Consumer Insight Specialist
(Client Director)

A senior account leadership role within our Brand Consulting team, specifically focused on spearheading one of our largest global tobacco and nicotine accounts. As a Client Director, you will be a primary driver of high-impact qualitative research, bridging the gap between deep consumer behavioural science and commercial brand strategy. You will lead multi-million pound workstreams across Brand Identity, Positioning, and Innovation, acting as a trusted advisor to senior global stakeholders. Your mission is to evolve our thinking, convert complex insights into actionable growth strategies, and empower a high-performing team to deliver excellence in a fast-paced, client-centric environment.

Clients

• Lead and manage the day-to-day activity of major accounts, ensuring qualitative research workstreams deeply address complex business challenges and nicotine category nuances.
• Build and nurture strong, senior-level client relationships, acting as a trusted consultant and the primary point of contact for strategic advice.
• Champion Brand Potential’s modular expertise to identify and convert new opportunities for growth within the account portfolio.

Culture

• Role-model the agency’s values and high-performance standards in every client interaction and internal collaboration.
• Actively coach and develop junior researchers and account managers, building the next generation of leadership within the Brand Consulting team.
• Contribute to a supportive and inclusive team environment that values diverse perspectives and creative problem-solving.

Commerciality

• Take full ownership of account commercial performance, ensuring the delivery of agreed revenue and margin targets through strategic resource management.
• Lead accurate forecasting, budgeting, and financial reporting for assigned accounts to ensure long-term profitability.
• Identify and drive efficiencies in project delivery, ensuring creative craft consistently connects to tangible commercial outcomes.

Collaboration:

• Coordinate and inspire cross-functional teams—including Strategy, Design, and Creative—to deliver seamless, high-quality outputs on brief and on time.
• Partner closely with internal stakeholders (Finance, Production, and Leadership) to ensure operational excellence across all global workstreams.
• Translate complex, multi-market research briefs into clear, actionable plans that align with the wider agency's "Power of Collective Thinking."

Communication

• Act as the lead communicative bridge between global clients and internal teams, ensuring transparency on scope, risks, and strategic direction.
• Master the art of storytelling by translating rich qualitative data and behavioural science into compelling, high-impact narratives for senior stakeholders.
• Facilitate senior-level workshops and presentations with gravitas, providing clarity and authority on strategic recommendations.

Creativity

• Bring industry-leading strategic thinking to research design, moderation, and synthesis across work streams like Ethnography and Concept Innovation.
• Champion the quality of creative output, ensuring that insights are not just data points but inspirations for brand transformation.
• Persistently look for innovative ways to evolve research methodologies, including the integration of AI and new technologies.

For this role, we are looking for the following core competencies and behaviours:

• Qualitative Research Mastery: Expert-level experience in methodological design and moderation, with a specific background in the tobacco or nicotine category.
• Strategic Storytelling: Ability to synthesise complex insights across multiple markets and platforms into clear, high-impact presentations and workshops.
• Senior Account Leadership: A proven track record of managing multi-million pound accounts and navigating high-level stakeholder relationships with resilience.
• AI & Tech Acumen: A proactive curiosity for leveraging AI tools and emerging technologies to enhance research efficiency and data analysis.
• Commercial Gravitas: Strong financial acumen with experience owning P&L targets and connecting insight synthesis to business growth.
• People Leadership: Dedicated mentor and line manager focused on fostering a high-performance culture and developing talent at all levels.
• Operational Excellence: Sharp eye for detail with the ability to manage multiple complex work streams in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Emotional Intelligence: High level of self-awareness and integrity, capable of leading confidently under pressure and advocating for innovative ideas.
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