Graduate Research Executive – Ethnography

Application Deadline: 9 September 2026

Department: Graduate

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: London

Compensation: £28,000 / year

Are you driven by data and passionate about insights? We are a leading global market research company, enabling organisations to make smarter, bolder, and faster decisions. The Ipsos Ethnography Centre of Excellence is a specialist team of 10 researchers, anthropologists and filmmakers dedicated to ethnographic and cultural research. We work with global brands, manufacturers, government departments and NGOs across sectors including consumer goods, healthcare, mobility, technology, financial and public services. Our projects combine approaches from anthropology, filmmaking, market research and the wider social sciences. The team brings together researchers, filmmakers, visual anthropologists and sociologists in a collaborative structure. Our award-winning work reveals how people experience products, services and systems in real life, giving our clients grounded insights they can use to make better decisions.

The Role

As part of our team, you will contribute to live client projects from the outset, helping to turn lived experiences into clear stories and practical recommendations. You will work alongside senior researchers, project managers, clients and specialist partners while developing the foundations of a career in ethnographic research. Some of your key responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the full lifecycle of UK and international ethnographic research projects
• Attending client briefs, meetings and internal project discussions
• Working with senior researchers to translate client objectives into thoughtful ethnographic studies
• Preparing and coordinating fieldwork with participants, filmmakers, recruitment agencies, translation companies and other suppliers
• Analysing interviews, observations and film to identify patterns, tensions and compelling human stories
• Contributing to reports, presentations and other client deliverables
• Communicating with clients and external partners on project-related matters
• Building an understanding of project management, finances, client sectors and the wider research industry.

About You

We encourage diversity of thought so we look for candidates who are as diverse as the societies, markets and people we work with. Therefore we are looking for:

• An analytical and problem-solving mindset, focused on not only interpreting data but also understanding the "why" behind people's experiences and behaviour.
• Effective communication and storytelling skills, the ability to derive actionable insights from data and present them in a clear and engaging way for diverse audiences.
• Commercial awareness and client-focused mindset, with a genuine passion in understanding client needs and delivering impactful, value-driven solutions.
• Curiosity and learning agility, with an openness to new ideas, cultures, perspectives and changing trends.
• Creativity and innovation to think outside the box and bring fresh, impactful ideas to life.
• Embraces collaboration and teamwork, working effectively with others and valuing diverse perspectives to build on colleagues' strengths.
• Strong organisational and attention to detail skills, with a commitment to accuracy and integrity in every task.
• A focus on self-awareness and a growth mindset, driven to succeed and make a real impact, with a willingness to reflect, learn, and grow.
• An aptitude for leveraging AI tools and techniques to enhance research and insights, in line with Ipsos' standards and policies.

Desirables:

• A degree in anthropology, sociology, or a related social science, humanities, or arts discipline, with an interest in understanding people, culture, and behaviour
• Additional language skills.
• Some evidence of commercial awareness or an interest in brands, organisations and the wider social world.
• Experience editing with Premiere Pro would be desired.

Along with…

• The unrestricted right to work in the UK.

Why Ipsos

Launch your career with our 12-month global Generation Ipsos Graduate Programme. You will gain the essential skills, values, and in-depth knowledge to excel as a top researcher. Benefitting from extensive, best-in-class training covering technical, research, personal, and client-focused skills. Being part of a cohort, you will collaborate with fellow graduates across the business, building your network and driving innovation. After completing the programme, you will be eligible for promotion to further your career at Ipsos. You will also have the chance to work towards the MRS Advanced Certificate, a recognised research qualification.

Benefits

• 25 days' holiday that increases to 30 days over time, plus an extra day off for your birthday
• Industry-leading Graduate Programme to kickstart your career with top training and development opportunities
• Flexible working and inclusive bank holiday options, recognising the diversity of our workforce and that people may celebrate different events
• Interest-free Future Talent Loan of up to £1,000, providing optional support for unexpected costs so you can focus on starting your career
• Work from anywhere for up to 4 weeks each calendar year (subject to relevant Right to Work requirements)
• Bupa Well+ Health and Wellbeing Services for ongoing health and wellness support
• Comprehensive benefits including pension contributions, income protection, winter flu jabs, eye care vouchers, and many others
• Company paid Curiosity & ESG Days
• Diversity and Inclusion Belong Networks, bringing together people with shared identities and interests to foster a welcoming and supportive workplace

Successful applicants will move on to a cognitive and personality assessment, followed by a virtual interview with one of our talent partners. The final stage will be an in-person assessment centre at our London office on 19th October and we are looking for candidates to start on 2nd November. We are committed to equality, treating people fairly, promoting a positive and inclusive working environment and ensuring we have diversity of people and views. We recognise that this is important for our business success - a more diverse workforce will enable us to better reflect and understand the world we research and ultimately deliver better research and insight to our clients. We are proud to be a member of the Disability Confident scheme, certified as a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. We provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.