Consumer Insights Director

Product Ventures, a brand strategy and design consultancy specializing in product and packaging innovation, is seeking a remarkably capable and passionate consumer insights professional.  

For 30 years Product Ventures has continued to pioneer consumer-informed design & development for the world’s best-known brands.  The seamless integration of consumer research into our interdisciplinary design and engineering expertise ensures that the most pertinent information is derived, and a meaningful solution is delivered.

This is a terrific opportunity for a candidate who has the talent and experience to:

·     Improve the quality of research performed

·     Pioneer new value-added methodologies

·     Increase research demand through high-quality work

If you are an accomplished research professional with a keen intellect, unquenched curiosity, and steadfast commitment to excellence, this is the job for you!

The Consumer Insights Director will be an integral component within Product Ventures’ research, design, and development service. The role is to be performed predominantly in the office based on the operations of the in-house client consumer learning center, the tangible aspects of our research stimuli, and the need for hands on collaboration and creative spontaneity.

• Ensure high-quality performance in the planning, fielding and reporting of research projects 
• Working with the Founder & Account Team, ensure the appropriate tools/steps/techniques are employed with consideration to the project budget, timeline and design & development needs
• Work collaboratively with team to ensure relevant, compelling and actionable insights are derived from consumers
• Ensure research reports are strategically framed to focus on key learning, provide clear recommendations, and facilitate client decision-making and are professionally formatted to a level reflective of a world-class design agency
• Hone personal knowledge and aptitude across state-of-the-art qualitative and quantitative methodologies
• Scout for new and innovative insights solutions, remain on the cutting edge of research tools and trends emerging in the marketplace, including more cost-effective options
• Creatively develop value-added service offerings (tools & techniques) that obtain new types of consumer learning and provide enhanced strategic direction beyond what we currently do today
• Identify and establish relationships with the best recruiters and moderators to obtain the highest quality service at the best price 
• Establish more online concept screening tools and shelf & use validation and forecasting tools 
• Expand our global reach, and opportunities for fielding multi-country/multi-city research, by vetting and developing partnerships with research suppliers around the world 
• Explore opportunities for formalizing recruiting partnerships for the best service at the best price 
• Augment research staff by implementing and maintaining a research internship program
• Find ways to improve the abilities and effectiveness of our internal research facilities by identifying and implementing new technologies, mock retail and at home environments and ways to best accommodate and facilitate a wide variety of respondent venues (revolving one-on-ones, groups, large sessions, etc.)
• In support of the business development team, maintain relationships with existing client research teams and grow demand for our research services

• 10 years of experience in the marketing research field, preferably with experience in CPG
• Degree in the field of marketing research, marketing or social sciences.  MBA is preferred.
• Extensive experience in successfully executing qualitative and quantitative research.  Packaging research experience preferred.
• Keen understanding and proven experience with state-of-the-art research tools and techniques for informing, focusing and validating product & package development efforts
• Naturally inquisitive in nature, with a knack for uncovering insights and patterns
• Good numerical/analytical skills with the ability to skillfully interpret data
• Ability to multi-task and successfully manage multiple client challenges at a time
• Excellent interpersonal skills, a friendly demeanor and ability to negotiate with clients to obtain alignment on issues that are key to project success
• Excellent communication skills (written & verbal) and the ability to provide clear instructions, and articulate /compelling presentations
• RIVA training or moderator training equivalent is a plus
• Fluency in MS Office (Outlook, MS Word, MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint)