Associate Vice President, Research Services

FINN Partners’ Honolulu office is looking for a Associate Vice President for its growing primary research team. The Associate Vice President plays a central role in driving high-impact primary research programs, expanding client relationships, and uncovering strategic business insights. This position blends hands‑on technical expertise across qualitative and quantitative methodologies—from project inception and questionnaire design to advanced data analytics, AI integration, and executive client presentations, with high-level client management and streamlined team support.

To be considered for this role you will need to be located in Honolulu. You will be expected to be in the office at least 1 day a week and may occasionally be required to work during evenings and weekends, as well as travel overnight. As a Research Services Associate Vice President you will have the opportunity to:

• Oversee and directly execute all phases of qualitative and quantitative market research projects (from proposal to final presentation).
• Identify new business opportunities, designing research proposals, methodologies, scope‑of‑work documents, and client budget forecasts.
• Synthesize large datasets into compelling, client‑ready reports, dashboards, and presentation decks using tools such as PowerPoint, Canva, Displayr, or Tableau.
• Explore, test, and adopt Generative AI models, prompt engineering, and automated analytics tools to streamline qualitative synthesis and data processing.
• Serve as the primary research contact for key corporate, non-profit, and government client accounts. Identify account growth opportunities and maintain high client retention.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients and internal agency teams, interpreting findings to deliver actionable insights that align with clients' broader strategic objectives.
• Strengthen collaboration between Research Services and FINN Partners’ public relations, marketing, creative, and strategy teams to integrate research insights into broader client programs.

The ideal candidate brings a strong proficiency in either quantitative (survey design, sampling, statistical modeling) or qualitative (focus groups, intercept interviews, thematic coding) research techniques. While mastery of one is required, this role demands hands‑on involvement and oversight across both methodologies. Additionally, they will bring a demonstrated knowledge of (or acute curiosity for) Hawaii’s culture and its impact on business, understanding the role of primary research in marketing and public relations.

Along with the qualifications listed above, you will be considered as a candidate if you have:

• Five (5) – Seven (7) years’ professional experience in market research, marketing analytics, or research project management.
• At least 3 years of experience in a leadership, project management, or supervisory capacity.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Market Research, Business Management, Behavioral Sciences, Economics, Statistics, Marketing, Sociology, or a related discipline
• Knowledge and understanding of question and questionnaire design, data cleaning procedures, and applications of Generative AI and machine learning models within market research methodologies.
• Proven ability to manage client relationships, present complex concepts in clear terms, and turn research into actionable recommendations.
• Practical market research/client experience with applied knowledge of advanced statistical and analytical techniques used in quantitative analysis.
• A creative mindset, with the ability to visualize data in high-impact, client‑ready ways using tools such as Canva and PowerPoint.
• Ability to translate complex concepts and methodologies into easily understood language.
• Experience with SPSS, SAS or other…