Director of Qualitative Research & Creative Strategy - NIQ Americas

Company Description

Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid, 2x a week onsite)

#LI-Hybrid

R25_0003401

Job Description

We’re building a world class, global, qualitative research and creative strategy team within NIQ. NIQ has access to the world’s greatest clients in FMCG, Tech and Consumer Durables, and we’re backed by the innovation quant expertise of BASES and the strategic quant capabilities of GFK. We have more than 100 qualitative researchers across Asia, but so far, a significant gap in the USA. This is a career defining opportunity for an experienced director of qualitative research and creative strategy projects, to lead the development of our Americas team. This is your chance to build an exciting new consultancy business within the NIQ ecosystem. 

Responsibilities: 

• Oversee the delivery of our qualitative projects. Working initially through a team of high quality freelance consultants, ensuring all our projects are delivered to an exceptionally high standard. 
• As we prove the growth potential of the business, hire a world class delivery team to support you, driving rapid growth. Doing so while sticking to our team principles that everyone we hire should be equally smart and nice. You will manage that team for retention, growing the skills and confidence of the people that report into you. 
  • The team is likely to grow from 2 to approximately 20 under your leadership, depending on your level of success. You will need to be ready for a role that morphs and changes as you build the business. 
• Build strong relationships with our sales teams and clients, identifying opportunities to build high impact brand strategy and innovation projects, incorporating leading edge qualitative approaches alongside our colleagues' quantitative tools. 
• Design and oversee the delivery of high impact projects that build great relationships with our clients. In the early days this will include hands on running of qualitative research. 
• You’ll be working alongside 
  • Our specialist sales teams and account leads – the sales pipeline will be sorted out by these team members.  
  • Our procurement, project management, bidding and operations team, who can help with the administration of projects.
  • Your role will be to focus on excellence of delivery. 
• Ability to influence peers and colleagues both inside and outside of the organization.  
• We’ve got a portfolio of tools to build, in relation to segmentation, innovation, design and communications. If you can lead the thinking on one or more of these areas, that would be great. 

A Little About You 

We want someone with an eye for detail, able to understand and interrogate a client brief, and ensure the work we deliver answers it precisely. The winning candidate will be someone that likes to develop efficient, tidy processes, and can manage a long list of projects and timelines, maintaining effective communication and ensuring our project delivery is slick and high quality. 

You’ll have a profound interest in brands, innovation, design and communications, and a track record of supporting clients with relevant insight. 

Are you a leader with the ability to support, mentor and inspire better and bolder decisions? Can you effectively tell a story that captures the audience, no matter what level, and brings them along your journey? Are you able to work collaboratively, as part of a team within a dynamic and challenging environment while maintaining high standards? Do you have experience in working with complex client relationships and client issue resolution? 

Qualifications

• 10 years’ experience in a relevant industry (CPG, Consulting, Account Management) 
• Relevant experience with research techniques & solutions in the related industries of Consumer-Packaged Goods, Consulting, Information, Account Development, Analytics or similar  
• Effective in senior level communications, influencing & negotiation 
• Excellent awareness of market conditions and client business environment   
• Demonstrated record of business development and client partnership   

Additional Information

This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation of the following range: $110,000-$170,000. Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location. This role might also be eligible for a sales-based incentive or performance-based bonus. Other benefits include a flexible working environment, comprehensive health insurance, industry-leading parental leave, life insurance, education support, and more. 

Our Benefits

• Flexible working environment
• Volunteer time off
• LinkedIn Learning
• Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP)

About NIQ

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100 markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population.

For more information, visit NIQ.com

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Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

NIQ is committed to reflecting the diversity of the clients, communities, and markets we measure within our own workforce. We exist to count everyone and are on a mission to systematically embed inclusion and diversity into all aspects of our workforce, measurement, and products. We enthusiastically invite candidates who share that mission to join us. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action-Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, marital status, protected veteran status or any other protected class. Our global non-discrimination policy covers these protected classes in every market in which we do business worldwide. Learn more about how we are driving diversity and inclusion in everything we do by visiting the NIQ News Center: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/diversity-inclusion