Their Clients

My client partners with a diverse mix of forward-thinking organisations, including:

• Global beverage brands seeking to understand youth culture and lifestyle trends.
• Leading telecoms companies aiming to connect more meaningfully with customers in a fast-changing market.
• Social movements and equality campaigns driving cultural change and inspiring collective action.
• Climate and sustainability initiatives working to engage audiences and spark positive impact.

Their projects span commercial, cultural, and social impact spaces, but always with one common thread: they only work on projects that excite them and where they can deliver meaningful impact.

The Role

My client is seeking an ambitious and experienced qualitative researcher (3–8 years’ experience) to join the team as Associate Director. This is a leadership role with scope to shape projects, guide clients, mentor researchers, and contribute to the agency’s reputation for delivering best-in-class insight.

Key Responsibilities

Research Leadership

• Design and lead qualitative research projects across methods such as ethnography, semiotics, cultural analysis, digital ethnography, and depth interviews.
• Shape project frameworks, from scoping to synthesis, ensuring clarity, originality, and impact.
• Elevate the team’s thinking with new approaches and ideas.

Client Engagement

• Build and maintain strong client relationships.
• Translate complex cultural and human insight into compelling stories that influence strategy and decision-making.
• Contribute to new business proposals and pitches, ensuring alignment with the consultancy’s selective, quality-first ethos.

Team Mentorship & Development

• Guide and mentor junior and mid-level researchers, fostering curiosity, rigour, and creativity.
• Encourage high standards across the team, while creating a supportive and collaborative environment.

Thought Leadership

• Contribute to the consultancy’s profile through articles, trend pieces, talks, or workshops.
• Share perspectives on cultural and human behaviour to spark conversation and inspire clients.

What You Bring

• Experience: 3–8 years in qualitative research, cultural insight, brand strategy, or adjacent fields.
• Expertise: Strong methodological toolkit (ethnography, semiotics, immersive studies, cultural analysis).
• Storytelling ability: Can turn data and observation into meaningful, strategic narratives.
• Client-facing skills: Confident communicator who builds trust and brings clarity to complex questions.
• Curiosity & standards: Inquisitive about culture, selective about what matters, and committed to excellence.
• Leadership: Experience mentoring or guiding colleagues, with a collaborative and empowering style.

• Experience: 3–8 years in qualitative research, cultural insight, brand strategy, or adjacent fields.
• Expertise: Strong methodological toolkit (ethnography, semiotics, immersive studies, cultural analysis).
• Storytelling ability: Can turn data and observation into meaningful, strategic narratives.
• Client-facing skills: Confident communicator who builds trust and brings clarity to complex questions.
• Curiosity & standards: Inquisitive about culture, selective about what matters, and committed to excellence.
• Leadership: Experience mentoring or guiding colleagues, with a collaborative and empowering style.

• Opportunity to join a tight-knit, dynamic team where your contribution will have real impact.
• Work on projects that matter—they only take on briefs that spark curiosity and passion.
• Be part of a culture that values intellectual rigour, creativity, and high standards.
• Develop your expertise in an environment where quality always comes before quantity.