Associate Director | Qualitative | Brands Division | NYC, US

Savanta is looking for an experienced qualitative researcher to join our Brands Division in New York City as an Associate Director. This is a hands-on senior delivery role, leading high-quality custom research end-to-end while helping shape our growing US Qual team.

About Us:

Savanta is a leading data, market research and advisory company helping the world's leading brands make better decisions, faster. With over 500 people across offices in multiple countries, we combine deep research expertise, proprietary technology and high-impact consulting to give our clients a complete view of their markets, their customers and their competitors.

About the Role:

As Associate Director, you’ll be tasked with leading, implementing and delivering first-class strategic research programs across a range of methodologies, and delivering insightful recommendations that help drive value within our most high-profile clients.  This role is primarily focused on qualitative research methodologies.

Sitting within our US Brands Division, this role works closely with the Global Brands Qual team, primarily based in London. You’ll lead a wide range of qualitative projects across sectors including retail, financial services, B2B, beauty and elements of healthcare, using methods such as IDIs, focus groups, online communities, digital ethnography and client workshops.

You’ll be responsible for delivering high-quality custom research through strong project management, effective delegation and clear client communication, ensuring issues are resolved quickly and delivery remains commercially sound.

There is a high level of responsibility for delivering high-quality custom research through first-class project-management, delegation, and progression of day-to-day activity while ensuring clients are kept informed and that any project issues are swiftly resolved. 

You’ll help the team improve efficiency, quality and profitability, bringing a genuine tech-first mindset and championing tools, automation and AI, including platforms such as CoLoop, to improve both delivery and client outcomes.

This role will involve supporting the progression of junior team members, supervising their work and helping build a high-performing, tech-forward Qual team.

This role will be based in our NYC office, with an expectation to be onsite 1-3 days per week.

About You:

The ideal candidate is an experienced research professional with a strong agency background, ready to lead complex, high-impact research initiatives for an international client base.

You should have strong qualitative research experience, ideally gained at a similar-sized or larger market research agency, likely at Senior Manager level or above.

You will be a senior team leader responsible for shaping client relationships, ensuring exceptional project delivery, and nurturing the development of your team.

You’ll have experience in:

• Core qualitative methods, including IDIs, focus groups and online communities.
• Leading complex or international market research projects.
• Designing research approaches and materials tailored to client needs.
• A human-centric approach to qualitative methods and reporting, with excellent judgement for what is novel, insightful and genuinely valuable to clients.
• Turning findings into clear, actionable insight and strategic recommendations.
• Working across B2C and B2B research, ideally in Brands-relevant sectors such as retail, FMCG, financial services, food and drink, or similar.
• Managing client relationships and communicating with stakeholders at all levels.
• Developing proposals and innovative solutions to client briefs.
• Managing or mentoring junior researchers, or clear interest in developing this skill.

A tech-first mindset and openness to AI-enabled research tools is important, direct experience with platforms such as CoLoop is a plus but not required.

And in return, Savanta offers*

• Salary range: $100,000-$115,000 USD
• Bonus/Commission scheme
• Generous PTO Allowance
• Flexible working practices
• Ongoing Training & Development
• Flexible working practices
• Health package
• Retirement plan
• Team & Company Socials
• Committees for Health & Well Being, Charities & Volunteering and DE&I
  

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Why Join Us:

This is an opportunity to step into a visible leadership role within our growing US Qual team, with strong client exposure, varied sector experience and a clear path for progression. You’ll work as part of a collaborative global Brands Qual team, with opportunities to contribute to proposals, business development and the future direction of the team.

Part of the vibrant Next 15 Communications Group, we have an entrepreneurial and inclusive company culture that actively recognizes and values its people and offers unrivalled scope for career development, including mentoring, coaching as well as extensive training programs.

The company was founded on the belief that tech should be integral to its success, and this culture of tech innovation makes us best placed to put Savanta at the heart of our clients’ businesses offering solutions before they even know the problem. 

Savanta is committed to being an equal opportunities employer and continuously strives to be an employer of choice. Our people are our greatest asset - we value workplace diversity and inclusion, oppose all forms of unlawful discrimination, and welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates of all backgrounds.

All candidates will be considered equally, however, unfortunately we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

We encourage authentic responses that reflect your own experience and approach. Candidates should avoid relying on Generative AI to write cover letters or application responses, as this may be considered during the review process.

For information on how Savanta uses your data, please see https://savanta.com/about/careers/job-opportunities