Head of Qualitative Research

Role Overview

I’m hiring a Qualitative Research Lead to join a well‑established creative, media and insight agency, leading and evolving their qualitative capability. This is a pivotal hire, taking ownership of the qualitative function and shaping how insight is delivered across the business.

Salary: £70,000-£110,000 (flexible depending on experience). Location: Mansfield – 3 days per week onsite, with some travel for research and client work.

Role

You’ll step into a team that already delivers strong core qualitative research but now needs someone to:

• Expand into more advanced methodologies (ethnography, semiotics, cultural insight)
• Lead and grow a team (currently 3, scaling to 5)
• Bring fresh thinking into how insight supports creative and strategic outputs
• Raise the quality, breadth, and impact of qualitative work

Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end qualitative research across multiple sectors
• Design and deliver projects including ethnography, communities, depth interviews, and more
• Bring new methodologies into the team (e.g. semiotics, cultural insight, behavioural approaches)
• Deliver compelling, insight‑led narratives to senior stakeholders

Team Leadership & Growth

• Line‑manage and develop a team of 3–5 qualitative researchers
• Mentor, coach, and upskill the team
• Support hiring and team growth

Client & Commercial Work

• Act as senior qualitative lead across key accounts
• Work closely with account and strategy teams to shape client work
• Support pitches, proposals, and growth opportunities

Innovation & Strategy

• Bring new ideas, tools, and approaches into the insight function
• Help evolve the agency’s qualitative offering and positioning
• Contribute to thought leadership and innovation across the team

Key Qualifications

• ~8+ years’ experience in qualitative research (agency‑side strongly preferred)
• Currently at Associate Director or Director level
• Proven experience leading and developing a qualitative team
• Strong client‑facing experience and stakeholder management
• Ability to deliver high‑quality, commercially impactful insight

Key Differentiators

• Experience beyond traditional qualitative (ethnography, semiotics, cultural or behavioural insight)
• Experience shaping or growing a qualitative function or capability

Not the Right Fit If

• You’ve purely been a small part of a large, highly structured consultancy
• You haven’t had ownership of projects, clients, or teams

Work Environment

• Fast‑paced, creative, and collaborative
• Insight sits close to creative, strategy, and client teams
• High exposure to major consumer brands (including global accounts)
• Opportunity to have real influence, not just deliver work

Location & Working Pattern

• Mansfield – 3 days per week onsite (non‑negotiable)
• Some travel for research and client work

Salary

• £70k‑£110k (flexible depending on experience)

Why This Role

• True ownership of a qualitative function
• Opportunity to expand into advanced and strategic research approaches
• Lead a team and shape its future direction
• Work in an agency where insight directly influences creative output and strategy
• Rare role that combines hands‑on research, leadership, and innovation

If you’re an experienced qualitative leader who wants more ownership, influence, and the chance to evolve a function, this is a standout opportunity.

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