Research Director
(United Kingdom)

Thirty years ago, in Toronto, Canada, Founder Ron Pirie championed the belief that businesses work better together when they commit to actively listening and responding to each other’s feedback.

Fast-moving consumer goods suppliers and retailers throughout North America began to recognize that strong and measurable relationships lie at the heart of improved business performance.

From humble beginnings and a staunch and universal belief that stronger collaboration leads to better business results in any market and any industry, our relationship benchmarking capabilities have become the gold standard for measuring business-to-business engagement in over 40 countries.

The Research Director will lead our business-to-business research initiatives, ensuring they are conducted in a thoughtful and comprehensive manner to meet client objectives. The role requires strong experience of market research techniques in all stages of the project life cycle, from proposal to presentation. This role will work collaboratively with other senior leaders of the business to drive new pathways to successful and profitable business results.

• Lead Advantage custom research methodology and initiatives
• Partner with multiple areas of the business to design and deliver a research process that spans Technology, Operations, Product, Finance and Customer Experience
• Anticipate client needs through intimate familiarity with the business, and their unique challenges/opportunities, and proactively engage continually to help foster a sense of partnership and to generate business opportunity
• Contribute innovative ideas, business cases, and proof of concepts that can create value for the business
• Support team execution and delivery on all aspects of primary research, including both qualitative and quantitative methods, with a strong emphasis on delivering insights/results with impact
• Partner with the larger data/development teams to constantly optimize and develop products, service models, and execution. Maintain a constant emphasis on improvement and innovation in order to demonstrate lasting value

• Experience developing end-to-end research methodology and processes
• Stakeholder/business navigation: from commercial leaders to technical and program management teams, you must be adept at understanding the value of collaboration in delivering sustainable business change
• A strong delivery mindset and ability to anticipate and navigate hurdles, roadblocks, and risks
• Highly adaptable to changing circumstances, diverse projects and shifting priorities – comfortable managing uncertainty
• Can operate both tactically and strategically – often at the same time
• Excellent communication skills – ability to manage relationships and build rapport across all levels of the organization and with a diverse set of cultures and nationalities
• Intrapreneurial drive – gets excited about making businesses stronger through projects, products, realignment, process enhancements
• Critical thinker, able to understand and respond to complex questions from clients and lead the development of research plans as well as deliver game-changing insights
• Passion for research in multiple areas of specialization/across the product and services lifecycle

• Post-secondary education in research, business administration, technology or equivalent
• 5+ years of professional market research experience, including project management, research design, execution and reporting.
• Strong technical research skills, quantitative and qualitative
• Experience with dashboards, Tableau or other BI tools is considered an asset
• Professional, outgoing personality that is confident to interact with stakeholders

We embrace flexible working at Advantage. This role will be home/office based in the UK.  Occasional travel to client meetings may be required.  UK office is located in Yeovil, Somerset.  The candidate should be located within a reasonable distance of the office to allow office-based work 2-4 times per month.

Advantage has identified the following set of competencies that a successful candidate is expected to demonstrate and develop in the role over time:

1. Decision Making and Critical Thinking

Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward, ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.

2. Teamwork

Knowledge of the necessity and value of teamwork; experience with and ability to participate effectively as part of a team.

3. Accuracy and Attention to Detail

Understanding the value of accuracy and attention to detail; the ability to process information with high levels of accuracy.

4. Effective Communication

Understanding and applying effective communications concepts, tools, and techniques. The ability to effectively transmit, receive, and interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviours.

5. Results Orientation

Understanding of the importance of meeting or exceeding established targets and ability to drive critical activities to completion.

6. Accountability

Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.

7. Flexibility and Adaptability

Dealing with changes and adapting to a changing environment.

8. Managing Multiple Priorities

The ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation.

9. Helping Others Succeed

Supporting others to improve performance and meet career and organization’s goals, and ability to motivate individuals and team.

10. Client Leadership

Building strong internal and external client relationships and delivering client-centric solutions

To apply, send your cover letter and CV to our Human Resources Team at resume@advantagegroup.com

We thank all applicants, but only those with relevant qualifications will be contacted.