Research Director

Absolute Recruit; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ownership of quantitative research

Work with global brands

Grow research team

Ambitious culture

Job summary

Absolute Recruit is partnering with a high-growth, founder-led global human insights and market research agency to appoint a senior quantitative leader who will shape the US and global research capability and own major client relationships.

This is a senior leadership role offering ownership, the chance to set standards, and the opportunity to build a growing team while championing advanced analytics and AI-driven approaches to inform client decisions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in quantitative market research within agencies or insight consultancies.
• Proven track record as senior leader (Research Director/VP or equivalent).
• Strong capability in client advisory, proposals and revenue growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead the quantitative research offering and strategy.
• Own end-to-end complex research programs from design to recommendations.
• Serve as senior strategic partner to clients with actionable guidance.
• Maintain major client relationships and drive account growth.
• Win new business and lead proposals and RFP responses.
• Set methodological standards across projects and teams.
• Deliver clear analyses and compelling storytelling.
• Build, coach and develop the research team in the US and beyond.
• Champion AI-enabled methods and new tech to improve quality and efficiency.
• Take commercial ownership, pricing and profitability for portfolio.
• Collaborate internationally with research, strategy and creative teams.

Skills

Quantitative research

Agency experience

Leadership

Client management

Business development

Strategic storytelling

Commercial ownership

Proposal & pitches

Team building

New approaches & AI

Tools

Survey platforms

Analytics tools

AI-enabled research

Job description

We’re working with a high-growth, founder-led global human insights and market research agency looking to appoint a senior quantitative leader to help build and develop its research capability.

The business works with an impressive portfolio of major international brands across multiple sectors and markets, combining rigorous research with strong strategic thinking and compelling storytelling.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for someone who wants genuine ownership. You’ll play a key role in shaping the quantitative offer in the US and globally, leading major client relationships, setting the standard for research delivery and helping build the team as the business continues to grow.

The culture is ambitious, entrepreneurial and collaborative. People are encouraged to challenge conventional thinking, take ownership and focus on producing work that genuinely influences client decision-making.

Duties

This is a broad role combining research leadership, client development, commercial ownership and team building.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Lead the quantitative research offering, helping shape the strategy, proposition and future growth of the team.
• Own complex quantitative research programs end to end, from proposal and research design through questionnaire development, sampling, fieldwork, analysis and final recommendations.
• Act as a senior strategic partner to clients, moving beyond the data to provide clear, commercial and actionable advice.
• Lead major client relationships, becoming a trusted adviser to senior stakeholders across leading brands.
• Drive account growth, identifying opportunities within existing relationships and developing long-term strategic partnerships.
• Win new business, leading proposals, pitches and responses to client briefs and RFPs.
• Set the methodological standard, bringing strong knowledge across a broad range of quantitative research techniques and advising teams on the most appropriate approach.
• Deliver outstanding analysis and storytelling, ensuring research results are translated into clear narratives that influence business decisions.
• Build and develop the team, hiring, managing, coaching and mentoring researchers as the US business grows.
• Raise standards across the research function, developing best practice around methodologies, delivery, quality and client service.
• Champion new approaches, including AI-enabled research, advanced analytics and emerging technologies that can improve the quality and efficiency of research.
• Take commercial ownership, managing project profitability, pricing and the financial performance of your portfolio.
• Collaborate internationally, working closely with colleagues across research, strategy and creative disciplines.
• Represent the business externally, contributing to thought leadership, industry events and the wider profile of the company in the US market.

We’re looking for an established quantitative research leader who combines technical credibility, commercial ability and strong leadership skills.

Ideally, you will bring:

• Significant experience within quantitative market research, with substantial agency or insight consultancy experience.
• A strong track record operating at Research Director, VP, Head of Quant or equivalent senior level.
• Deep knowledge across a broad range of quantitative methodologies, potentially including tracking, segmentation, U&A, pricing, conjoint, MaxDiff and other advanced analytical techniques.
• Experience leading large, complex and potentially multi-market research programs.
• Outstanding client management skills and the gravitas to operate as a trusted adviser to senior client stakeholders.
• Strong commercial capability, including proposals, pitches, pricing, account development and new business.
• A proven record of growing client accounts and revenue.
• Strong people leadership experience, with a genuine interest in coaching, mentoring and developing research talent.
• Excellent analytical and storytelling skills, with the ability to turn complex research into clear, commercially relevant recommendations.
• Strong understanding of research and analytics tools, survey platforms and emerging technologies.
• Strong project and commercial management skills.
• High standards of accuracy, research quality and client delivery.
• An entrepreneurial mindset and appetite to help build a growing global business.

Package

In return, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Join a high-growth, founder-led international insights agency
• Take genuine ownership of the quantitative research capability
• Work with an impressive portfolio of leading global brands
• Build and develop a growing research team
• Shape research methodologies, technology and ways of working
• Lead major strategic client relationships
• Play a significant role in the wider growth of the business
• Work within an ambitious, creative and collaborative culture

This would particularly suit someone who enjoys being commercially involved and close to the research, rather than moving into a purely management-focused leadership role.