Director (Insight Business Unit)

In a nutshell

Yonder is the Insight and Transformation Company. Our purpose to deliver confidence to clients in decisions that matter, through unifying the breadth of our capabilities across the business. This includes our insight practice: as our clients continue to face challenging operating contexts, constrained budgets and constant technological change, our mission is to provide complete decision intelligence for absolute conviction. We support our clients right throughout the decision-making process by a combination of high-quality data, elite data science and high value insight, and our use of cutting edge technology to enhance and empower our human traits.

We are looking for an experienced, strategically and commercially minded Director with excellent mixed-methodology research skills to work with a range of interesting and high-profile public and private sector clients, aligned to our core Insight capabilities: audience understanding, brand and marketing, product development/ innovation, public and social insight, corporate affairs and politics. You will also gain exposure to the wider range of Yonder projects, including, but not limited to, brand strategy and creative development. If you are an experienced Research Director and have a proven track record of building strong client relationships, delivering strategically focused work to the highest standard, and growing new business, we’d like to hear from you

Your skills & experience

You will have been working as a hands-on insight specialist in a research consultancy or client-side, confident in the use of research to inform and provide strategic advice to help clients make better decisions. You would have had responsibility for developing and leading strategic client relationships. You have a broad range of interests, are curious about how the business world works and follow the economic, social and political trends that influence it.

You demonstrate outstanding storytelling, written and verbal skills, and have excellent attention to detail. You have experience of leading high profile client relationships and are confident in a client-facing role which demands high quality strategic thinking. Commercially minded, you have a track record of successful new business development from existing and new clients. You can creatively apply research to business challenges and use your initiative to grow, develop and learn.

Whilst you’re a researcher, you will have an interest in collaborating with colleagues across the business from brand strategy and culture to data analytics and creative.

It is desirable that you will have:

solid research experience across a range of industry sectors;

an interest in sport and/ or experience with working with clients in the sports sector (preferably including football) is essential, as you will lead a very high-profile sports client relationship;

experience of leading and collaborating with teams to deliver major research projects;

expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research;

experience of using research and expert knowledge to provide high-quality insight and tailored, strategic advice for clients;

excellent presentation skills, with extensive experience in leading the delivery of impactful reports and presentations to clients;

experience of leading the development and management of major client relationships to deliver new work, including proposing work to clients;

demonstrable leadership in new business development and developing strategies for growing specific expertise at Yonder (e.g., a sector specialism, or a practise area which Yonder focuses on – audience understanding, brand and marketing, product development/ innovation, public and social insight, corporate affairs and politics);

experience of managing people and teams, including managing performance and supporting career development.

The role

You will lead a high-profile and high value client in sports, with responsibility for continuing to develop the client relationships and seek further opportunities for growth. You will help to build new, revenue-generating partnerships, working closely with Business Development and Senior Leadership. You will bring creative problem-solving to client challenges, inspiring others with fresh thinking and constructive challenge. You will lead and coach team members, including managers, and be a key source of direction and support.

You will design and deliver qualitative and/or quantitative research programmes, partnering with Data Science/Analytics, and Strategy Consulting specialists to produce insights that drive tangible business impact. You will use a range of research and consulting techniques to answer client questions and solve business problems.

You will:

own and be responsible for the overall strategic direction of client relationships – leading teams to ensure that all projects are delivered to agreed budgets and timetables;

demonstrate expertise, passing on knowledge to other team members and inspiring clients;

lead high-value, high-profile and sensitive research projects from design to analysis;

collaborate with colleagues across Yonder to bring together rounded, comprehensive and cohesive advice for clients;

contribute to the allocation of resources to projects;

bring strong expertise in new business development and conversion, including proposal writing and pitching;

line manage and support the professional development of colleagues;

contribute to the profile and reputation of Yonder through publishing articles and undertaking speaking engagements and media appearances;

take a leadership position within the Insight practice, supporting Yonder’s strategy, vision and values.

What Yonder can offer you

Yonder has a real buzz as we continue to grow. We reward people who help to drive that growth, and the company supports and encourages new ideas which will add value. We offer a competitive salary, 30 days holiday (plus your birthday day off!), a 5% employer pension contribution, life assurance and other benefits like volunteering leave, flexible working and 4pm finishes on Fridays etc.

As we operate a hybrid working model, there will be an expectation to work from our London office two days a week.

Our Values and behaviours

We Focus

Engage / Express with clarity / Take a view / Be pragmatic

We Go Further

Challenge the thinking / Be brave (backed by evidence) / Work at the edge/ Celebrate imagination

We Pursue Brilliance

Discover what matters / Be a yardstick / Show professional integrity / Bring the energy

We’re In It Together

Connect with authenticity / Be open / Lift yourself by lifting others / Muck in