Research Director

We are currently looking for a Research Director to join one of the group’s specialist divisions. This division partners with governments, civil society, foundations, academia, and the private sector, to work on the critical issues of our time, including the climate emergency, social justice, conflict prevention, and sustainable development. We provide a fully integrated, end to end service, combining multi-discipline communications teams with subject matter experts, across the world. Our work is domestic and global, often affecting the most vulnerable in society, with international activity orientated towards conflict affected or developing countries.

This role is based out of our New York office. We may also consider remote candidates who are comfortable making regular trips to the NY Office.

Job Responsibilities:

• Regional Expertise. The Research Director is a key staff member in a geographic team. Currently there are four regional teams – Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The RD is expected to be (or become) an authority on their region (in this case, the Middle East), with the ability to sense-check any of the analysis produced by the analysts within the team.
• Formal management of individuals. This position carries line management responsibility. Using the company HR portal, the RD will administer the development, appraisals, objectives, performance reviews of one or more Research Managers, Research Analysts, or Research Interns.
• Informal team management. This position will be expected to work with others not within the formal line management structure – many employees, both in the research team and outside it, will contribute to the work of the RD. The RD Is expected to autonomously manage the contributions of other reporting parties, coordinating with the individuals’ line managers where necessary. This autonomous management will be accompanied by regular reporting to the Insights Director/Senior Research Directors.
• Ownership of project research reporting. Many personnel contribute to project evaluation reporting: the Senior RD carries ultimate responsibility for the content and accuracy of assigned project reporting with senior support from the RD. For assigned projects, the SRD will coordinate all inputs from accounts teams, research analysts and digital/social insight managers, as well as from third party vendors, to produce coherent and dispassionate reports.
• Managing research partner relationships. This role will see the use of many different supply partners providing research and insight. A core responsibility is to manage the prompt and efficient delivery of these inputs, and to find solutions to late delivery or unagreed changes of scope.
• Implementation of evaluation strategies. The RD will assist the SRDs in designing assessment instruments, and assessment strategies, and on occasion may be in the lead for designing evaluation instruments and strategies for specific projects. It is expected that the SRD will design formative and evaluative research instruments; liaise with research companies that deliver the instruments; report the findings of the primary research in a clear, articulate and timely manner; and to assist with optimizing the project’s strategy and delivery.
  
  
  

About You:

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a relevant field.
• Proven relevant professional research, monitoring and evaluation experience.
• Experience in evaluating behavioral change communications, including experience in designing and conducting both quantitative and qualitative research studies is a requirement.
• Strong quantitative analysis skills (with experience using SPSS, R, Stata, or other statistical packages).
• Good communication skills including experience presenting research findings and explaining technical concepts to multiple stakeholders including non-researchers, clients, etc.
  
  
  

What we offer:

M&CS offers a competitive benefits package including: 25 vacation days, 401k match, annual pay reviews, flexible working, and WFH opportunities. Salary is dependent on experience but ranges from: $120,000-$150,000. All candidates must have the ability to work in the US; we are unable to sponsor any work visas for this role.

The M&C Saatchi Group UK has pledged its commitment to create a company that values difference, with an inclusive culture brought to life through equity with business-wide activity across people, culture, industry, and society. As part of this, M&C Saatchi Group continues to be an Equal Opportunity Employer which does not and shall not discriminate, celebrates diversity and bases all hiring and promotion decisions solely on merit, without regard for any personal characteristics.

M&C Saatchi Group was founded in 1995 and is now the biggest Independent creative agency group in the World. Founded on one core principle, Brutal Simplicity.