Senior Director, Client Service

Kantar Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Health Savings Account

Dental & Vision

Wellness Program

401k match

Tuition reimbursement

Commuter benefits

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

Kantar is seeking a Senior Director, Client Service, Media in Chicago for a hybrid role. You will lead high‑value client accounts, advise senior stakeholders, and drive growth with expert media research and strategic storytelling across cross‑platform measurement.

You will shepherd complex projects, design rigorous studies, and translate insights into actionable recommendations that shape client decisions and outcomes. A strong track record in leadership and business acumen is essential.

Qualifications

• 10–15+ years of experience in market research, media analytics, or insights consulting.
• Deep expertise in media effectiveness research including brand lift and cross‑platform measurement.
• Ability to translate complex data into executive narratives that drive decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead a set of high‑value client accounts with research delivery against forecast targets.
• Advise senior stakeholders, influencing media investment decisions and learning agendas.
• Lead research programs with best‑in‑class design for complex media effectiveness projects.
• Translate client challenges into scalable research frameworks for sustained impact.
• Synthesize data into clear executive recommendations guiding decisions.

Skills

Market research

Media analytics

Insights consulting

Executive storytelling

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree

Job description

We go beyond the obvious, using intelligence, passion and creativity to inspire new thinking and shape the world we live in.

Job Title

Senior Director, Client Service, Media

Job Location

Hybrid- Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York City, Norwalk

About the role

The Senior Director leads a strategic book of business within a broader practice portfolio, combining deep media effectiveness research expertise with senior client advisory and strong commercial acumen in partnership with client partners and sales teams. This role influences investment decisions, drives multi-year growth, and delivers insight-led strategies that shape client outcomes.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead a set of high value client accounts with accountability for research delivery against forecasted targets, profitability, client satisfaction, and long-term growth
• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior and executive stakeholders, influencing media investment decisions and shaping measurement and learning agendas
• Lead research, ensuring best-in-class design and delivery of complex media effectiveness programs (e.g., brand lift, cross-platform measurement, attribution, ROI, segmentation)
• Translate client business challenges into scalable research frameworks that drive sustained impact across campaigns and time
• Synthesize complex, multi-source data into clear executive narratives, delivering actionable recommendations that shape decisions
• Partner with commercial teams to drive growth by expanding existing accounts and identifying new research opportunities
• Ensure operational excellence across account teams, optimizing resourcing, delivery models, and best practices to drive quality, efficiency, and scalability
• Build and lead high-performing teams, developing talent and strengthening capabilities in research, storytelling, and client leadership
• Act as a senior representative of Kantar, contributing to client leadership, industry presence, and advancement of media measurement and analytics.

Essential Knowledge & Experience

• 10–15+ years of experience in market research, media analytics, or insights consulting, with significant ownership of complex client portfolios
• Deep expertise executing media effectiveness research, including brand lift, cross-platform measurement (digital, CTV, addressable, linear), and advanced methodologies (attribution, ROI, segmentation)
• Proven ability to translate complex data into clear, executive-level narratives that drive strategic decision‑making and influence investment outcomes
• Demonstrated success serving as a trusted advisor to senior and executive stakeholders, shaping measurement strategy and long‑term business direction
• Strong commercial acumen, with a track record of influencing partnership renewal, driving growth and delivering multi‑year account plans
• Experience leading and scaling high‑performing teams, including developing research talent and driving excellence across account structures
• Proven ability to deliver operational excellence at scale, optimizing resourcing, delivery models, and best practices across teams
• Excellent communication and leadership presence; able to operate effectively in fast‑paced, complex client environments
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred

Kantar Benefits

• Medical plans with comprehensive, affordable coverage for a range of health services
• Health Savings Account/FSA
• Dental, Vision and benefits to cover unique healthcare needs
• Wellness Program
• 401k with match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Commuter benefits
• Unlimited PTO

Salary

The salary range for this role is $135,000- $165,000 USD Annual. Your final base salary will be determined based on several factors which may include but are not limited to location, work experience, skills, knowledge, education and/or certifications.

NEO / Diversity & Inclusion

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

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.

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.

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. Even if you feel like you’re not an exact match, we’d love to receive your application and talk to you about this job or others at Kantar.

Additional Company Culture

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.

Company Overview

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.

Company Overview 2

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.

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Location Chicago, N. Green Street United States of America

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