Research Associate

Hotspex; Ontario; Hybrid; CAD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading market research firm in Toronto is looking for a proactive Research Associate to join their insights team. This hybrid position focuses on data handling, analysis, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to derive impactful insights. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree, strong quantitative skills, and proficiency in SPSS and Excel. A bonus structure and health benefits are included.

Benefits

Bonus Eligible

Health benefits

Wellness Expense Account

Unlimited PTO

Qualifications

• 1 year of experience in research projects from design to reporting.
• Prior experience in a research agency is an asset.
• Effective collaboration within multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Utilize SPSS and Excel to analyze survey datasets.
• Support data quality assurance by identifying anomalies.
• Collaborate with research leads to translate business questions into analysis.

Skills

Proficiency in SPSS and Excel

Strong quantitative research skills

Excellent communication skills

Time management abilities

Ability to work independently

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Marketing, Business, Statistics, or related field

Tools

SPSS

Excel

MS Office

Job description

Research Associate

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Research Associate to join our insights team. You’ll play a key role in turning raw data into powerful stories, supporting the full research cycle with special emphasis on managing, analyzing, interpreting data, and ensuring data integrity. If you’re curious, solutions-focused, and excited by consumer behaviour and shopper insights, we’d love to hear from you!

This role is hybrid and requires working from a Toronto location at the needs of the company.

About us:

Hotspex, a leading market research firm, has secured its position as the most innovative company in North America for five consecutive years, ranking 4th globally in 2022. Additionally, it has been recognized as the recipient of the Most Inspiring Culture Awards for the last four years in a row.

We develop new ways of gaining better, more meaningful insight to manage customer-brand relationships. This work and our global presence empower our blue-chip clients to develop and position ideas, brands, products, packaging, and communications that truly connect with consumers. Our world-class research solutions are distinguished by leading-edge technology, proprietary methodologies, and above all… employees who care about delivering a stellar client experience.

At Hotspex, we know our people are what allows us to achieve all that we do, and that’s why everyone we bring onto our team must live our values with us.

The Hotspex Way (Our Values)

Courage: I answer the call. I play to win. I'm here to make change happen. To act with intention. If not me, then who? If not now, then when?

One Team: I rise by lifting others. I’m accountable to my colleagues and clients who are accountable to me. I take responsibility and give credit. I debate with passion and with respect. I build meaningful connections with empathy and curiosity.

Resilience: I lean into the best version of myself and show up with grit and authority to serve the greater good. I fall in love with problems that are so important and they're worth solving, even (especially) when I’m unsure.

Empowerment: I take agency through freedom and responsibility. I make decisions with conviction and act in the best interest of the company. I hold myself to standards and act with intention. I get to versus have to.

The team you are joining:

The team you will be joining is the Hotspex team located in Toronto. Our team prides itself on versatility and a willingness to learn new skills and seek out new information to solve any problems that we encounter. Thinking outside of the box is inspired by pulling information from diverse and sometimes surprising sources; hence, we encourage multi-disciplinary curiosity and utilizing knowledge and experience from many diverse sources. On our team, you will have exposure to improving and implementing new processes and reimagining our methodologies and their applications.

What will I be doing?

As a Research Associate, your main responsibilities will include:

Data Handling & Analysis

• Utilize SPSS and Excel to thoroughly explore survey datasets at both aggregated and individual respondent levels, ensuring understanding of the data.
• Perform basic variable recoding and transformations to prepare datasets for meaningful analysis.
• Conduct basic descriptive statistical analyses (e.g., means, frequencies, crosstabs) to uncover patterns, trends, and insights relevant to client needs and apply data weights, and check tabulations for accuracy and consistency.
• Support data quality assurance by identifying anomalies, missing data, or inconsistencies that may affect the reliability of the analysis.
• Develop and execute tabulation plans in alignment with project analysis objectives.

Insights Development Support

• Demonstrate curiosity and genuine interest in the CPG industry and shopper insights methodologies, including pack testing, shelf testing, and other behavioural research techniques.
• Collaborate with research leads to translate business questions into specific data queries, meaningful analysis and visuals.
• Join analysis planning meetings to understand business goals and methodological needs.
• Execute data processing tasks using Hotspex automated tools. A strong willingness to learn and adapt to proprietary systems is essential.

Collaboration & Learning

• Communicate effectively, both written and verbal, with internal teams and clients.
• Offer suggestions on how to improve the efficiency of company processes and the quality of deliverables.
• Learn and apply all Hotspex data tools efficiently.

What do I need to bring with me?

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Marketing, Business, Statistics, or related field.
• Proficiency in SPSS and Excel required (intermediate level)
• Prior experience in a research agency or market research environment is an asset, though not required
• Demonstrated 1 year of experience in research projects across the entire project lifecycle, from initial design through to data analysis and reporting.
• Strong quantitative research skills, with a focus on the Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) industry.
• Effective time management abilities, capable of juggling multiple projects and prioritizing tasks effectively.
• Excellent communication skills in both verbal and written English.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in MS Office tools is essential.

Soft Skills & Attributes

• Proactive: Takes initiative, anticipates needs, and drives tasks forward without constant supervision.
• Solution-Oriented: Comfortable troubleshooting challenges and proposing practical, data-driven solutions.
• Can-Do Attitude: Enthusiastic, flexible, and open to tackling new challenges.
• Autonomous: Able to work independently while managing time and priorities effectively.
• Highly Organized: Manages multiple tasks and projects with efficiency and minimal oversight

Benefits:

• Bonus Eligible
• Health benefits
• Wellness Expense Account
• Unlimited PTO
• To be eligible to participate in training programs and formal education initiatives.
• An amazing culture that celebrates our diversity!!!

Are you reading this and getting excited about contributing to our research and bringing our insights to life? Connect with us now by emailing your cover letter and resume to [e-mail] and be a part of our fun and energetic team!

At our core, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential, not just ideals, but guiding principles that shape how we hire, support leadership, and foster a workplace where everyone feels they belong.

We appreciate the interest of all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. If you require accommodations during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know.