At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support exciting mystery shopping projects while mentoring a dynamic team.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with a supportive and inclusive culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in project management and client satisfaction.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing research projects and strong collaboration skills required.
This role is very important to the success of the Delivery team and the wider UK Channel Performance business. You will support the Head of Delivery as a senior member of the Mystery Shopping PM team - at times you will lead on larger projects but primarily will be supporting the rest of the team and ensuring their success with our clients. Focus will be on ensuring the team deliver high levels of accuracy, achieving timelines, advising on best practice and ensuring automation is used where possible. Building relationships with our Client Success, Operations, IT and Commercial Support teams will be key to the success of this role as well as coaching junior team members and building knowledge of capabilities that other teams have that can be utilised within Delivery.
This role is offered on an initial 7 month fixed term contract, with hybrid working, 3 days working from either Milton Keynes/St Albans/London and the rest from home.
Your Day to Day
These are the types of things you can expect to be doing during your day to day, although as Ipsos is a dynamic organisation, this may vary as different opportunities arise:
- You will be part of an experienced mystery shopping delivery team and will ultimately be responsible for ensuring multiple projects are delivered across various key clients from set up through to fieldwork completion and data checks. Although each client and project is different, the overall goal for this role is to ensure clients receive their mystery shopping data accurately, within scope, efficiently and to budget.
Project Setup & Launch
- Guide & Review Setup: Coach PMs on translating complex client briefs into robust survey forms, clear guidelines, and accurate platform scoring logic.
- Oversee Launch Preparedness: Review project schedules and brief outlines created by the team to ensure quotas, timelines, and field briefs are set up for success.
Fieldwork & Operations
- Drive Delivery Performance: Mentor PMs on tracking daily completion rates and proactively managing risks across active locations.
- Escalation Support: Act as the escalation point to help PMs troubleshoot complex field issues, complaints and navigate client conversations.
Data Quality & Delivery
- Audit Quality Standards: Guide team members on data validation best practices, spot-checking their QA processes (receipts, audio, photos) to maintain top-tier accuracy.
- Oversight & Sign-Off: Review and sign off on client-facing progress updates and final dashboard/dataset deliverables before formal handoff.
Essential Criteria
To be successful in this role you will need the following skills and experience:
- Project Delivery: Proven track record in managing multiple research or mystery shopping projects end-to-end (from project setup and fieldwork to data checks and delivery).
- Financial & Budget Management: Demonstrable experience with project financial performance, scope management, and managing budgets to prevent cost overruns.
- Line & Operational Management: Experience in direct line management (e.g., managing Senior Project Managers, Senior Project Execs, or Project Execs) and broader team support.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong experience working closely with internal teams like Operations, IT, and Client Success to deliver complex projects seamlessly.
Desirable Criteria
These are the skills that would add value to the role but are not critical. If you have them, we’d love to hear about them:
- Commercial & Pitch Support: Previous experience supporting Client Success teams with pitch decks, proposal development, or tender responses.
- Process & Tech Optimisation: Experience identifying and implementing automation, operational workflow enhancements, or systems improvements.
- Feedback Systems: Familiarity with gathering and acting on Client Satisfaction feedback to drive continuous operational improvements.
- Sector Knowledge: Familiarity with mystery shopping methodology or channel performance research.
Behaviours
A successful candidate will demonstrate the following behaviours:
- Strategic Leadership: Proactively steps up to support the team head, contributes to team strategy, and provides clear direction in leadership meetings.
- Client-Centric & Trusted Advisory: Relentlessly focused on client satisfaction while confidently holding boundaries and challenging clients when necessary to protect business interests.
- Problem-Solving & Agility: Takes ownership of operational challenges, actively identifies practical solutions, and ensures effective implementation.
- Supportive & Inclusive Mentorship: Operates with an ‘open door’ approach, fostering growth, training, and development for junior team members.
- Commercial Drive: Demonstrates commercial awareness in decision-making to balance delivery quality with business profitability.
