AD/Director - Quantitative Research

AD/Director - Quantitative Research

Quantitative Research · Chicago, Illinois

Background

The Sound is a Global Exploration, Strategy, and Innovation consulting agency dedicated to engaging brands with people. Understanding people is at the heart of everything we do.  We deploy leading-edge market research techniques and marketing models in order to solve client brand, marketing, communications and product challenges.

Made up of strategic researchers, brand experts, idea generators and cultural anthropologists, we're best known for providing our clients with the insight, inspiration and strategy needed to answer the brand challenges most important to their business.

At The Sound, we're not just crunching numbers; we're listening to the stories behind them. We believe data is a conversation, a window into real human experiences. If you're passionate about transforming raw data into compelling narratives that resonate with clients, you've found your tribe.

Our offices are located in Chicago, London, and Vancouver. This role will ideally be hybrid located in our Chicago Office.

The Role

Where Data Meets Humanity (Associate Director/Director, Quantitative Research)

Our small, nimble team thrives on blending the art and science of insights, seeing beyond spreadsheets to find the human heart in every data point. We’re seeking an Associate Director or Director (depending on your experience) to join our quantitative research team and be a key player in our success.

The right candidate is a seller/doer with the combined ability to lead consultative quantitative projects and have a proven track record of winning and building business.  The AD/D role is critical to the success of the quantitative team and has a revenue target, people leadership, and project responsibilities across the research process lifecycle.

We are in search of someone who will manage and mentor a team in designing and delivering custom research projects that tell human stories to impact our client’s business. They will be able to think creatively and execute effectively at every stage – crafting the proposal and approach, developing the survey, overseeing data collection, analyzing the data, and reporting the results. They will be able to apply advanced analytics (factor analysis, correspondence analysis, etc.) as needed to uncover new insights and further the narrative. They will be excellent written and verbal communicators, internally within quantitative and cross-functional teams, and externally with vendors and clients.

We are looking for a candidate with an entrepreneurial spirit to solve issues, create value, maximize growth, and improve business performance.  They will be knowledgeable in multiple client sectors, with solid business development capabilities and industry/market connections.  

Constantly learning and developing is a big part of who we are at The Sound, and we need a proven mentor driven with a growth mindset to help our organization develop junior consultants in various specialist skills.

If you're ready to join a team that values people, creativity, and the power of data to make a difference, we want to hear from you!

ABOUT YOU…

  Visionary and Courageous...take the lead

• You see beyond the numbers, turning complex data into game-changing strategies and boldly pioneering new quant methods to give our clients future-proof insights.

 Challengers & Contrarians...we’ve saved you a seat

• You don't just follow the data; you interrogate it. We want a contrarian who sparks bold strategies as they approach all data – numeric, text, voice, visual – as analytic opportunities.

    Intrepid and Ingenious…seeks force of nature

• You unleash your creative genius, forging powerful strategies with fearless innovation to connect the dots between disparate data sources and adjacent categories

   Smart, curious, cheeky and humble…seeks like-minded to change the world

• You contribute smart as f*ck thinking and support to colleagues on other projects, proposals and business development
• Curiosity drives you, humility grounds you, and you're ready to use your powers for good. Join us in making the world a little less confusing, one data point at a time.

Key criteria to be considered for this role…

• Demonstrated ability of gaining the attention and trust of senior-level clients through building and winning business
• Skilled in building relationships with clients, understanding their unique business needs and creating solutions that will help them win in the marketplace
• Practiced and fully comfortable with standard brand and communications management thinking, models, and strategic tools: brand structures and models, positioning vs. purpose, creative strategy vs. execution, etc.
• An accomplished presenter/storyteller who consistently demonstrates a strong understanding of the strategic issues.
• Ability to craft analytic plans based on client objectives, carry out those analyses and confidently present elevated, story-driven narratives to senior stakeholders
• Experienced managing large-scale, complex projects from start to finish in terms of time, budget, and client satisfaction
• Experienced with various quantitative research methodologies (e.g., conjoint analysis, MaxDiff, segmentation/cluster analysis) in terms of survey design and interpretation
• Experienced with direct people management, including fostering timely two-way feedback, mentoring staff for their development and evaluating performance
• Growth mindset with a dual focus on internal excellence and client relationship/business development
• Highly curious about the world and the people in it, strongly collaborative and deeply
  courageous in the face of change
• Strong commitment to DEI and interest in initiatives such as targeted recruitment, internal mentoring and diversity networks to support people from marginalized groups.

MUST haves:

• 7 years’ experience in a primary research capacity within a research supplier or consultancy
• At least 3 years in a leadership role on the agency side managing a team
• Expertise across a range of custom quantitative methodologies (i.e., segmentation, positioning work, consumer journey, A&Us, tracking research, etc.)
• Hands-on experience in the research lifecycle: proposals, designing questionnaires, programming, running banners and tabs, building reports and deliverables, presenting results
• Ability to lead, mentor and motivate a team, while also remaining hands-on with research 
• Adept at building rapport to grow trusted, long-term client relationships 
• Shows a proactive and self-motivated approach to reaching revenue targets
• Demonstrated experience uncovering insights and developing actionable strategies for clients

Working at The Sound

The Director role comes with a competitive salary of $115,000 - $150,000 (dependent on experience).  

This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation range listed above. Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location. This role might also be eligible for a commission or performance-based bonus opportunities.

For all your awesome skills, we reward our team members with…

• A Total Rewards Package which includes a competitive base salary (above) PLUS…
• A healthy work/life integration – office closures during the following:
  • 10 holidays; Winter Break; Summer Fridays; 4-day Company retreat
• Leave benefits tailored to your needs:
  • 4 weeks’ vacation leave; 2 weeks’ sick leave; 4-weeks’ sabbatical leave every 5 years; Generous gender-neutral parental leave
• Health Benefits at $1 for all plans (i.e. even the UHC $250 deductible PPO)
• 100% Company premium paid - Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, Life, Travel Insurance
• Flexible Spending, Health Spending, Dependent care and Transit programs
• Retirement match program
• Cell phone program
• Caregiver Program
• Adoption Assistance program
• Tuition Reimbursement/Continuing Education program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Internal training and development opportunity
• Constant acknowledgment of your performance with shout-outs, bonus incentives, and recognition along the way!
• Hybrid-work position - With a flexible work schedule, you can hit the gym, catch your kid's big game, take your fur baby for a walk, or meet with friends for an extended lunch – we treat you like a grown-up!

Disclosure

Non-Discrimination Disclosure: We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other status or class protected by applicable law. We apply this policy to recruiting, hiring, training, testing, compensation, promotion, transfer, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

NOTE:  Please be sure to add notifications@app.bamboohr.com to your contact list to ensure delivery of all correspondence from us.

Salary : $115,000 - $150,000