Kantar, the world’s leading marketing data and analytics 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 25,000 people based in more than 100 countries help the world’s leading organisations succeed and grow. Nobody knows people better than Kantar. We provide insight and inspiration to help our clients, our people and society to create and flourish in an extraordinary world.

Job Title: Commercial Excellence Innovation Leader

Primary Objective

• Looking for a high impact Innovation expert with quantitative research experience and a proven track record of leading client relationships across the Innovation journey. This role requires an Innovation Leader who has a strong track record in Commercial Excellence working strategically with clients from the Identify to Build to Launch phases of Innovation.

Essential Responsibilities

• Drive forward a commercial agenda for the Innovation business

• Responsible for leading strategic client engagements from the beginning of the sales cycle with oversight of delivery on Innovation solution and consultation engagements

• Responsible for leading client engagement on medium size to highly strategic accounts

• Develops and evangelizes Innovation expertise and thought leadership across industry and within organization, using client, industry and Kantar data assets

• Ability to strategically manage time while prioritizing, delegating, and delivering against scope and provide guidance across multiple clients concurrently

• Ability to bring together the right capabilities and lead cross-functional teams, builds strong relationships with other Kantar leads to facilitate cross pollination of knowledge and expertise

• Ability to contribute to design of all projects as-needed or when-asked. Otherwise, ability to delegate design to the appropriate team members and oversee the process. Provides final say on setups, timeline, and scope

• Excellent presentation skills with demonstrated success in presenting to senior level clients.

• Supports our largest pitches with largest clients; accountable for supporting solution architecture and leading design and costing for proposals

• Leads development of strategic, actionable recommendations for clients’ business based on subject matter expertise and the findings from research/analysis

• Upgrades / enhances client deliverables and ensures delivery of best practices, incorporating thought leadership where applicable

• Identifies cross-sell opportunities and works with Commercial and Project Delivery teams to convert

• Partners with Kantar’s sales and strategic client teams to identify, design and sell opportunities within Innovation (and/or other areas as referrals are developed) business area utilizing Qualitative and/or Quantitative solutions

• Supports project profitability and department area revenue growth by understanding and resourcing projects in a way that aligns to scope, while overseeing delivery on high-complexity projects to remain within scope

• Partners with Product/Syndicated teams to share client needs/feedback to help drive solutions delivery

• Leads in every aspect – beyond projects but as an inspiring role model, mentor, and energizer within Solution area. Sets the tone for the team and leads by example in addition to vocally. Ensures team members know their contributions and time are valued. Delivers constructive feedback, especially if a team member is underperforming

• Plans resource availability across team, monitors utilization against target and resourcing needs

• Cultivates employee satisfaction by championing Kantar Specialist Community (i.e., in department meetings highlighting case studies and providing kudos where warranted)

• Develops high-performance team by finding and filling learning gaps, leaning into individual strengths and developing a plan for improving weaknesses for each team member, and knowledge sharing

• Leads and develops learning/upskilling programs to enhance team members’ technical knowledge and solution expertise, directs team members towards relevant trainings from Kantar syndicate trainings or on-demand to close knowledge gaps. Ensures team members are completing training and development steps

• Creates opportunities to share learnings

• Spearheads initiatives that improve, automate, and streamline processes

• Develops expert in field and brings specialist expertise to market for clients and prospects by mining relevant thought leadership, participating in thought leadership discussions, and developing a point of view on key industry trends

• Ability to step in with a solution-forward perspective when all issues arise, especially high-complexity issues with significant implications

• Use vast knowledge of account/industry to logic check data/deliverables

• Embraces our culture and ensures an inclusive and positive environment

• Leads activities that help shape our culture (i.e., ERGs, trainings, social communities)

Essential Knowledge & Experience

• 15+ years of market research experience in all aspects of the Innovation journey with clients

• Experience and demonstrated ability leading and coaching team members, taking an active role in their development as professionals

• Knowledge of a wide variety of research methods

• Demonstrated experience performing custom research / analytics for multiple strategic research projects simultaneously from design to analysis and reporting

• Experience creating study designs for strategic research projects, serving as subject matter expert on effective research design to clients

• While the main objective of this role is to lead quantitative research engagements, the candidate must be fluent in other research techniques, including Qualitative research, Trends, Creative and Brand

• Proven experience consulting with and presenting insights and recommendations to clients

• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) with the ability to use logical reasoning and problem solving

• Can-do attitude with experience successfully managing complexity, is driven, takes initiative, demonstrates ownership and can manage challenging situations

• Strong project management experience and time management while delivering against multiple deadlines

• Bachelor’s degree in market research/marketing or related social science and analytic subject areas

Essential Skills & Capabilities Managerial Skills

• Ability to lead and cultivate senior level client relationships

• Plans complex engagement / job planning

• Excellent project management skills

• Motivates / leads individuals & teams, stewards team culture Technical / Analytical

• Command of research methods and tools

• Provides technical and analytical leadership for maximum client impact

• Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills

• Confidently delivers messages and exemplifies Kantar values

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.

Privacy and Legal Statement

PRIVACY DISCLOSURE: Please note that by applying to this opportunity you consent to the personal data you provide to us to be processed and retained by The Kantar Group Limited (“Kantar”). Your details will be kept on our Internal ATS (Applicant Tracking System) for as long as is necessary for the purposes of recruitment, which may include your details being shared with the hiring manager

The salary range for this role in Connecticut is USD 157,500.00 - 262,500.00 Your final base salary will be determined based on several factors which may include but are not limited to location, work experience, skills, knowledge, education and/or certifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.