Senior Research Director | ResTech

Senior Research Director | ResTech

Salary | $$$ Competitive + bonus

Location | Austin, TX (Hybrid, 3 days at the office)

The kind of role that doesn’t come along often.

If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated with how slow or disconnected traditional research can feel from real innovation, this one might feel like it was written for you.

You’ve likely spent your career working in or around Market Research, Consumer Insights, or Innovation – either agency side or in-house. You know the power of a strong insight. You understand how to frame business questions. You’re fluent in the language of stakeholders and commercial value. And you’ve probably had a few moments where you thought, “Surely, there’s a faster, smarter way to do this?”

There is. And that’s where this story begins.

This business is scaling fast – with clients across Europe and an ambitious growth plan for the US. Their ResTech platform is already helping FMCG and consumer brands test early, iterate confidently and launch smarter – all backed by agile consumer validation. But technology alone isn’t enough. Clients need partners. Advisors. People who get the ‘why’ behind research – and can connect insight to impact.

That’s where you come in.

You’ll be joining as a (senior) Research Director, embedded in the Customer Success function but with a strategic lens. Your role is not to ‘manage projects’ – it’s to unlock value. To help clients embed this platform into their innovation process. To spot white space. To ask better questions. To champion insight in the moments that matter. You’ll work closely with sales, product and managed services, with plenty of support from a European HQ – and from day one, you’ll be a critical part of the company’s US growth journey.

This isn’t a BAU job. It needs drive. Curiosity. Hunger. Someone who’s commercially-minded and proactive enough to map out stakeholders, navigate complexity, and get under the skin of a client’s business. The clients will vary – from global consumer brands to challenger startups, but what they’ll have in common is the need for someone who can help them see what’s possible.

You will be a key driver in managing and growing relationships with the company’s major enterprise clients, including leading global brands in the food and beverage sector. This role requires a strategic and commercially minded professional with strong market research expertise who can act as the trusted advisor to clients.

You will be responsible for managing a significant book of business, responding to RFPs, crafting proposals, and embedding yourself deeply within client organisations to deliver tailored, data-driven solutions. While you will not be involved in day-to-day project delivery, your ability to fluently discuss methodologies and collaborate closely with the firm's managed services team will be critical to building client trust and driving revenue growth.

This position offers a unique opportunity to transition into a leadership role with sales accountability, balancing client relationship management with commercial objectives to ensure long-term partnership success.

A few things you’ll need to thrive here :

➤ A background in Market Research or Consumer Insights (non-negotiable).

➤ FMCG / CPG research experience will be a HUGE advantage!

➤ Market Research Agency experience is ESSENTIAL (classic research or insight agency with a knowledge of the full research lifecycle process).

➤ QUANT research expertise.

➤ Confidence speaking to senior stakeholders about the commercial value of insights.

➤ A strategic approach to account growth and relationship development.

➤ Experience in a client-facing role – preferably with INNOVATION, or Insight platform exposure (Consumer-led research).

➤ A love of innovation and a bias for action.

To succeed in this role, you’ll need to demonstrate core competencies, which we’ll assess through a competency-based interview and a task.

Key Competencies :

➤ Demonstrated ability in managing & growing a book of business , including proposal writing, responding to RFPs, and embedding oneself as a trusted partner within major enterprise clients.

➤ A strong strategic mindset with experience in consultative selling and the ability to translate complex client needs into tailored research solutions without direct involvement in project delivery.

➤ Deep knowledge of market research methodologies , particularly custom research , with the ability to advise clients on tailored solutions and effectively partner with delivery teams.

➤ Experience at a senior director (market research) or (junior) VP level, with a track record of driving revenue growth and preparing to take on full P&L or sales responsibility for key accounts , preferably in a fast-paced, SaaS-influenced environment.

➤ Comfortable working autonomously and aligning with international colleagues in different time zones.

This company offers flexibility, autonomy, and a genuinely collaborative international team culture. You’ll have a voice, room to grow, and a seat at the table as the business shapes its US presence. You’ll also have quarterly travel (to major capitals in Europe) and the chance to make your mark in a business that’s anything but traditional!

🟠 Please apply with your CV via this advert.

🟠 This is a hybrid role (ideally 3 days at the office), so you MUST be based in Austin, TX.

🟠 Sadly, due to the high volume of applications, we’re unable to respond to individuals directly. If you don’t hear from us within 7 days, please assume your application has not been successful.

🟠 The process will include : a Discovery Call and a Competency-Based Interview with Joanna, the retained Talent Search Partner.

🟠 Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to a video call with the Head of BU, followed by a more formal team interview, which will include a task and a final call with the CEO.