Associate Research Director- Sensory and Consumer Science
Hybrid · Reading, England, United Kingdom
Job Summary
Associate Research Director leads accounts and projects within SAM’s sensory and consumer research team, oversees 2-3 Research Managers, and delivers complex proposals, tenders, and large-scale regional/global projects while guiding client feedback into strategic insights. Responsibilities include managing 3-4 FMCG product testing accounts, achieving revenue targets, developing proactive risk/opportunity plans, ensuring timely high-quality delivery, mentoring and coaching the team, and aligning outputs with client objectives and broader business priorities. Requires experience in consumer/sensory research, quantitative methods, and leadership; strong communication and MS Office proficiency; and a track record of coaching, project management, and delivering insightful, story-led recommendations based on market trends and project performance.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum 3 years in consumer research and/or sensory research
- FMCG product testing experience (practical experience of core product testing methodologies: e.g. HUTs, CLTs, IDIs)
- Significant experience in quantitative consumer research methodologies
- Minimum foundational understanding of qual research
- Significant leadership/management experience as a Research Manager
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
- Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Strong leadership abilities to manage teams and oversee large-scale research initiatives
- Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills
- Rigorous, responsive and proactive
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