Junior Associate Director - Maternity Cover

Toluna; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Great benefits

Opportunities for growth

Job summary

A global research firm in Manchester is seeking a Junior Associate Director to lead complex quantitative research projects. This role involves designing surveys, managing client relationships, and analyzing data to deliver actionable insights. Ideal candidates will have over 8 years of experience in market research, strong project management skills, and the ability to mentor junior staff. The firm values diversity and offers competitive pay, benefits, and growth opportunities within a global team.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in quantitative market research, preferably on agency side.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, handling multiple tasks effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

Responsibilities

• Design research questionnaires that meet project objectives in consultation with clients.
• Lead and manage end-to-end research projects, including survey design, data analysis, and results presentations.
• Analyze and transform data into clear, story-driven reports and presentations.

Skills

Quantitative market research

Project management

Client relationship management

Data analysis

Communication skills

Mentoring

SPSS

Education

Experience in Marketing, Business, Economics or related fields

Job description

Introduction

As a Junior Associate Director, you will take a leading role in delivering diverse and complex quantitative research projects, acting as a primary client contact, and internal subject matter expert. You will lead end-to-end delivery across campaign measurement, creative pre-testing, and usage & attitude (U&A) studies - ensuring the work answers clients’ business challenges with clear, actionable, story-driven insights. You’ll be part of a team that partners closely with major media and entertainment companies, alcoholic beverage brands, and leading technology companies, and you will play a key role in mentoring junior team members and elevating overall output quality.

Responsibilities

Client and Project Management

• Design research questionnaires that meet project objectives in consultation with clients.
• Lead and manage end-to-end research projects, including survey design, data analysis, and results presentations.
• Analyze and transform data into clear, story-driven reports and presentations that address clients’ research, commercial, and communication goals.
• Work closely with internal operations teams to oversee survey deployment, data collection, and analysis processes and manage timelines, efficiency and budget.

Strategic Contribution

• Strong understanding of client business needs and deliver tailored solutions.
• Act as a thought leader and research expert, demonstrating deep knowledge in consumer insights on topics like product innovation, branding, and advertising. Stay updated with industry trends and contribute to business growth by suggesting new methodologies and solutions.
• Contribute to business development by supporting proposals, pitches, and account growth initiatives.
• Mentor and coach junior researchers, providing guidance on project execution, data analysis, and storytelling techniques.
• Review and sign off on team deliverables to ensure excellence.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and supportive team environment.
• Most senior team members from the Research & CSM team that collaborates with Client and Commercial Directors to co-lead research-focused client engagements and manage emerging issues.

Your Profile

• 8+ years of experience in quantitative market research, preferably on agency side.
• A results-driven, can-do attitude with a passion for research excellence.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, handling multiple tasks effectively.
• A genuine interest in media and entertainment (from films and streaming to digital content and advertising).
• A positive, solution-oriented attitude with a passion for advertising campaigns and creative work – must enjoy analysing what makes adverts memorable, effective, and relevant.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Experience or education in fields such as Marketing, Business, Economics, Communications, Social Sciences, or similar areas. Formal degrees are welcome but not required.
• Proven expertise in designing, managing, and delivering complex research projects.
• Excellent analytical and storytelling skills with a focus on turning complex data into actionable insights and presenting these findings.
• Proven ability to build and manage client relationships
• Robust coaching and mentoring abilities.
• Collaborative team player who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Commitment to fostering an inclusive, empathetic, and transparent work culture.
• Working knowledge of SPSS (or similar statistical software) is a strong plus.

Our Values

• Acting with Ownership- Demonstrating individual accountability
• Bringing a forward mindset- Being action-oriented, bold and entrepreneurial
• Collaborating with Curiosity- Exhibiting teamwork through togetherness
• Discussing openly, committing jointly- Sharing your views openly
• Embracing empathy- Being egoless & caring

What we Offer

At Toluna, we’re all about creating a welcoming, diverse workplace where everyone can thrive. We offer competitive pay, great benefits, and plenty of opportunities to grow within our global team. Inclusion and respect are at the heart of what we do. Our community connects over 72 million people across 70 countries. If you’re passionate about making an impact, we’d love to have you on board.

Join our global team. We welcome big thinking and reward great work.