenecks and driving operational excellence.
How to prepare for a job interview at Focaldata
✨Understand the Role Inside Out
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of the Associate Director of Research Operations. Familiarise yourself with the key tasks such as managing research workflows, resource planning, and driving operational excellence. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As this is a senior role, be prepared to discuss your leadership style and experiences. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully led teams, mentored junior staff, or driven performance improvements. This will demonstrate your capability to grow an outstanding team.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities
Focaldata values first-principles thinking and the ability to spot bottlenecks before they happen. Prepare to discuss past challenges you've faced in research operations and how you approached solving them. This will show your proactive mindset and operational expertise.
✨Align with Their Mission
Familiarise yourself with Focaldata's mission to close the understanding gap between organisations and reality. Be ready to discuss how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their impactful work with various organisations. This will show your genuine interest in the company.
