Research Director

yougov; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

YouGov, a leading research and data analytics firm, seeks a senior Research Director to shape research design, client strategy, and team development in the Dubai region. The role emphasizes ownership of high-value clients, methodological excellence, and driving automation to enhance outcomes.

The successful candidate will manage complex projects, guide colleagues, present insights to executives, and grow the business while advancing innovative AI-enabled research practices.

Responsibilities

• Own the region's most complex, high-value client relationships from enquiry to delivery.
• Lead on client tenders, RFIs, and commercial decisions.
• Design and supervise research designs and questionnaires.
• Guide junior colleagues and manage team capacity and quality.
• Use AI-enabled methods to improve research workflows.
• Present insights to C-suite and translate findings into business actions.

Job description

About the Role

This is a senior leadership role for someone who sets the standard for how research is designed, how clients are advised, and how the next generation of researchers is developed. You'll own the most complex, highest-value client relationships in the region, leading on methodology and commercials from first enquiry through to delivery, and acting as the go-to specialist your clients and colleagues come to when the answer isn't obvious. We're looking for a Research Director who leads by example: someone who can rationalise decisions with the bigger picture in mind, hold a room of senior stakeholders, and build a solutions-focused culture around them. You'll be accountable not only for your own work but for the quality, development, and engagement of the team delivering alongside you - and genuinely curious about how AI and automation can make that team smarter, not just faster.

Key Responsibilities

Client Leadership & Account Growth

• Own the region's most complex, high-value client relationships - acting as their main point of contact and trusted adviser, so that YouGov becomes their default, repeat choice.


• Seek out cross-sell and upsell opportunities as part of a wider client strategy, introducing clients to the full YouGov suite (Data Services, Data Products, Sport, Custom) and advising honestly on when each is and isn't the right fit.


• Demonstrate Brand Index and Profiles to clients and translate research insight into commercial growth in partnership with Account Management.


• Lead on client enquiries, tenders and RFIs for complex projects - owning methodology, costs, and the commercial conversation end-to-end.


• Consult with clients on complex, sensitive, or contentious topics, and guide junior colleagues on the most appropriate methodology.


• Manage client expectations proactively and identify and implement long-term solutions to conflict internally (across departments, including CENX teams) and externally (clients and vendors).

Research Design, Methodology & Quality

• Design questionnaires for clients of any complexity, including bespoke solutions to unique scenarios; brief and delegate first drafts to junior colleagues, and give and receive constructive feedback openly.


• Coordinate and guide projects of any complexity, leading on both the research and commercial front, and breaking work down so simpler tasks develop the wider team.


• Script surveys on CI/G4 during periods of capacity - including drawing on Scripting support where required - and delegate to junior colleagues for skills development.


• Apply and communicate the principles of sample design, weighting, and significance testing with confidence, coaching colleagues through both basic and advanced statistical analysis.


• Ensure the team continually raises the bar on quality control for questionnaires and reports, sharing best practice and suggesting improvements.


• Bring an excellent understanding of ops functions to bear, supporting colleagues and driving process changes where efficiency gains are identified.


• Keep research knowledge current as methodologies and technology evolve, and confidently guide colleagues on online research terminology and use cases.

Commercial Leadership & New Business

• Write proposals from scratch for clients regardless of complexity, answer tenders and RFIs, review and guide junior colleagues' proposals, and act as sign-off for large-scale proposals.


• Act as the specialist and go-to person for specific sectors or subject areas, bringing depth of industry knowledge to pitches and delivery.


• Lead on pricing and methodology for new business enquiries, balancing client need, deliverability, and commercial return.

Storytelling & Client Presentations

• Lead client presentations and meetings independently, adapting the story for the audience in the room - from analysts to C-suite.


• Interpret insight and provide clear recommendations that address the client's underlying business need, not just the brief as written.


• Use Crunch confidently - including analysis and dashboards - to walk clients through results, and articulate its capabilities across different use cases.


• Coach junior colleagues on presentation and client-handling skills, giving them visible roles in client-facing work wherever possible.

AI-Enabled Ways of Working

• Actively look for ways AI and automation can improve research design, data processing, analysis, and reporting - from scripting checks to first-pass dashboard build.


• Champion new tools and techniques across the team's workflow, setting the example rather than waiting to be told, and stay current on AI developments relevant to market research.


• Use AI thoughtfully and responsibly, always sense-checking outputs and applying professional judgement before anything reaches a client.

Team Leadership & People Development

• Manage individual and team workloads flexibly so that all work is picked up and efficiently distributed day to day, including client and new business enquiries.


• Mentor junior colleagues on research, tec