Associate Director: 12 month FTC (Observer team)

Ipsos in the UK; Harrow; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Pension contribution

Life assurance

Job summary

Ipsos Observer is seeking an Associate Director to lead a complex tracking program, delivering high-quality fieldwork, solid data and actionable insights across sectors and international clients.

You will own key client relationships, drive business growth and supervise sizeable project teams, working with global Ipsos colleagues to deliver impactful research solutions in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in quantitative market research and customer insights.
• Proven ability to lead large, cross-functional teams and client relationships.
• Strong understanding of research methodologies and study design.
• Experience driving commercial growth and revenue opportunities.
• Familiarity with AI applications in research workflows.
• Available to start immediately and commit to a 12-month contract.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Experience managing project budgets and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of a complex tracking program and ensure high-quality fieldwork and data.
• Own the client relationship and identify opportunities for account growth.
• Collaborate with Directors, senior teammates and global colleagues to deliver insights.
• Support commercial growth, revenue generation and cross-sell initiatives.
• Manage project profitability and budgets.

Skills

Quantitative market research

Client relationship management

Team leadership

Research methodologies

Commercial growth

AI in research

12-month availability

Study design

Commercial awareness

Budget management

Tools

SPSS

R

Power BI

Job description

Are you an experienced market research leader looking for the opportunity to shape a high-profile client program, drive commercial growth, and lead talented teams? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where your insights and leadership create real impact? If so, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role

Ipsos Observer is a specialist team delivering bespoke research solutions that help organisations understand customer behaviour, public opinion, and market trends. Working across a broad range of sectors including government, academia, charities and commercial organisations, the team delivers both continuous and ad hoc research projects in the UK and internationally.

As an Associate Director, you will play a pivotal leadership role within a growing and ambitious team. You'll lead the successful execution and delivery of a complex tracking program, ensuring the client receives high-quality fieldwork, robust data, actionable insights and strategic recommendations. You'll take ownership of this key client relationship, helping to grow this existing account while identifying opportunities for new business development and revenue generation.

Working alongside Directors and senior colleagues, you'll lead sizeable project teams, manage project profitability, and collaborate with global Ipsos colleagues to deliver impactful research solutions. This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded research professional who enjoys combining client leadership, business growth and people management in a dynamic environment.

About You

• Significant experience within quantitative market research, consumer insights or related research environments.
• Proven success managing complex research projects and developing strong client relationships.
• Experience leading, developing and motivating individuals and project teams.
• Strong understanding of research methodologies and a passion for delivering high-quality insights.
• Experience contributing to commercial growth, revenue generation and account development.
• Proficiency in AI use and adoption to enhance day-to-day research and business activities.
• This person needs to be immediately available to work full time for 12 months.
• Strong research skills including questionnaire and study design, project management, sampling and analytical techniques.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to understand client challenges and identify opportunities.
• Strong numerical and analytical capabilities with excellent attention to detail.
• Experience managing project finances, budgets and profitability.
• Knowledge of research and analytics tools such as SPSS, R, Power BI or equivalent platforms.

Behaviours:

• Curiosity and lifelong learning
• Leadership and social influence
• Collaboration and relationship building
• Analytical and critical thinking
• Creative problem solving
• Customer and service orientation
• Resilience, flexibility and adaptability
• Empathy and active listening
• Talent development and coaching

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you as an individual. Our standard benefits include 25 days annual leave, pension contribution, income protection and life assurance. In addition, there are a range health & wellbeing, financial benefits and professional development opportunities.

We have a hybrid approach to work and ask people to be in the office or with clients for 3 days per week. We appreciate you may have commitments outside of work and will consider flexible working applications - please highlight what you are looking for when you make your application.

We are committed to equality, treating people fairly, promoting a positive and inclusive working environment and ensuring we have diversity of people and views. We recognise that this is important for our business success - a more diverse workforce will enable us to better reflect and understand the world we research and ultimately deliver better research and insight to our clients.

We are proud to be a member of the Disability Confident scheme, certified as a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. We provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.