Associate Director, Qualitative Services

Associate Director, Qualitative Services

This role is to be based near one of our offices in Los Angeles, New York, Austin, Chicago or Oakland.

About us 

We turn customer challenges into growth opportunities.   

Material is a global strategy partner to the world’s most recognizable brands and innovative companies. Our people around the globe thrive by helping organizations design and deliver rewarding customer experiences.  

We use deep human insights, design innovation and data to create experiences powered by modern technology. Our approaches speed engagement and growth for the companies we work with and transform relationships between businesses and the people they serve.  

About the Associate Director role 

The Associate Director (AD) will efficiently and independently manage all aspects of projects including but not limited to recruitment efforts, cost and overall profit margin. Acting as a liaison between client, vendors, and various departments within Material. The AD coordinates all components of the study from the beginning to the end.  This hybrid role is responsible for project management, mentoring and overseeing staff, driving sales and maintaining client relationships.  ADs are often asked to take the role of Field Manager when working on M+ studies where they will work directly with project team/end clients. 

Job success is based on having excellent communication, leadership, organization skills and customer services skills coupled with the ability to provide fast-turnaround information both internally and externally. The AD is expected to manage their own time and projects independently and successfully.

As an Associate Director, you will 

• Set up projects in Workday, brief and monitor appropriate staff/vendors of new projects.

• Provide feasibility feedback for Business Developers.

• Accurately submit necessary information to process credit checks on new clients.

• Confirm, monitor and manage project parameters, specifications, dates, etc. and reserve all facility resources necessary for successful execution of research projects within budget.

• Onboard new vendor resources as needed with Accounts payable/legal.

• Brief and update the necessary personnel/vendors on aspects of project.

• Monitor production and work with clients, vendors and managers when problems occur.

• Book vendor resources and schedule field/recruit briefing prior to launch.

• Provide daily client updates detailing recruiting progress and calling out any potential issues.

• Monitor project productivity and progress.

• Inform clients of spec changes and cost and/or timing implications.

• Monitor study for problems and make recommendations to ensure client receives quality service and data so project is completed within original or revised budget parameters.

• Maintain constant communication with clients and internal departments regarding changes in project. Report changes to all appropriate personnel. All changes communicated in writing.

• Prepare advance billing documentation and purchase orders for honoraria upon receipt of awarded study. Final Summary of Charges to be accurately sent to client within three days of project closing.

• Overall, act as liaison between client and company to ensure projects are managed properly, timely and within budget.

• Oversee and monitor utilization numbers of direct and indirect reports (Senior Associates, Coordinators, Specialists).

• Assisting M+ clients with screener development/creation.

• Attending high level kick off calls with project team/end clients.

• Platform project setup/management (ie. Discuss.IO and Recollective).

• Managing client list recruits with specific approved vendors.

• Managing B2B vendors/recruiting.

• Managing international vendor recruiting.

About you 

• A minimum of 5+ years market research experience – project management and client management.

• A minimum of 5+ years respondent facing/recruitment experience.

• 3+ years’ experience managing people preferred.

• You have a bachelor’s degree or higher. 

• Willing to coordinate and lead daily team activities 

• Able to provide immediate supervision to direct reports which include assigning tasks, checking work and maintaining schedules 

• Willing to spend a portion of your time performing the work of those you supervise 

• Dependable and reliable.

• Excellent time management and multitasking ability – to handle multiple projects and client needs simultaneously.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Computer skills – MS Office with an emphasis on Excel and Outlook for emails.

• Project management, time management and task management skills.

• High attention to detail for accuracy.

• Team player: willingness to wear many hats.

• Hours include working some evenings, weekends based on project needs

Why work for Material? 

In addition to fulfilling, high-impact work, company culture and benefits are integral to determining if a job is a right fit for you. Here’s a bit about who we are and highlights around what we offer. 

Who We Are & What We Care About 

• Material is a global company and we work with best-of-class brands worldwide.  We also create and launch new brands and products, putting innovation and value creation at the center of our practice. Our clients are in the top of their class, across industry sectors from technology to retail, transportation, finance and healthcare. 

• Material employees join a peer group of exceptionally talented colleagues across the company, the country, and even the world. We develop capabilities, craft and leading-edge market offerings across seven global practices including strategy and insights, design, data & analytics, technology and tracking. Our engagement management team makes it all hum for clients.  

• We prize inclusion and interconnectedness. We amplify our impact through the people, perspectives, and expertise we engage in our work. Our commitment to deep human understanding combined with a science & systems approach uniquely equips us to bring a rich frame of reference to our work. 

• A community focused on learning and making an impact. Material is an outcomes focused company. We create experiences that matter, create new value and make a difference in people's lives.  

Pay Range: $70,600.00 - $84,300.00

The range shown represents a grouping of relevant ranges currently in use at Material. Actual range for this position may differ, depending on location and specific skillset required for the work itself. 

Equal Employment Opportunity  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law. 

Privacy Statement

Material is committed to protecting privacy in our recruiting processes for all candidates. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy. California-resident applicants should also refer to our California-resident Candidate Privacy Statement.

If you need support with a privacy-related matter, please send an email to: [email protected]o