Benefits
We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you as an individual. Our standard benefits include 25 days annual leave, pension contribution, income protection and life assurance. In addition, there are a range of health & wellbeing, financial benefits and professional development opportunities.
We realise you may have commitments outside of work and will consider flexible working applications please highlight what you are looking for when you make your application. We have a hybrid approach to work and ask people to be in the office or with clients for 3 days per week.
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 - 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. Your application will be reviewed by someone from our Talent Team who will be in touch either way to let you know the outcome.
Ready to have an impact? Apply now!
Associate Director - Project Management (7 month fixed term contract)- Channel Performance in Milton Keynes employer: Ipsos
Ipsos is an excellent employer that values its employees by providing a supportive work culture and opportunities for professional growth. Based in Dartford, Kent, our team enjoys a collaborative environment where every voice is heard, and we offer competitive salaries along with comprehensive benefits to ensure a rewarding career in market research.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director - Project Management (7 month fixed term contract)- Channel Performance in Milton Keynes
✨Tap into Consulting Networks
Get active in local management consulting networks and organisations. Attend meetups, workshops, or webinars specific to consulting where you can connect with professionals who may know of temporary roles opening up at places like Ipsos. Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth – it’s massive in our field!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Real-Time
As a temporary hire, you need to demonstrate your value quickly. Consider creating a mini-case study or analysis relevant to the industry and share it on platforms like LinkedIn or even during networking events. This can be an impressive way to showcase your analytical skills and problem-solving prowess – just what consulting firms are looking for!
✨Check for Temporary Roles on Niche Job Boards
Look for temporary roles on specialised job boards for consulting gigs rather than just generic platforms. Websites like Consultancy.uk or even the Careers pages of major firms could have short-term projects or roles that are perfect for you to jump in at Ipsos.
✨Leverage University and Alumni Resources
If you’re fresh out of uni or connected with a local institution, take advantage of their career services and alumni networks. Many universities have exclusive connections to consulting firms seeking temporary help. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other aspiring consultants who might share leads about opportunities at Ipsos.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director - Project Management (7 month fixed term contract)- Channel Performance in Milton Keynes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In management consulting, employers love to see your problem-solving abilities right from the get-go. Be sure to highlight any relevant analytical projects you've worked on, particularly those that show how you tackled complex problems. If you’ve done any case studies or analysis during your studies, throw those in your CV!
Tailor Your Experience for the Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should reflect your adaptability and relevant experience quite clearly. Focus on showcasing experiences that demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running, like previous projects, internships, or freelance gigs in consulting or project management.
Craft a Targeted Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to sparkle! Use it to explain why you're interested in this temporary role at Ipsos and how your skills suit the specific project needs. Remember to mention how you can provide immediate value based on your past experiences.
Include Certifications or Relevant Training:If you've got any certifications like PMP, Six Sigma, or even coursework that’s super relevant, make sure to list those in your application. Management consulting can be competitive, and these extra qualifications can help you stand out in the recruitment process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ipsos
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In management consulting, case study interviews are a big deal. Expect to tackle real-world business problems on the spot. We should practise structuring our thoughts, developing hypotheses, and presenting our solutions clearly, as this is what firms like Ipsos will want to see.
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
You’ll need to demonstrate strong analytical skills and logical reasoning. Brush up on frameworks like SWOT or Porter's Five Forces, as these can come in handy. Think of instances from your experience where you tackled a complex issue—this could set you apart when speaking to Ipsos.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, it's crucial we showcase our ability to hit the ground running. Have examples ready that illustrate how we've adapted quickly in past positions or projects. This shows that we can contribute effectively from day one at Ipsos.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Cultural Fit
Temporary roles often come with a focus on team dynamics. Prepare to discuss how we align with the values and culture at Ipsos. We want to highlight our teamwork experiences and how we can mesh with their consulting teams, making it clear that we're not just looking to fill a spot but to add value.
