Market Research Director

Confidential; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential is seeking a Strategic Research Director to lead insight-driven business strategies at the intersection of research, analytics, consulting and storytelling.

The ideal candidate transforms complex data into boardroom-ready insights, engages senior clients, and guides teams from data to compelling narratives that drive top-level decisions.

Qualifications

• A 4-year Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or equivalent work experience
• 7+ years of progressive market research, marketing, or consulting experience
• 2+ years of mentoring and coaching analysts and managers
• Experience with statistical software (SPSS, Q) and tools (Decipher, Qualtrics, SPSS Data Collection)
• Excellent Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and written/verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

• Oversee and execute research programs across methodologies from initiation to final report.
• Lead client workshops, strategy sessions, and executive presentations.
• Translate complex analytics into business narratives for senior audiences.
• Guide strategic recommendations and mentor insights teams.
• Ensure methodological rigor and high-quality research execution.
• Manage data quality and project profitability across teams and partners.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Client management

Team leadership

Storytelling

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

SPSS

Qualtrics

Decipher

SPSS Data Collection

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

We are looking for a highly strategic, client-facing Strategic Research Director to lead the development of insight-driven business strategies for our clients. This role sits at the intersection of research, analytics, consulting, and storytelling.

The ideal candidate is not just an expert researcher, but a strategic advisor who can transform complex data and advanced analytics into compelling narratives that drive decision-making at the highest levels. This individual must be exceptionally comfortable engaging with senior clients and stakeholders, leading executive presentations, shaping strategic recommendations, and guiding teams from data through boardroom-ready insights.

Success in this role requires equal strength in strategic problem solving, client relationship management, and the ability to develop clear, persuasive stories using PowerPoint and presentation-based communication.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Research & Analytics Leadership

• Oversee and execute research programs across a range of methodologies, from initiation to final report.
• Guide research design, sampling, questionnaire development, discussion guide creation, and insight generation.
• Partner and collaborate with analytics teams to interpret advanced analytical outputs, including: Driver modeling, Choice modeling, Brand equity measurement, Structural equation modeling, Customer experience analytics, Segmentation, Conjoint analysis.
• Translate sophisticated analytical findings into language that resonates with non-technical audiences.
• Ensure methodological rigor and high-quality research execution.
• Ensure profit margins are met and that projects are consistently scoped to company standards
• Manage data quality control across all projects, team members, and external partners, ensuring data is accurate and reporting is validated and checked, enforcing high quality across all project phases and work processes.

Client Relationships

• Serve as the day-to-day lead across key projects / accounts.
• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders, including Marketing, Insights, and senior leaders.
• Lead client workshops, strategy sessions, and executive presentations.
• Present complex research findings and advanced analytical outputs in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner.
• Proactively identify new opportunities to expand client partnerships and elevate strategic impact.

Storytelling, Narrative Development & Communication

• Lead the development of compelling insight narratives that transform research findings into business stories.
• Create executive-ready presentations that communicate complex information with clarity, precision, and impact.
• Build deliverables (PowerPoint, or other) that synthesize findings, insights, strategic implications, and recommendations into a cohesive narrative flow.
• Produce advanced visualizations that bring data to a new level, including infographics, data stories and thought leadership assets.
• Define the storyline before the analysis is completed, ensuring research outputs support the broader strategic narrative.
• Coach teams on story structure, insight development, visualization best practices, and executive communication.
• What happened?
• Why does it matter?
• What should the client do next?
• Maintain extremely high standards for written and verbal communication.
• Work collaboratively with senior leadership and peer colleagues in an entrepreneurial environment.
• Guide across a team of insights managers and analysts, acting as both a project resource and a people manager.
• Mentor managers and analysts on executive-level communication, including headline writing, storytelling, and presentation of insights to senior stakeholders.
• Foster a culture of curiosity and critical thinking by encouraging teams to challenge assumptions, uncover root causes, and identify emerging trends.
• Lead by example, ensuring you can teach and also execute each step of the project process.
• Develop methods for tool and skill development across teams and levels.

WHO YOU ARE

• A Research Expert: You can execute any research study in your sleep, and have experience successfully leading teams to do the same. You’re fluent in the cutting edge of research, and think about how to integrate innovation in simple, straightforward ways.
• A Trusted Consultant: Clients count on you to know their business better than they do, and to always get it right .
• A Master Interpreter: You know that executives don’t have time to wade through crosstabs, so you effectively distill insights into their mediums of choice for understandable, impactful presentations.
• An Advocate: You’re comfortable collaborating with all levels of the team, are vocal in advocating for necessary changes and your big ideas.
• A Multitasking Maven: You’re cool and still strategic under pressure, and are comfortable with multiple projects on your plate. You’re always detail oriented, efficient, and a time-management master
• An Organizational Leader: You take ownership for every project that comes across your desk, and are thoughtful in the work you create. You serve as a mentor for your team in all areas: Research excellence, interpersonal communications, and work/life balance
• A Techie: You love all things technology, and are comfortable (and even excited) talking about cloud, processors, and operating systems

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• A 4-year Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or equivalent work experience
• 7+ years of progressive market research, marketing, or consulting experience (in house or at an agency)
• 2+ years of experiencing mentoring and coaching analysts and managers to excel in their roles
• Experience with statistical software (e.g. SPSS, Q) and research tools (e.g. Decipher, SPSS Data Collection, Qualtrics)
• Excellent Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and written / verbal communication skills