Role: Qualitative Researcher
Location: Mumbai | Work Mode: On-site
Experience: 3–6 years
Industry: Market Research / Consumer Insights / Design Research
Thinking Hats is looking for a curious, sharp and creatively inclined Qualitative Researcher to join our team in Mumbai.
We are looking for someone who goes beyond simply finding what consumers say to uncovering why they behave the way they do, what they struggle with, and what opportunities lie beneath the obvious.
What will you do
- Lead and execute qualitative and design research projects across categories and consumer segments.
- Design research approaches and methodologies based on the business problem.
- Conduct and moderate in-depth interviews, focus groups, ethnographies, contextual immersions, accompanied shopping, shop-alongs, co-creation workshops and other qualitative methods.
- Observe consumers in their natural environments and identify latent needs, tensions, motivations and behavioural patterns.
- Translate observations and conversations into meaningful consumer insights and opportunity areas.
- Apply design thinking and human-centred research principles to solve complex business and consumer problems.
- Work closely with clients to understand the underlying business challenge and shape the research accordingly.
- Analyse and synthesise large amounts of qualitative information into compelling stories, frameworks and actionable recommendations.
- Contribute to developing innovative research methodologies, tools and stimuli.
- Present findings and recommendations confidently to senior client stakeholders.
What are we looking for
- 3–6 years of experience in qualitative research, design research, consumer insights or a closely related field.
- Experience with a reputed qualitative market research / consumer insights / design research agency is preferred.
- Strong grounding in qualitative research methodologies and moderation.
- A genuine interest in people, culture, behaviour and human motivations.
- Ability to look beyond stated responses and identify the why behind the why.
- Strong analytical and synthesis skills — ability to connect disparate observations and identify patterns.
- Creative and lateral thinking with an ability to approach a problem from multiple perspectives.
- Strong storytelling and presentation skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication.
- Ability to independently manage projects while working collaboratively with a team.
- Comfort with ambiguity and an appetite for solving unfamiliar problems.
- Experience in ethnography, design thinking, co-creation, semiotics, cultural research or innovation research will be an added advantage.
Why Thinking Hats
At Thinking Hats, research is not an end in itself. We use people, culture and behaviour as the starting point for solving business and brand problems.
You will get the opportunity to work across brands, categories and complex consumer questions, and be involved from problem definition and research design through to insight, strategy and recommendation.
If you are someone who believes that great research should change the way a business thinks, we'd love to hear from you.
