Director, Ipsos Understanding Unlimited

Director, Ipsos Understanding Unlimited
Apply for the Director, Ipsos Understanding Unlimited role at Ipsos in US.

What makes this role important at Ipsos?
At Ipsos Understanding Unlimited (IUU), we believe that great research is equal parts curiosity, craft, courage and client first. We’re looking for a Research Director who embodies all four — someone who knows the ins and outs of qualitative research and can lead studies from design to delivery with confidence and creativity, while addressing clients’ business objectives.

What You Can Expect To Be Doing

Lead the design, execution, and delivery of qualitative research studies — from proposal to debrief.

Serve as the primary client contact, providing strategic guidance and insight-driven recommendations.

Manage project budgets, timelines, and resources to ensure profitability and operational excellence.

Strong business acumen with a growth mindset: manage project budgets to target margins while keeping sight of broader objectives — team revenue goals, portfolio growth, and strategic client development.

Moderate focus groups, in-depth interviews, and workshops with skill, empathy, and energy – including evening engagements both in‑person/in‑facility, and online.

Partner with qualitative team to ensure quality, efficiency, and creative excellence across every stage of research.

Mentor junior researchers and contribute to the continued growth of Ipsos’ qualitative expertise.

Collaborate with cross‑functional teams on hybrid qual‑quant design and innovative methodologies.

Travel as needed for fieldwork and client engagements.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in qualitative research, ideally in a research agency or consultancy setting.

Deep knowledge of qualitative design + methods, logistics, and project management — you can run a study end‑to‑end with minimal direction.

Proven track record of building and nurturing client relationships — from managing day‑to‑day communications to becoming a trusted strategic advisor who clients turn to for guidance beyond the immediate project.

Exceptional moderating skills across methodologies, audiences, and categories, both in‑person/in‑facility and online.

A proactive mindset — you anticipate challenges, identify opportunities and next steps before they’re asked for, think three steps ahead, and keep projects moving smoothly.

Strong analytical, language, and storytelling skills, with the ability to synthesize insights into compelling narratives.

Strong Microsoft Office skills including SharePoint, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Experience with AI tools for analysis or design a strong asset.

Passion for uncovering human truths that drive meaningful business outcomes.

What’s In It For You
At Ipsos you’ll experience opportunities for Career Development, an exceptional benefits package (including generous PTO, healthcare plans, wellness benefits), a flexible workplace policy, and a strong collaborative culture.

Commitment to Diversity
Ipsos recognizes the necessity of building an inclusive culture that values each employee’s individuality and diverse perspectives. For more than 40 years, our mission has been to generate and analyze data about society, markets, brands, and behaviors to provide our clients with the insights that elevate their understanding of the world. This could not be fulfilled without Ipsos’ diverse employees who compile and analyze this data — they are the essence of who we are and what we do.
We are committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees, creating an environment that promotes inclusion, and enabling employees from all walks of life to flourish. Ipsos encourages our employees to act in a respectful and responsible manner, in line with code of best practices concerning diversity and inclusion, human rights, equality, and civility for every individual.
Ipsos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other protected class and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

About Us
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