Research Manager, Qualitative, Geneva

Ipsos; Genf; On-site; CHF 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Ipsos Geneva is seeking a (Senior) Qualitative Research Manager to lead end-to-end qualitative projects, including design of discussion guides, fieldwork, and storytelling-based insights for global brands. Focus will include F&B categories and multi-market assignments, leveraging AI-enabled tools and a collaborative team environment.

You will mentor early-career researchers, drive innovative methodologies, and present actionable insights to clients, balancing strategic thinking with hands-on

Qualifications

• 5-7+ years of qualitative research experience in insight, research or strategy, including agency experience
• F&B experience is essential, alongside FMCG categories
• Experience in multi-market projects
• Experience running in-depth interviews and focus groups
• Well-versed in report writing and deliverables
• Ability to build connections with consumers and understand what and why
• Confidence in storytelling and presenting to clients
• Good communications skills, written and oral
• Sound problem-solving skills
• AI-advocate

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end qualitative research projects from brief to delivery
• Design discussion guides and facilitate fieldwork (face-to-face and virtual)
• Generate insights and present findings to clients
• Develop and apply innovative methodologies and AI-enabled tools
• Collaborate with a global Ipsos team across categories (esp. F&B)
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to continuous learning

Skills

Qualitative research

F&B experience

Multi-market projects

In-depth interviews

Focus groups

Storytelling

Client presentations

Job description

To support our activity, our Qualitative team in Geneva is looking for a:

The Role – Qualitative – Research Manager

As a Qualitative (Senior) Research Manager with Ipsos with a deep passion for understanding people, immerse yourself in a role where storytelling is at the heart of our research process. Go beyond the brief by designing and working with powerful visual narratives, leveraging tools and methodologies that illuminate rich consumer insights.

Here, your passion for creating compelling stories is empowered by our diverse toolkit, from ethnographic studies to AI-enhanced digital platforms. This is more than research—it's about crafting immersive experiences that captivate and resonate with global audiences.

As a Qualitative Research Manager, you will strive to break boundaries with your creative capability to establish new methodologies that go beyond conventional research briefs. Harness AI and traditional research techniques to embark on impactful projects within a global consultancy, driving insights that make a lasting impact.

You’ll work closely with a vibrant, globally positioned team, championing accounts like Nestlé – from coffee to confectionery - developing your professional narrative, and expanding your qualitative expertise through continuous learning and growth.

The research spans continents and categories, from coffee to confectionery, with a deep passion for understanding people working with a senior, close-knit qual team of 5. The team is primarily responsible for managing a global F&B brand a/c so F&B experience is essential. There is also scope to work in other categories (Luxury, Leisure/Travel, Pharma/OTC, Beauty).

This role requires someone who is hands-on with all aspects of the qualitative research process from start to finish - proposals, discussion guides, facilitating and attending fieldwork (face to face and virtually), insight generation, reporting and presenting and open to new technology/tools.

As a Qualitative (Senior) Research Manager, you are well-versed and confident in managing end-to-end global projects—from brief to delivery, across both strategic and quick-turnaround work, keeping your curious brain ticking. The team worksacross a number of core areas:

• User experience advantageous (not mandatory)

Roughly 65% of projects are pure qual, 35% are mixed methods, combining qualitative and quantitative thinking or social intelligence – in collaboration with our dedicated quantitative innovation, market strategy, brand tracking, channel performance, user experience and public affairs service lines.

You’ll expand your qualitative toolkit running focus groups, supporting workshops, in-depth interviews, immersive ethnography and digital community platforms and embracing AI with our dedicated AI in-house platform.

The essentials:

• 5-7plus years of qualitative research experience in insight, research or strategy – including minimum 3 yrs agency experience
• F&B experience is essential, alongside FMCG categories
• Experience in multi-market projects
• Experience running in-depth interviews, and focus groups
• Well-versed in Report Writing and Deliverables
• Ability to build connections with consumers and understandwhatandwhy
• Confidence in storytelling and presenting to clients
• Good communications skills, written and oral
• Sound problem-solving skills
• AI-advocate

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!