Senior Director, Client Service

Kantar; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 143,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Health Savings Account/FSA

Dental, Vision

Wellness Program

401k with match

Tuition Reimbursement

Commuter benefits

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

Kantar in Chicago, IL seeks a Senior Director, Client Service to lead large-scale custom research for local and global clients, delivering insights that guide brand strategy and growth. You’ll manage study teams and present findings with clarity.

Expect to handle a $2.5–$5M revenue portfolio, set project scope, price work, and mentor junior staff to ensure high quality delivery and client satisfaction, while strengthening relationships and opportunities for growth.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience managing high-volume quantitative research studies with client exposure.
• Proven ability to turn data into an insightful story and influence client outcomes.
• Strong verbal and written communication with internal and external clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead small to mid-size accounts and oversee project execution.
• Price and scope engagements; build statements of work.
• Drive client satisfaction and deliver profitable Brand Performance work.

Skills

Brand research

Client relationship management

Data storytelling

Analytical thinking

Communication

Project leadership

Revenue growth

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or related field

Masters preferred

Job description

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

Job Details

Title: Senior Director, Client Service

Location: (Hybrid) Chicago, IL

Continue to be part of Kantar 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.

Our brand performance team helps brands confidently assess, diagnose and isolate bespoke pathways to accelerate growth using our brand guidance programs, MDS framework, predictive analytics, and The Blueprint for Brand Growth. Our global reach, local expertise, and deep category knowledge further facilitate our ability to support client decision making to strengthen brands and drive growth.

Job Details

As a Senior Director within Brand Client Service, you’ll manage the execution of full-scale custom research studies for strategic local and global clients. You’ll leverage your expertise and our best-in‑class study solutions to provide business insights that matter to our clients, managing multiple project teams, and developing issue‑focused analyses.

You’ll be responsible for building a strong relationship with the clients in your portfolio through high impact deliverables and engagement to grow the business with Kantar. As a Senior Director, you will be leading a portfolio of $2.5-$5M in revenue.

KEY OUTCOMES

Know Your Specialism

• An experienced, trusted adviser to Kantar’s clients and people with inherent understanding of brand research and its purpose within a broader ecosystem.
• Is responsible for revenue targets that will build to a team’s book of business.
• Will actively contribute to building Kantar’s network of brand experts who deliver quality data and insights to their clients.

Commercial Accountability

• Responsible for profitable delivery of Brand Performance work for assigned projects (~2.5-5M revenue)
• Contributes to Brand Performance new business opportunities to maintain and grow book of business.
• Can independently price and scope a job and build a statement of work

Client Accountability

• Leads small to mid-size accounts; both overseeing (small) accounts and involved in day to day of projects (for mid-size to large, complex, high demand accounts)
• Independently address client questions and requests, manage expectations and deadlines while providing status updates, coaching on complex or new challenges.
• Design research and ensures quality delivery from junior staff (survey design, sample, specs, to deliverables)
• Responsible for delivering on client servicing values and driving client satisfaction
• Strong critical and analytical thinker and able to build story driven and insightful reports with guidance from senior report
• Loops in senior support when needed
• Has experience presenting reports to clients and leading client meetings, and is able to navigate or address questions as they come up
• Starting to develop independent relationships with clients

People accountability

• May manage 1-2. Accountable for managing their down‑line to best meet utilization targets and Brand Performance goals.
• Provides active feedback to account teams and downline and coaches to address performance gaps.
• Contributes to strategic priorities (Blueprint, +1/cross-sell strategy, SPARK)
• Generate positive energy and contributes to Brand Performance team culture
• Acts as a positive role model, leading by example and encouraging team to drive toward organizational goals in an effective way

Capabilities

• 7+ years of experience managing high volume quantitative research studies, interfacing with clients to proactively deliver on agreed KPIs., including 1+ years managing people.
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Social Sciences or related field, Masters preferred
• Proven analytical expertise and storytelling experience – must be able to turn data into an insightful story.
• Proven track record to positively impact client outcomes and ability to influence clients.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with internal/external clients using logical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability developing strong relationships that drive internal/external customer satisfaction.
• Natural curiosity, a can‑do attitude and comfort with ambiguity.

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

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.

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

The salary range for this role in Illinois is $142,700 - $167,500 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. 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

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.

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

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.

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.

Location

Chicago, N. Green StreetUnited States of America

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.

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

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.

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.