Director - Quantitative Research

The Sound; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid-work position

Vacation leave

Sick leave

Health benefits

Retirement match

Parental leave

Cell phone reimbursement

Travel Insurance

Job summary

The Sound, a Chicago-based quantitative research and insights consultancy, is seeking a Director of Quantitative Research to lead high-stakes projects, win new business, and mentor the team. You will own client relationships, drive revenue targets, and transform data into strategic narratives that address client commercial pain points.

You will leverage advanced analytics (MaxDiff, Conjoint, segmentation) and proven storytelling to shape recommendations and ROI for senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 7+ years hands-on quantitative primary research experience (3+ years at an agency).
• Existing long-term client partnerships and trusted advisor status.
• Ability to drive organic account growth through insight-led business development.
• Ability to break down client problems to fundamental truths.
• Experience designing quantitative-led approaches (e.g., Conjoint, MaxDiff, Brand Tracking, Copy Testing, Jobs To Be Done, Segmentation).
• Familiarity with advanced analytics tools like MaxDiff, TURF and Conjoint analysis.
• Working knowledge of Excel/Sheets, PPT/Slides/Keynote, Word/Docs; familiarity with DisplayR, SPSS, Decipher is a plus.
• Strong writing skills and high emotional intelligence.

Responsibilities

• Gaining the attention and trust of senior-level clients through building and winning business.
• Building relationships with clients, understanding their business needs and creating solutions to help them win in the marketplace.
• Fully owning a revenue target by identifying new commercial opportunities and demonstrating ROI of quantitative products.
• Evaluating proposals through a cost-benefit lens to ensure profitability and client value.
• Using brand and communication tools to shape strategy and execution.
• Shifting focus from data to business actions, delivering actionable roadmaps and client ROI.
• Crafting bespoke analysis plans and presenting elevated narratives to senior stakeholders.
• Applying quantitative methods (e.g., Conjoint, MaxDiff, segmentation) in survey design and interpretation to drive insights.

Skills

Quantitative research

Business development

Client leadership

Proposal writing

Survey design

MaxDiff

Conjoint analysis

Excel/Sheets

PPT/Slides/Keynote

Tools

DisplayR

SPSS

Decipher

Job description

Director - Quantitative Research

Quantitative Research Consultancy · Chicago, Illinois

At a glance

Who: Quantie who has a killer skillset of being a seller /doer/ mentor with at least 7yrs exp (including 3+ yrs at a research agency)

What: Lead high-stakes quantitative research projects, identify and win new business opportunities, build key accounts into long-term partnerships and mentor junior quanties’ on the team.

When: Hiring immediately to support business expansion.

Where: Based in Chicago or the Chicagoland area (Hybrid/In-office).

Office Environment: Collaborative, entrepreneurial, and people focused.

Salary: $140,000–$160,000 (est. base depending on experience)

What we’re looking for

Where Data Meets Humanity (Director, Quantitative Research)

We aren't looking for a data manager; we are looking for a strategic advisor. We're looking for someone who is innately curious about people and looking to grow their career within an innovative boutique culture.

As our Quant Director, you won’t just oversee research—you will own the commercial impact of our insights. We need a critical thinker to uncover the "problem behind the problem" and ensure our work addresses the client’s true commercial pain points. You won’t just answer the brief—you’ll challenge it.

The right candidate is a seller/doer with the combined ability to lead consultative quantitative projects and have a proven track record of winning and building business. The Director role is critical to the success of the quantitative team and has a revenue target, people leadership, and project responsibilities across the research process lifecycle.

At The Sound, we thrive on blending the art and science of insights and seeing beyond spreadsheets to find the human heart in every data point. We're not just crunching numbers; we're listening to the stories behind them. We believe data is a conversation, a window into real human experiences.

So, if you're passionate about transforming raw data into compelling narratives that resonate with clients, you've found your tribe.

