Director, Market Research- Innovation at Ipsos in Chicago, IL

We are currently looking for a Director within Ipsos’ Innovation Division

The Innovation Team at Ipsos is dedicated to helping a diverse range of clients – from iconic CPG brands to cutting-edge tech giants – develop and launch new products and services. For over 40 years we have helped companies launch some of the world’s most successful products, many of which you know and love. In that time, we have assembled a team of true experts in the development and optimization of compelling product propositions, pack design, price and assortment strategy, and volumetric forecasting.

Fast-paced, strategic collaboration with both clients and multifunctional expert teams from across the Ipsos ecosystem is necessary to effectively address the innovation business issues we tackle each day. We apply the industry’s most cutting-edge, behaviorally-powered quantitative solutions – from early to late stage product development – to ensure our clients’ innovations are set up for success once they go to market. Members of the Ipsos Innovation team thrive under pressure, think on their feet, and have a passion for turning quantitative data sets into compelling stories that shape our clients’ business decisions and innovation strategies.

The Director Role:

As a Director you are collaborative and curious by nature, business-oriented, possess great attention to detail, are fascinated by what it takes to make a product successful in market, and enjoy guiding your clients in their business decisions. In this role, you will have the responsibility of being a trusted partner to clients across a variety of categories and industries. You will manage quantitative research and help our clients solve their business problems by leveraging multiple research methodologies from our Innovation toolkit and by partnering with others within Ipsos to craft unique, custom solutions.

In this role, you will work directly with clients, often acting as the lead Innovation contact. In addition, you will be a mentor, leading at least one direct report. Finally, while this role sits within Innovation, the Director will regularly interact with others within Ipsos to bring our best solutions to our clients.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Manage day-to-day responsibilities of research projects, from sell-in to completion: Client consultation, proposal development, oversight or creation of research instruments, analysis and presentation of final deliverables.
• Develop creative solutions: Find the most efficient way to answer your client’s business questions. Collaborate with your team members so that projects get done well and right: on time, on budget and on strategy for the client.
• Know your clients: Develop an understanding of clients’ business issues and the industries in which they operate. Maintain and strengthen client relationships through collective team greatness. Become a trusted advisor by understanding clients’ big picture strategies and day to day needs.
• Proactively grow client base: Open and driven to both nurture existing client base while also building new client base. Enjoy expanding contacts within an existing client while proving yourself with new clients.
• Teach and inspire others on your team: Prioritize understanding others’ needs and lend your perspective to guide them or to work collaboratively toward a common goal

Qualifications:

• You have at least 7 years of experience in quantitative market research and consulting
• Strong experience with proposal and research design, survey design, sampling plans and analysis. Experience ideally includes bringing new products to market from the earliest phase through launch. An understanding of sales forecasting is a plus.
• Some exposure to other types of research such as qualitative, global research, and use of behavioral science techniques in research.
• Strong communications skills; you know how to translate complex data into easy to understand, actionable insights.
• Ability to develop strong client relationships – hearing the client need, identifying the right solution and preparing a convincing proposal – then growing that relationship over time
• Awareness of compelling data visualization – you don’t have to create it from scratch but should know when it’s good (or not).
• Ideal candidate should have experience with the following types of custom research: Rapid qual-quant product ideation, claims testing, idea/concept development and optimization, pack and product development and validation, conjoint analysis for price and line optimization, volumetric forecasting