Associate Research Director

We’re looking for an Associate Director to lead quantitative projects (with a big focus on brand and comms trackers) for some of the world’s most exciting brands – think entertainment, tech, retail, sport and lifestyle.

What you’ll be doing:

• Owning and growing key client relationships, becoming their trusted strategic partner on tracking and other quant programmes.
• Leading end‑to‑end delivery of projects: from design and proposal, through questionnaire development, analytics and storytelling, to debrief.
• Turning data into sharp, visual stories that actually land with senior stakeholders.
• Managing project commercials confidently – scoping, budgeting and keeping a close eye on profitability.
• Coaching and developing talented juniors, giving them the support and freedom you wish you’d had earlier in your career.

What you’ll bring:

• Solid experience running quant projects in a research agency, with a strong track record on trackers.
• Confident use of a wide range of quant methods (segmentation, conjoint/choice, U&As, brand and comms tracking, concept testing, etc.).
• Sharp analysis skills and a love of well‑designed, impactful outputs – not 100‑slide data dumps.
• Hawk‑eye attention to detail, especially on questionnaires, specs and deliverables.
• Strong planning and project management skills – you’re the person who quietly keeps everything on track.
• Commercial instinct – you understand project financials and how to grow accounts, not just deliver them.

What you’ll get

• A clear, supported path to Director – with mentoring, goal‑setting and real opportunities to shape your own progression (not just once‑a‑year promotion windows).
• The chance to work across multiple categories and markets, with a genuinely international client base.
• A culture that’s grown‑up and relaxed at the same time: people who care about the work, but also about each other.
• In‑house ops and support teams who handle link, table and report checks – so you can focus on thinking, storytelling and clients.
• Hybrid working with a buzzing Manchester office, and the opportunity to help shape team strategy.

If you’re ready to lead big‑name quant trackers, tell great stories with data, and build a career that actually moves, apply below or by sending your CV to