Director, Consulting

Director – For Kantar Consulting Team

We go beyond the obvious, using intelligence, passion and creativity to inspire new thinking and shape the world we live in. Apply for a career that's out of the ordinary and join us.

We want to create an equality of opportunity in a fair and supportive working environment where people feel included, accepted and are allowed to flourish in a space where their mental health and well being is taken into consideration.

We want to create a more diverse community to expand our talent pool, be locally representative, drive diversity of thinking and better commercial outcomes.

Kantar is the world's leading data, insights and consulting company. We understand more about how people think, feel, shop, share, vote and view than anyone else. Combining our expertise in human understanding with advanced technologies, Kantar's 30,000 people help the world's leading organisations succeed and grow.

Job Details

About the role:

• Job Title: Director – for Kantar Consulting Team
• Job Location: New York City, Boston, or Chicago

Primary Objective

• Profitably grow the business by managing and delivering high-quality/high-impact brand strategy and consulting solutions in a dynamic, collaborative environment.
• Hone your client relationship and consulting skills to establish yourself as a trusted and strategic advisor to existing and new clients

Scope of Role

• Manage delivery of a variety of consulting projects such as brand strategy, market structures, consumer & demand segmentations, brand valuations, brand portfolio strategy, brand architecture, brand purpose, organizational performance, front end innovation, commerce strategy etc.
• Assist senior team members with design of custom approaches to address client questions; engage with the client to properly understand client context and challenges and ensure we achieve project objectives
• Function as the main point of contact for clients
• Develop overall project workplan to deliver on scope; oversee day-to-day management of all project-related activities and maintain progress against workplan
• Lead development of consulting solution deliverables (e.g., questionnaire, sample design, analytic plan, reporting)
• Responsible for overseeing the team on execution of project tasks; ensuring outputs are meaningful and actionable for clients
• Conduct data analysis, synthesizes data from multiple sources, displays critical and analytical thinking skills
• Take an active role in storytelling by identifying and bringing together compelling insights from the research and translating learnings into "so what" recommendations and next steps for clients
• Package deliverables and presentations to ensure they are clear, relevant and impactful - use vast knowledge of account / industry to logic check deliverables
• Keep project leadership apprised of progress and thoughtfully solicit input to ensure available expertise is fully leveraged
• Lead project related client conversations, facilitate decision making and translate decisions into clear next steps for the team
• Starting to lead client presentations and facilitate client workshops
• Proactively identify and solve project issues as they arise
• Ensure a high level of accuracy in all stages of the project, help the team optimize efficiency of delivery without sacrifice of quality
• Help build successful project teams, mentoring and supporting junior team members
• Responsible for staff utilization and financial management of projects
• Demonstrate a high-level understanding of Kantar data sources, tools, and practice areas, and follow the latest developments.
• Exhibit good critical and analytical thinking skills, actively share ideas and point of view
• Support senior leadership in identifying and securing new client opportunities, development of proposals and winning work
• Work closely with senior partners to design proposals and pitch solutions for client marketing problems. Actively look for opportunities to apply all Kantar solutions in service of our clients.
• Provide feedback across the team (managing up and down) where opportunities to improve exist
• Take ownership of building your own skills through training and asking questions
• Challenge the status quo, look for opportunities to improve, automate, streamline processes – including incorporating the use of AI to improve efficiency and work processes.
• Demonstrate curiosity and a commitment to building an understanding of our capabilities, solutions, data sources and analytic methods.
• Proactively build relationships with consulting colleagues to receive support and feedback
• Understand our culture and how to take an active role on the team (e.g., attending/participating in ERG/Social Community meetings/activities/training

Essential Knowledge & Experience

• 5+ years of professional experience in similar capacity – Management consulting, brand strategy consulting, or custom market research experience preferred with exposure to quantitative methodologies
• Strong academic background: Bachelor's degree (preferred major or concentration in marketing / market research, social science, mathematics or other analytic fields), Masters preferred
• Proven experience performing custom research / analytics / consulting for multiple strategic research or consulting projects; experience presenting insights and recommendation to clients
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) with ability to use logical reasoning and problem solving
• Demonstrates ownership, a can-do attitude and experience managing complexity and challenging situations
• Is curious and driven, proactive mindset, takes initiative to work independently and within a team
• Strong project and time management experience, organized while delivering against multiple/competing deadlines
• Proficient computer skills in Microsoft office tools and ability to master other needed business tools (e.g., SPSS, Survey Reporter, data management / cross tab tools and other proprietary tools)
• Experience with AI tools and openness to exploring more ways to incorporate AI into our work and processes
• Strong business acumen; brand savvy
• Interest in mentoring and fostering junior team members

Essential Skills & Capabilities

Managerial Skills

• Plans complex engagement / job planning
• Excellent project management skills
• Motivates / leads individuals and teams, stewards team culture

Communication

• Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills
• Confidently delivers messages and exemplifies Kantar values

Technical / Analytical

• Command of marketing research methods, tools, and science
• Provides technical and analytical leadership for maximum client impact
• Ability to master business tools
• Interest / intellectual curiosity in learning the various Kantar solutions

Kantar Benefits

We provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package, including

• Medical plans with comprehensive, affordable coverage for a range of health services
• Health Savings Account/FSA
• Dental, Vision and benefits to cover unique healthcare needs
• Wellness Program
• 401k with match
• Tuition Reimbursement, Commuter benefits
• Unlimited PTO

Why join Kantar?

We shape the brands of tomorrow by better understanding people everywhere. By understanding people, we can understand what drives their decisions, actions, and aspirations on a global scale. And by amplifying our in-depth expertise of human understanding alongside ground-breaking technology, we can help brands find concrete insights that will help them succeed in our fast-paced, ever shifting world.

And because we know people, we like to make sure our own people are being looked after as well. Equality of opportunity for everyone is our highest priority and we support our colleagues to work in a way that supports their health and wellbeing. While we encourage teams to spend part of their working week in the office, we understand no one size fits all; our approach is flexible to ensure everybody feels included, accepted, and that we can win together. We're dedicated to creating an inclusive culture and value the diversity of our people, clients, suppliers and communities, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds and sections of society. Even if you feel like you're not an exact match, we'd love to receive your application and talk to you about this job or others at Kantar.