[Sigia-l] Associate Director, User/Design Research; Chicago, IL

[carolmtaylor at comcast.net]

Associate Director User/Design Research 
Chicago, IL 

This company is one of the largest interactive consultancies in the world and focuses exclusively on digital marketing and technology for Fortune 1000 companies. 
This company is looking for someone with a relentless and tenacious passion for people, data, culture, brands, stories, insights, mysteries, problem-solving. We want to discover how you apply this energy & passion to experiences, marketing, and the digital future. The ideal candidate will excel in an environment that's both highly autonomous AND collaborative, entrepreneurial and cross-disciplinary. You must be fanatical about insight generation and excited about being a part of a growing, dynamic, passionate, loyal team. 




Here, research isn’t simply data analysis – it’s bringing facts to life 
and making meaning for businesses and consumers. To do this, we need an 
Associate Research Director who is a first-rate fact-based storyteller that will be responsible for leading primarily qualitative consumer research initiatives across a variety of industries and audiences. We define research as: acting as an insights evangelist to internal and external clients, project scoping, development of the research plan, and seeing the work from execution to analysis to application. 

The position spearheads the generation of actionable, tactical, and inspirational consumer insights that can be used to drive innovative creative, strategic, and user experience initiatives. In short, we're looking for an insights bad-ass! 

In addition, the Associate Research Director will be responsible for identifying and mapping out new research opportunities for clients and internal teams, developing and applying innovative data collection and analysis methods, and evolving the craft. To succeed in this position, you must have a forward-thinking approach to research that is at times quick and nimble, at times persevering through detailed planning. 


	Responsibilities: 
	

    • Coordinate and execute cutting-edge customer, client, vendor, and market research using qualitative and quantitative methods as appropriate, including but not limited to ethnography, in-context interviews, focus groups, usability and concept testing, surveys, online research, and secondary research 
    • Determine critical insight generation needs based on synthesizing client data, industry knowledge, project needs, and clients’ business goals and plan and scope research designs and analytic approaches 
    • Lead the translation of research findings into actionable creative- and experience-building insights, opportunities, and solutions; communicate the insights and accompanying strategic recommendations to clients and design teams and help to drive their application 
    • Understand (holistically) how research fits into the our process and how to gain the most value from it for the duration of projects and programs 
    • Work with cross-disciplinary teams and independently to identify and scope new business opportunities 
    • Collaborate and build productive working relationships with a wide range of practices – Account Planning, Strategy, Creative, User Experience, Consumer Insight, Tech, Delivery 
    • Mentor and possibly directly manage junior staff 
    • Develop and disseminate thought leadership through POVs, white papers, talks 

	Requirements: 

	

    • 7-10 years of experience selling, scoping, designing, and executing consumer research projects centered on multi-channel experience, media and marketing, marketing strategy, and digital advertising; agency / consultancy experience and digital research experience strongly preferred 
    • Demonstrable knowledge, practice, and application of a range of qualitative and at least working knowledge of quantitative methods, market research / user research methods, and insight generation. 
    • Bonus: experience with pioneering new methods, segmentation, personas, online communities, buzz/ conversation monitoring, and / or integrated qual / quant approaches 
    • An advanced ability to grasp highly conceptual, complex, and / or marketing-driven concepts; a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach; an awareness of best practices, trends, and opportunities within the digital space; and an insatiable hunger to solve problems in new and relevant ways 
    • Excellent oral and written communication skills including the ability to construct and deliver compelling and succinct presentations / proposals to internal and external teams 
    • Undergraduate degree (graduate degree strongly preferred) in social sciences, journalism, market research, cultural studies, consumer science, HCI, industrial design, human factors, or similar 
    • Expert in PowerPoint and presentation-building 
    • Bonus: knowledge of InDesign, Keynote, Adobe Systems, and / or statistical software 
    • Willingness to (and ideally, enthusiasm for) travel 

How to Apply: 
Interested candidates please send resume , ba d at ss portfolio samples! & target salary to 
CarolTaylorRecruits(at)gmail(dot)com and if you're a good fit, we'll talk! 

Other 
Relo available within U.S.; limited package 
No visa sponsorship available 
No agencies/offshore/freelance talent please 

Referral bonu$ offered to the person who helps me successfully fill this full 
time position - all referred candidates must be accompanied by name, email 
phone number. Thank you!