Director, Qualitative Research

Qualitative Research · Chicago, Illinois

Background

The Sound is a Global Exploration, Strategy and Innovation consulting agency dedicated to engaging brands with people. Understanding people is at the heart of everything we do. We deploy leading edge techniques and marketing models to solve brand, marketing, and innovation challenges.

Made up of strategic researchers, brand experts, idea generators and cultural anthropologists, we're best known for providing our clients with the insight, inspiration and strategy needed to answer the brand challenges most important to their business. We delight in the diversity of personalities, perspectives, experience, and expertise across the team. It is why magic happens here at The Sound.

We have offices around the world: Chicago, London, and Vancouver and thrive on building connections. This hybrid role may be near any of our locations, preferably Chicago.

The Role

We are looking for someone who is insanely curious about people to join in a Director role. They should have the combined ability to lead consultative, qualitative (or hybrid) projects and have a proven track record of winning and building business.

What you’ll be doing: You’ll be responsible for working with our clients to understand their challenges and show how we can solve them as a recognized expert, knowledgeable in multiple areas of business, with an openness and appreciation for diving into new categories.

We are passionate about helping clients realize their growth ambitions and are genuinely interested in building our business. This entails leading client projects from start to finish- from initial proposal all the way through to final report and presentation and engaging in business development activities/marketing efforts.

As part of a small, fast-growing team, you'll have the unique opportunity to see a wide variety of product categories and industry types; and be involved in all facets of the research process

Above all, this is a role for someone who wants to roll up their sleeves and jump in to be a driving force in making things happen.

What we’re looking for:

• At least 10 years experience in market research and brand / innovation strategy practitioner with super-strong strategic skills coupled with solid qualitative research skills; Hands-on research experience throughout career is a must.
• A wide range of product innovation and/or brand strategy experience; practiced and fully comfortable with standard brand and communications management thinking, models and strategic tools: Brand structures and models, positioning vs. purpose, creative strategy vs. execution
• An empathetic and responsible approach to developing team members (both on and off-project)
• An active interest in further diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace and through our work
• Able to brief, manage, and oversee the day-to-day of the project life-cycle, from proposal through project completion.
• An accomplished presenter/storyteller who consistently demonstrates a strong understanding of the strategic issues
• Passion for turning insights into actionability; crafting strong strategic recommendations rooted in transformational insights
• Strong business development experience and a demonstrable track record in building new relationships and growing existing ones to deliver revenue growth
• Ability to thoroughly understand and dissect a client’s business and marketing challenges and identify the best possible approach to meet objectives, able to capture attention and trust
• Experience in writing high-quality proposals, architecting, project design, costing, as well as writing compelling pitches that bring both the process and the outcome to life
• A passionate interest in culture and commerce; self-informing and auto-didactic
• A degree or advanced degree in a relevant field
• We’re open to different backgrounds; agency, client-side and academia

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About you:

Challengers & Contrarians...we’ve saved you a seat

• Creative thinkers who have a passion for developing innovative solutions to solve complex business challenges 
• Forever question the status quo – uncover truths to surface new ideas, mental models, ways of working, etc.

Intrepid and Ingenious…seeks force of nature

• Thrives in fast-paced, strategic collaboration with both clients and colleagues 
• Self-motivated and can drive project success despite ambiguity 

Smart, curious, cheeky and humble…seeks like-minded to change the world

• Contribute smart as f*ck thinking and support to colleagues on other projects, proposals and business development
• Ignite powerful strategies that inspire change and transformation for our clients

Working at The Sound

The Director role comes with a competitive salary of $140,000 - $165,000. This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation range listed above. Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location. This role might also be eligible for a commission or performance-based bonus opportunities.

For all your awesome skills, we reward our team members with…

• A Total Rewards Package, which includes a competitive base salary (above) PLUS…
• A healthy work/life integration – office closures during the following:
  • 10 holidays; Winter Break; Summer Fridays; 4-day Company retreat
• Leave benefits tailored to your needs:
  • 4 weeks’ vacation leave; 2 weeks’ sick leave; 4-weeks’ sabbatical leave every 5 years; Generous gender-neutral parental leave
• Health Benefits at $1 for all plans (i.e. even the UHC $250 deductible PPO)
• 100% Company premium paid - Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, Life, Travel Insurance
• Flexible Spending, Health Spending, Dependent care and Transit programs
• Retirement match program
• Cell phone allowance
• Caregiver Program; Adoption Assistance program
• Tuition Reimbursement/Continuing Education program; Internal training and development 
• Hybrid-work position - With a flexible work schedule, you can hit the gym, catch your kid's big game, take your fur baby for a walk, or meet with friends for an extended lunch – we treat you like a grown-up!

Other considerations

• Domestic and international travel required 

Non-Discrimination Disclosure: We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other status or class protected by applicable law. We apply this policy to recruiting, hiring, training, testing, compensation, promotion, transfer, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment. If you require accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We will work with you to meet your needs.