Account Manager - Qualitative Research

Kantar; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Kantar Qualitative unit seeks a postgraduate researcher with 5–8 years of hands-on qualitative research experience to lead end-to-end studies for FMCG, e-commerce, tech, and other clients in Mumbai. You will moderate focus groups and interviews, apply ethnographic methods, and embed innovative AI-driven insights.

Strong client engagement and team leadership are essential. You will synthesize complex data into clear, impactful stories, guiding brands on product testing, U&A, and brand equity.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate with 5–8 years hands-on qualitative research experience.
• Proven track-record in moderating focus groups, in-depth interviews and ethnography.
• Experience on consumer, brand, channel & retail research including product testing, U&A, brand equity, and communications.
• Experience with qualitative research end-to-end and client servicing.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to draw causal linkages from disparate data.
• Leadership experience with ability to motivate and train a team to deliver high-quality work.

Responsibilities

• Moderate focus groups, in-depth interviews and ethnographic studies.
• Lead end-to-end qualitative research projects for blue-chip clients.
• Apply advanced qualitative methodologies and new-age solutions.
• Maintain strong client servicing throughout project lifecycles.
• Translate insights into clear, actionable recommendations for clients.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and mentor junior researchers.

Skills

Qualitative research

Moderating focus groups

In-depth interviews

Ethnography

Online methodologies

Client servicing

Analytical skills

Team leadership

Creativity storytelling

AI tools knowledge

Education

Postgraduate degree

Tools

AI tools

Qual dashboarding tools

Job description

We go beyond the obvious, using intelligence, passion and creativity to inspire new thinking and shape the world we live in. Kantar is the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company; we shape the brands of tomorrow by better understanding people everywhere. Our Insights colleagues are the masters of using data to resolve challenges. They help brands define what they should stand for, how to reinvent and renew their offer, how to better reach audiences, and how to win with consumers and customers. By collecting substantial data from across the world, they blend human expertise with technology, making sure we can deliver innovative insights to brands everywhere.

Qualitative Unit Overview

Kantar Qualitative handles diverse adhoc research requirements of blue chip FMCG, e-Commerce / Tech, Durables, Telecom, Auto clients. As a researcher, you will constantly provide sophisticated solutions to our clients, applying the highest standards of innovative, qualitative market research tools.

CAPABILITIES STATEMENT

• To apply for this position, you must be a postgraduate with a total of 5 to 8 years of hands on experience in qualitative research and should have effective communication and interpersonal skills
• A demonstrable track-record in moderating focus groups, in-depth interviews and ethnography, and running online methodologies are essential
• You must have worked on consumer research / brand research / channel & retail research, specifically product testing, U&A, brand equity, communication developments.
• Research expertise in F&B, auto, and ecom would be a plus.
• Must have prior experience to handle qualitative research end-to-end.
• Must have prior client servicing experience throughout the project lifecycle.
• You should have strong analyticalskills, should be comfortable with disparate sets of information and should have the ability to draw accurate causal linkages.
• The ideal candidate will be a self-starter who is client focused and has experience of dealing directly with clients.
• Deep-interest in consumer behaviour and cultural influence, creative storytelling.
• Expertise in new-age solutions like AI, qual dashboarding tools etc. would be a plus.
• Since you will be required to lead a team, it is important that you have strong people and team management skills in order to motivate and train them to deliver high quality work with enthusiasm.

Why join Kantar?

We shape the brands of tomorrow by better understanding people everywhere. By understanding people, we can understand what drives their decisions, actions, and aspirations on a global scale. And by amplifying our in-depth expertise of human understanding alongside ground-breaking technology, we can help brands find concrete insights that will help them succeed in our fast-paced, ever shifting world. And because we know people, we like to make sure our own people are being looked after as well.

Equality of opportunity for everyone is our highest priority and we support our colleagues to work in a way that supports their health and wellbeing. While we encourage teams to spend part of their working week in the office, we understand no one size fits all; our approach is flexible to ensure everybody feels included, accepted, and that we can win together. We’re dedicated to creating an inclusive culture and value the diversity of our people, clients, suppliers and communities, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds and sections of society.

Privacy and Legal Statement

PRIVACY DISCLOSURE: Please note that by applying to this opportunity you consent to the personal data you provide to us to be processed and retained by The Kantar Group Limited (“Kantar”). Your details will be kept on our Internal ATS (Applicant Tracking System) for as long as is necessary for the purposes of recruitment, which may include your details being shared with the hiring manager.

Location Mumbai, The ORB BuildingIndia

Kantar Rewards Statement

At Kantar we have an integrated way of rewarding our people based around a simple, clear and consistent set of principles. Our approach helps to ensure we are market competitive and also to support a pay for performance culture, where your reward and career progression opportunities are linked to what you deliver.

We want to create an equality of opportunity in a fair and supportive working environment where people feel included, accepted and are allowed to flourish in a space where their mental health and well being is taken into consideration. We want to create a more diverse community to expand our talent pool, be locally representative, drive diversity of thinking and better commercial outcomes.

Kantar is the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company. We understand more about how people think, feel, shop, share, vote and view than anyone else. Combining our expertise in human understanding with advanced technologies, Kantar’s 30,000 people help the world’s leading organisations succeed and grow. KANTAR Kantar is the world’s leading AI-native marketing data and analytics business and an indispensable brand partner to the world’s top companies. We combine the most meaningful attitudinal and behavioural data with deep expertise and advanced analytics to uncover how people think and act. We help clients understand what has happened and why and how to shape the marketing strategies that shape their future.

For information about how Kantar processes your personal data in the job application process, please read our candidate privacy notice.