This is your opportunity to take a leadership role at HarrisX, an exciting, fast‑growing, entrepreneurial Research and Analytics Consulting firm that delivers cutting‑edge insights on consumer behavior for top corporate, nonprofit, media, and political clients globally. Part of the Stagwell family of companies (NASDAQ STGW), HarrisX operates across the US, UK, Canada, and EMEA, combining rigorous methodology with strategic storytelling to shape decisions at the highest levels. We are scaling our London and European Custom Research practice and seeking a commercially astute, methodologically rigorous Associate Director to help lead it.
Responsibilities
Client Leadership and Account Management
- Serve as the senior research advisor on key accounts, owning client relationships at the director and VP level.
- Translate complex business challenges into clearly scoped research programs.
- Identify opportunities to deepen and expand client relationships, supporting retention and organic revenue growth.
- Lead client presentations and insight delivery sessions, translating technical findings into strategic recommendations.
- Act as a point of escalation for client concerns, ensuring satisfaction and trust across engagements.
Research Design and Execution
- Lead end‑to‑end design and delivery of complex custom quantitative studies, from proposal through final insight delivery.
- Oversee questionnaire design, sampling strategies, and analytical frameworks to ensure methodological rigor and actionable outputs.
- Direct advanced analysis techniques including segmentation, key driver analysis, regression, MaxDiff, conjoint, TURF, and predictive modeling.
- Supervise data quality control processes, ensuring deliverables meet the highest standards for accuracy, clarity, and strategic value.
- Evaluate and integrate AI‑assisted research tools, synthetic data methodologies, and emerging analytical approaches to improve speed and quality of insight delivery.
- Ensure compliance with GDPR, MRS Code of Conduct, and relevant data privacy regulations across all research activities.
Team Leadership and Development
- Manage, mentor, and develop a team of Research Managers and Associates, setting high standards for analytical rigor and professional growth.
- Provide structured training and coaching on quantitative methods, analytical storytelling, and executive‑level client communication.
- Conduct regular performance reviews and actively support career progression for direct reports.
- Collaborate with global research peers to share best practices, ensure cross‑market methodology consistency, and build a unified research culture.
Business Development and Thought Leadership
- Contribute to proposals, pitches, and RFP responses, including research design, pricing inputs, and capability positioning.
- Represent HarrisX at client events, industry forums, and conferences as a subject‑matter expert in quantitative research.
- Contribute to thought leadership content and white papers that strengthen HarrisX’s profile in the UK and EMEA market.
- Partner with senior leadership to develop new service offerings and refine existing methodologies.
Operations and Practice Development
- Oversee project budgeting and resource allocation across multiple concurrent engagements.
- Identify opportunities to improve workflow efficiency, reporting templates, and quality assurance processes.
- Monitor project profitability and flag risks to project delivery or margin early.
Technical Skills
- Advanced proficiency in survey design and quantitative analytical techniques including segmentation, regression, MaxDiff, conjoint, TURF, and brand tracking.
- Proficiency in at least one statistical or analytical software package such as SPSS, R, Python, Displayr, or equivalent.
- Strong working knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint for analysis and client‑ready deliverable production.
- Familiarity with data visualization platforms (e.g., Flourish, Tableau, Power BI) is an advantage.
- Awareness of AI‑assisted research tools and synthetic data methodologies; practical experience is a strong plus.
Communication and Leadership
- Exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills, able to present complex quantitative findings clearly to non‑technical, executive‑level audiences.
- Confident leading high‑stakes client presentations and navigating difficult client conversations with composure.
- Strategic thinker who can connect research findings to business decisions, not just report data.
- Self‑directed and comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial environment with limited hierarchy.
- Collaborative and low‑ego, willing to roll up sleeves on execution while contributing to firm‑level strategy.
Qualifications
- 6+ years of hands‑on quantitative market research experience, with at least 2 years at a senior manager or associate director level.
- Experience managing full end‑to‑end custom research projects across multiple sectors such as media, technology, financial services, consumer goods, and public affairs.
- Prior experience at a top‑tier research agency or consulting firm.
- Experience managing and developing junior researchers, with a track record of promoting or significantly developing at least one direct report.
- Exposure to business development and contribution to pitches, proposals, or client expansion efforts.
- Familiarity with the UK and European research landscape, including GDPR and MRS compliance.
- Bachelor's or advanced degree in statistics, economics, psychology, political science, sociology, or a related quantitative field.
- Familiarity with political polling, public opinion research, or media audience research is an advantage.
- Experience working with US‑based clients or in a globally integrated research team is a plus.
- Membership in ESOMAR, MRS, or equivalent professional organizations is welcome but not required.
