Director, Ipsos Understanding Unlimited

Marketing Management Analytics, Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A global research consultancy is looking for a Research Director to lead qualitative studies and provide insights for clients. The role involves managing projects from design to delivery, mentoring junior researchers, and maintaining client relationships. The ideal candidate has over 7 years of experience in qualitative research, remarkable moderating skills, and a proactive mindset. This position offers competitive salary and an excellent benefits package including flexible workplace arrangements.

Benefits

Generous PTO

Healthcare plans

Flexible workplace policy

Collaborative culture

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in qualitative research.
• Deep knowledge of qualitative design and methods.
• Skills in building and nurturing client relationships.
• Exceptional moderating skills across various methodologies.
• Strong analytical, language, and storytelling abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and execution of qualitative research studies.
• Serve as primary client contact providing insights and recommendations.
• Manage project budgets and timelines for profitability and excellence.
• Moderate focus groups and workshops with skill and energy.
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to team growth.

Skills

Qualitative research expertise

Client relationship management

Moderating skills

Proactive mindset

Analytical skills

Storytelling skills

Project management

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

AI analysis tools

SharePoint

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

What makes this role important at Ipsos?

At Ipsos Understanding Unlimited (IUU), we believe that great research is equal parts curiosity, craft, courage and client first. We’re looking for a Research Director who embodies all four — someone who knows the ins and outs of qualitative research and can lead studies from design to delivery with confidence and creativity, while address client’s business objectives.

As a Research Director, Qualitative, you’ll play a key role in delivering best‑in‑class insights for some of the world’s most exciting brands. You’ll design and execute qualitative studies, moderate with impact, and help clients translate findings into strategic action.

This is a hands‑on role suited for someone who’s both strategically sharp and operationally strong — a qualitative expert who knows what needs to happen next on a project without being told.

What you can expect to be doing:

• Lead the design, execution, and delivery of qualitative research studies — from proposal to debrief.
• Serve as the primary client contact, providing strategic guidance and insight‑driven recommendations.
• Manage project budgets, timelines, and resources to ensure profitability and operational excellence.
• Strong business acumen with a growth mindset: manage project budgets to target margins while keeping sight of broader objectives — team revenue goals, portfolio growth, and strategic client development
• Moderate focus groups, in‑depth interviews, and workshops with skill, empathy, and energy – including evening engagements both in‑person/in‑facility, and online.
• Partner with qualitative team to ensure quality, efficiency, and creative excellence across every stage of research.
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to the continued growth of Ipsos’ qualitative expertise.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams on hybrid qual‑quant design and innovative methodologies.
• Travel as needed for fieldwork and client engagements.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in qualitative research, ideally in a research agency or consultancy setting.
• Deep knowledge of qualitative design + methods, logistics, and project management — you can run a study end‑to‑end with minimal direction.
• Building and nurturing client relationships — from managing day‑to‑day communications to becoming a trusted strategic advisor who clients turn to for guidance beyond the immediate project.
• Exceptional moderating skills across methodologies, audiences, and categories, both in‑person/in‑facility and online.
• A proactive mindset — you anticipate challenges, identify opportunities and next steps before they’re asked for, think three steps ahead, and keep projects moving smoothly.
• Strong analytical, language, and storytelling skills, with the ability to synthesize insights into compelling narratives.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills including SharePoint, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Experience with AI tools for analysis or design a strong asset.
• Passion for uncovering human truths that drive meaningful business outcomes.

In accordance with Ontario & British Columbia law, the estimated base salary range for this role is $90,000 - $100,000 CAD. Your final base salary will be determined based on several non‑discriminatory factors which may include but are not limited to location, work experience, skills, knowledge, education and/or certification.

If you don’t meet 100% of the requirements, we encourage all who feel they might be a fit for the opportunity to apply. We may consider a variety of backgrounds for a particular role and are also committed to considering candidates for available positions throughout our organization, not just the one you’re applying to!

What’s in it for you:

At Ipsos you’ll experience opportunities for Career Development, an exceptional benefits package (including generous PTO, healthcare plans, wellness benefits), a flexible workplace policy, and a strong collaborative culture.

Commitment to Diversity

Ipsos recognizes the necessity of building an inclusive culture that values each employee’s individuality and diverse perspectives. For more than 40 years, our mission has been to generate and analyze data about society, markets, brands, and behaviors to provide our clients with the insights that elevate their understanding of the world. This could not be fulfilled without Ipsos’ diverse employees who compile and analyze this data—they are the essence of who we are and what we do.

We are committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees, creating an environment that promotes inclusion, and enabling employees from all walks of life to flourish. Ipsos encourages our employees to act in a respectful and responsible manner, in line with code of best practices concerning diversity and inclusion, human rights, equality, and civility for every individual.

Ipsos is An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other protected class and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

About the Team

The Ipsos Understanding Unlimited service line uses Qualitative techniques to humanize data and bring cultural intelligence into our clients’ thinking. We bring ‘life to life’, through listening, observing and illuminating human interactions. Ipsos UU is the largest qualitative research company in the world. IUU has a community of 1300 specialists with diverse backgrounds and skill sets (e.g. ethnographers, community managers, semioticians) who understand people better than anyone else, simply because we have done more research for more clients in more countries than anyone else. With us, clients are fluent in 88 cultures.

About Us

Ipsos is one of the world’s largest research companies and currently the only one primarily managed by researchers, ranking as a #1 full‑service research organization for four consecutive years. With over 75 different data‑driven solutions, and presence in 90 markets, Ipsos brings together research, implementation, methodological, and subject‑matter experts from around the world, combining thematic and technical experts to deliver top‑quality research and insights. Simply speaking, we help the biggest companies solve some of their biggest problems, serving more than 5000 clients across the globe by providing research, data, and insights on their target markets. And we are proud of our continuous efforts in making Ipsos the best place to work!