What you’ll be doing

• Gaining the attention and trust of senior-level clients through building and winning business
• Building relationships with clients, understanding their unique business needs and creating solutions that will help them win in the marketplace
• Fully owning a revenue target by identifying new commercial opportunities and demonstrating the ROI of our quantitative products to current and potential clients.
• Evaluating every proposal through a cost-benefit lens, ensuring our quant solutions are as profitable for the firm as they are precise for the client.
• Using standard brand and communications management thinking, models, and strategic tools: brand structures and models, positioning vs. purpose, creative strategy vs. execution, etc.
• Shifting the focus from "what the data says" to "what the business must do," delivering actionable roadmaps that justify investment and drive client ROI.
• Crafting bespoke analysis plans based on client objectives, carrying out those analyses with team support, and confidently presenting elevated, story-driven narratives to senior stakeholders
• Applying various quantitative research methodologies (e.g., conjoint analysis, MaxDiff, segmentation/cluster analysis) in terms of survey design and interpretation of results to drive key insights.

What you’ll need

• At least 7+ years prior hands-on quantitative primary (survey-based) research experience, with at least 3+ years on the research agency side.
• Existing long-term partnerships with clients where you are viewed as a trusted advisor.
• The ability to drive organic account growth through 'insight-led' business development
• The ability to break down a client's business problem to its fundamental truths
• Experience designing and delivering on quantitative-led approaches, such as A&U, Brand Tracking, Concept Evaluation, Copy Testing, Jobs To Be Done, and Segmentation
• Familiarity with application and interpretation of advanced analytics techniques, such as MaxDiff, TURF and Conjoint analysis
• Working knowledge of Excel/Sheets, PPT/Slides/Keynote, and Word/Docs; knowledge of DisplayR, SPSS, Decipher, or similar software a plus
• Strong writing skills are an absolute must, as compelling and impactful storytelling is at the heart of our philosophy.
• High emotional intelligence and capacity for self accountability.
• Courage to stand up for what's right, even when unpopular.

Who this role is for

Visionary and Courageous...take the lead

• You bridge the gap between sophisticated data science and bottom-line revenue, leading a team that transforms complex datasets into high-value strategic assets.

Challengers & Contrarians...we’ve saved you a seat

• You don't just follow the data; you interrogate it. We want a contrarian who sparks bold strategies as they approach all data – numeric, text, voice, visual – as insights opportunities.

Intrepid and Ingenious…seeks force of nature

• You unleash your creative genius, forging powerful strategies with fearless innovation to connect the dots between disparate data sources and adjacent categories

Smart, curious, cheeky and humble…seeks like-minded to change the world

• Contribute smart as f*ck thinking and support to colleagues on projects, proposals and business development.

Working at The Sound

We offer a market-competitive salary anticipated around $140,000 - $160,000 base (dependent on experience and role). Actual salaries will vary depending on a qualified role, candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, location and internal equity.

For all your awesome skills, we reward our team members with…

A Total Rewards Package which includes a competitive base salary (above) PLUS…

• A healthy work/life integration – office closures during the following:
  • Holidays; Winter Break; Summer Fridays; Company retreat
• Leave benefits tailored to your needs:
  • 4 weeks’ vacation leave; 2 weeks’ sick leave; sabbatical leave every 5 years
• Health Benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, Life, EAP
• Flexible Spending, Health Spending, Dependent care and Transit programs
• Retirement match program; Cell phone reimbursement program; Travel Insurance
• Gender-neutral parental leave, Adoption Assistance program and Caregiver Program
• Tuition Reimbursement/Continuing Education program, Internal development opportunities
• Constant acknowledgment of your performance with shout-outs, bonus incentives, and recognition along the way!
• Hybrid-work position - With a flexible work schedule, you can hit the gym, catch your kid's big game, take your fur baby for a walk, or meet with friends for an extended lunch – we treat you like a grown-up!

Who we are

The Sound is a Global Exploration, Strategy, and Innovation consulting agency located in Chicago, London, and Vancouver. We use leading-edge market research techniques and marketing models in order to solve client brand, marketing, communications and product challenges.

But we aren't your average brand consultancy. Made up of strategic researchers, brand experts, idea generators and cultural anthropologists. We're best known for providing our clients with the insight, inspiration and strategy needed to answer the brand challenges most important to their business.

We are dedicated to engaging brands with people.

Behind the scenes

EEO: The Sound values DEI and is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a workforce that reflects the spectrum of perspectives, experiences, and abilities of the world we live in. We recognize that our differences make us strong, and we actively seek out diverse candidates through partnerships with organizations, institutions and communities that represent various backgrounds. We champion belonging and inclusion for all identities, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, ability status, gender, and country of origin, striving to create a culture where all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.

AI Use: We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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