Qualitative Researcher

HR Ways - Hiring Tech Talent; Punjab; On-site; PKR 2,000,000 - 3,400,000; Full time

Job summary

HR Ways is a leading market research agency based in Lahore seeking a Manager – Qualitative to lead complex research projects from proposal to delivery. The role demands deep expertise in qualitative methods, project management, and client servicing.

You will mentor a growing team, drive insights, and shape strategic recommendations that impact business outcomes. This position offers a dynamic, client-facing environment with opportunities for growth within a global recruitment firm.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's/Master's degree in Marketing, Business, Social Sciences, Psychology or related field.
• Minimum 4–6 years of qualitative research or market research experience.
• Strong hands-on experience in FGDs, IDIs, ethnography, online communities and immersion studies.
• Strong project management and team leadership skills.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong understanding of consumer behavior, psychology, and market dynamics.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and storytelling skills.
• Ability to present insights to clients and stakeholders.
• Strong client management and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage qualitative research projects from proposal stage to final delivery; review materials and ensure quality.
• Lead and moderate FGDs, IDIs, ethnographic and online studies; oversee fieldwork planning and vendor coordination.
• Analyze transcripts, notes and observations to identify motivations, attitudes and trends; translate into actionable insights.
• Develop high-quality client deliverables; shape narratives, visuals and executive summaries for presentations.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships; participate in meetings and debriefs to ensure satisfaction.
• Support proposal development, methodologies, timelines and budgets; contribute to new business opportunities.
• Lead, mentor and develop Research Executives and junior team members; provide coaching and feedback.

Skills

Project management

Team leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication

Presentation skills

Client relationship management

Education

Bachelor's / Master's degree in Marketing, Business, Social Sciences, Psychology

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

Job description

Our client is the leading Market Research Agency who help all stakeholders in its ecosystem.

Job role:

The Manager – Qualitative is responsible for leading and managing qualitative research projects from proposal development through final delivery. The role requires strong expertise in qualitative research methodologies, strategic thinking, project management, client servicing, moderation, analysis, and team leadership. The incumbent will lead complex research assignments, develop actionable consumer and market insights, manage key client relationships, mentor and develop team members, and contribute to business growth by ensuring high-quality research solutions and exceptional client experience.

Responsibilities and Duties

1. Project Leadership & Execution

Lead and manage qualitative research projects from proposal stage to final delivery. Develop research approaches and methodologies aligned with client objectives, business challenges, and research questions. Review and approve discussion guides, screeners, research frameworks, and other project materials. Ensure effective project planning, resource allocation, timelines, budgets, and quality standards. Oversee multiple projects simultaneously while ensuring timely and high-quality delivery. Identify potential project risks and proactively develop solutions to ensure smooth execution. Ensure adherence to research protocols, quality standards, and organizational processes.

2. Fieldwork Management & Moderation

Lead and moderate complex qualitative research methodologies including Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), In-Depth Interviews (IDIs), ethnographic studies, online communities, observational research, and immersion studies. Develop moderation approaches and provide guidance to moderators, interviewers, and field teams. Oversee recruitment, fieldwork planning, and vendor coordination to ensure quality and timely execution. Monitor fieldwork progress and ensure research objectives and protocols are consistently followed. Review fieldwork outputs and address operational or quality-related issues. Conduct quality checks and provide direction to field teams where required.

3. Analysis, Insight Generation & Strategic Thinking

Lead the analysis and interpretation of qualitative research data, including transcripts, recordings, observations, and field notes. Identify key consumer motivations, attitudes, behaviors, needs, barriers, and cultural trends. Translate complex research findings into clear, actionable, and commercially relevant insights. Develop strategic recommendations that address client business objectives and support decision‑making. Review and challenge analysis prepared by team members to ensure depth, accuracy, and relevance of insights. Ensure research outputs move beyond reporting findings to provide meaningful business implications.

4. Reporting & Client Deliverables

Lead the development of high‑quality research reports, presentations, and executive summaries. Shape compelling narratives, storytelling frameworks, visualizations, and insight presentations. Review and ensure the accuracy, quality, and strategic relevance of all client deliverables. Present research findings, insights, and recommendations to clients and senior stakeholders. Handle client questions and discussions during presentations and ensure clear communication of research implications. Ensure all deliverables meet organizational quality standards and client expectations.

5. Client Management

Build and maintain strong relationships with existing clients and key stakeholders. Act as a senior point of contact for assigned clients and research engagements. Develop a strong understanding of client businesses, industries, challenges, and research requirements. Participate in client meetings, briefings, proposal discussions, and research debriefs. Provide strategic research recommendations based on client objectives and business needs. Manage client expectations throughout the research lifecycle and ensure a positive client experience. Identify opportunities to strengthen existing client relationships and support repeat business.

6. Proposal Development & Business Growth

Support the development of research proposals, approaches, methodologies, timelines, and budgets. Contribute to pitch presentations and client proposal meetings. Recommend appropriate qualitative methodologies based on business objectives and research requirements. Identify potential research opportunities within existing client relationships. Support business development initiatives and contribute to winning new projects. Develop case studies, credentials, and other materials to support business development activities.

7. Team Leadership & Development

Lead, mentor, and develop Research Executives, Senior Research Executives, and junior team members. Allocate project responsibilities based on team capabilities, workload, and project requirements. Review team performance and provide regular coaching and constructive feedback. Review project outputs prepared by team members and ensure they meet required quality standards. Identify capability gaps and support the development of team members through coaching, knowledge sharing, and on‑the‑job learning. Promote best practices and encourage continuous improvement within the qualitative research team. Foster effective collaboration and teamwork across Insights and other functions.

Qualifications & Skills

Bachelor's / Master's degree in Marketing, Business, Social Sciences, Psychology, or a related field.

Minimum 4–6 years of relevant experience in qualitative research, market research, consumer insights, or a related field.

Strong hands‑on experience in qualitative research methodologies, including FGDs, IDIs, ethnography, observational research, online communities, and immersion studies.

Strong project management and team leadership skills.

Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem‑solving abilities.

Strong understanding of consumer behavior, human psychology, cultural insights, and market dynamics.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Strong report writing, storytelling, and presentation skills.

Ability to confidently present insights and recommendations to clients and senior stakeholders.

Strong client management and relationship‑building skills.

Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines effectively.

Strong commercial understanding and ability to connect research insights with business objectives.

Proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.

Role Overview:Other Details:

• Experience: 5 years
• Location: Lahore
• Working Days: Monday to Friday
• Working Timings : 09:00am to 06:00 pm

About HR Ways:

HR Ways is an Award winning Technical Recruitment Firm helping software houses and IT Product companies internationally and locally to find IT Talent. HR Ways is engaged by 300+ Employers worldwide ranging from worlds biggest SaaS Companies to most competitive Startups. We have entities in Dubai, Canada, US, UK, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Brazil and other parts of the world.