Associate Director-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 contributions

Income protection

Life assurance

Health & wellbeing benefits

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Ipsos Observer, part of Ipsos in the UK, is seeking an Associate Director to lead large, high-profile research programs across sectors including government and commercial clients. You will guide project teams, ensure robust data and actionable insights, and drive strategic recommendations to grow existing accounts and generate new business opportunities.

You will work with Directors and senior colleagues, managing client relationships, project profitability, and cross-border collaboration with

Qualifications

• Significant experience in quantitative market research or consumer insights.
• Proven success managing complex projects and nurturing client relationships.
• Experience leading and developing individuals and project teams.
• Strong understanding of research methodologies and delivering high-quality insights.
• Experience contributing to commercial growth and account development.
• Proficiency in AI applications to enhance research and business activities.
• Strong skills in questionnaire design, study design, sampling, and analysis.
• Excellent numerical and analytical capabilities with attention to detail.
• Experience managing project budgets and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of complex research programs and delivery of high-quality fieldwork.
• Own key client relationships and drive revenue growth.
• Manage sizeable project teams and ensure profitability.
• Collaborate with global Ipsos colleagues to deliver impactful solutions.
• Provide leadership, mentorship and coaching to team members.

Skills

Quantitative market research

Client relationship management

Team leadership

Research design & analysis

Commercial growth & account dev

AI in research

Questionnaire design & sampling

Numerical & analytical skills

Budget & profitability management

SPSS/R/Power BI proficiency

Tools

SPSS

R

Power BI

Job description

Are you an experienced market research leader looking for the opportunity to shape high-profile client programs, 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 complex research programs, ensuring clients receive high-quality fieldwork, robust data, actionable insights and strategic recommendations. You'll take ownership of key client relationships, helping to grow existing accounts 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.
• 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.

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.