Qualitative Insight Director St. Louis, MO

At MERGE, we are Built Different
. We are a marketing and technology agency purpose-built for the intersection of health and wellness—where human impact matters most. By weaving storytelling through technology, we move beyond traditional engagement to Whole Human Marketing. This approach recognizes that humans are multidimensional and complex, and uses AI to ensure every brand interaction feels natural, contextual, and relevant.

This commitment to human-first innovation is what brings us together and propels us forward. We are united by our North Star: to unite people and brands to empower healthier, happier lives.

Emerge to the Top of Your Career

At MERGE, we strive to create a superior work experience where talented and ambitious people grow. An experience that encourages people to think higher and feel deeper. An experience where people engage their minds and hearts to do the best work of their careers.

Our Strategists are the achievers of insight and facilitators of alignment. Creatively-trained problem solvers, strategic writers, creative thinkers — Strategists are responsible for research design, execution, analysis and deliverables for all projects. They develop and optimize research processes, identify and curate research tools and always seek ways to enhance our offerings. With both clients and participants, Strategists approach every element of their work with empathy and energy.

As our Qualitative Insight Director, you will…

Consistently and effectively executing projects and has begun to take on more account management and coaching roles. They are able to make 99% of decisions related to design, execution, analysis and deliverables on their projects. They have developed expertise in translating research findings into strategy, both as mining for the insight and providing clear ways to activate against it. They are developing a repertoire of frameworks, constructs, tools, and approaches to deepen their strategic expertise.

What You’ll Do

Projects:

• Accountable for ensuring all aspects of the project are delivered on time and against client objectives.
• Consistently thinks proactively throughout the project to anticipate and quickly address changes to approach, design, objectives, etc.
• Effectively designs studies and writes proposals.
• Thoughtfully crafts questionnaires / discussion guides with appropriate techniques and activities, and structures of questions that better address objectives and fit with participant type.
• Effectively moderates 1:1 and group interviews and online engagements (Communities, Remesh, etc.), spending typically 20% of their time doing live moderation. highly
• Able to facilitate discussion on any topic, with any target, and have the know-how to go off-guide, where appropriate.
• Creatively and quickly connect the dots, identifying emerging themes and how they connect to the bigger story.
• Consistently incorporates strategic elements into the report including the story flow, emerging implications (so-what), and recommendations (now-what).
• Appropriately adds visual elements to communicate the story.
• Begins to leverage client / industry knowledge and external frameworks (e.g., Michael Porter's Five Forces, The Habit Loop), anecdotes (i.e., metaphor and story), constructs, macro and micro-trends, psychological understanding, etc., to elevate the strategy.
• Writes succinctly, to the audience, with clarity, conviction, and tension as well as polish and professionalism.

Client Relationships:

• Commands a confident, captivating, respectful, agile, consultative presence when engaging with the client.
• Develops rapport and builds empathy for and with the client, leading to long-term relationships.
• Develops and continually deepens understanding of the client's business and the individual…