Head Of Research

Our client is a specialist research and insight agency with an outstanding reputation in the research and tech industry. With offices in the UK and US, they work with some of the world's most recognised entertainment and consumer brands, helping them understand the behaviours, motivations, and passions of customers. They sit at a genuinely exciting intersection of research, digital, and entertainment, giving them a perspective on audiences that few agencies can match.

At the heart of their offer is a proprietary research product that delivers deep, actionable insight into their market in a way that sets them apart from any generalist agency.

The Opportunity

This is a senior leadership role for someone who wants to run something, not just work within it. You'll take ownership of the research function, leading a well-established, high-performing team and shaping the strategic direction of a division that is central to the business.

The team is in good shape, the offer is strong and the client base is enviable. What's needed now is a leader who can elevate the function. Someone who thinks strategically, gives clear direction, pushes the team's thinking, and isn't afraid to get in front of clients..

What You'll Do

Lead, develop and inspire a talented research team; setting standards, giving honest feedback, and creating a culture of excellence
Oversee the delivery of quantitative and mixed method research programmes, providing strategic direction rather than hands on execution
Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, leading presentations and insight sessions with confidence and authority
Drive commercial growth by expanding existing client relationships
Lead proposal development and pitching for new business. Working with existing warm relationships and an already strong pipeline
Champion innovation within the research function. Developing new initiatives, methodologies, and service lines including growing the qualitative offer
Think strategically about the division's future, contributing to business wide decisions alongside the senior leadership team
Represent the business at industry events and conferences in the UK and internationally

What We're Looking For

You'll be a senior research professional, most likely at Director or Associate Director level, with a strong agency background and the credibility to lead both a team and a client conversation. Specifically:

Strong quantitative expertise with broad exposure to qual. You don't need to be a qual specialist, but you need to understand it and see its value
Experience overseeing complex, market research programmes including segmentation, trackers, and ideally advanced analytics
A natural leader - someone who gives clear, constructive feedback and develops the people around them
Commercially confident. Comfortable contributing to revenue targets and engaging clients in a business development context
Brilliant communicator with high energy and presence, someone who owns the room in a client presentation
Strategic thinker who can see beyond individual projects to the bigger picture of what the division should become
Experience working in entertainment, gaming, media, digital, or youth focused sectors is a bonus but not essential

What's on Offer

Up to £70,000 base salary
Private healthcare insurance
25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Additional day off for your birthday
Workplace pension (3% employer / 5% employee contributions)
Employee Assistance Programme; free confidential support covering mental health, counselling, and legal or financial guidance
Enhanced DBS check arranged and funded by the employer
Hybrid working, a minimum two days per week in the Leeds office
Some (not regular) UK and international travel (US) for key clients and eventsIf you would like to find out more, please submity your details in the usual fashion.

Calibre Search promote equality in the workplace and we welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified candidates regardless of their sex, race, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age. We act as both an employment agency and employment business
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed