Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced and highly capable Senior Manager / Associate Director – Research Operations & Client Delivery to lead complex research programs, manage strategic client relationships, and drive excellence across project execution, data quality, and insights delivery.
This role requires a seasoned research professional who combines strong project management capabilities with deep understanding of research methodologies, data operations, analytics, and stakeholder management. The individual will serve as the primary point of contact for clients and internal teams, ensuring seamless execution of studies while proactively addressing challenges and driving successful outcomes.
The ideal candidate will bring a strong market research background, experience managing large client accounts, and a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, client-centric environment.
Location: Gurugram
Experience: 8–15 Years
Function: Research Operations | Client Delivery | Insights Management
Role: Senior Manager / Associate Director/Director (Research Operations & Client Delivery)
Key Responsibilities
Client Leadership & Account Management
- Serve as the primary SPOC for strategic clients and key accounts.
- Build and maintain strong client relationships through proactive communication and consultative engagement.
- Understand client business objectives and translate them into actionable research solutions.
- Manage stakeholder expectations while ensuring exceptional client satisfaction.
- Lead client discussions, project reviews, issue resolution meetings, and business updates.
End-to-End Project Management
- Oversee the complete lifecycle of research projects from proposal through final delivery.
- Manage multiple concurrent studies across diverse methodologies and markets.
- Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, budget, and quality expectations.
- Identify risks proactively and drive mitigation plans.
- Coordinate effectively with research, operations, fieldwork, data processing, analytics, and reporting teams.
Research & Insights Excellence
- Provide strategic guidance on research design, methodologies, sampling approaches, and study execution.
- Evaluate study limitations, operational risks, and data quality concerns.
- Ensure research outputs align with client objectives and deliver meaningful business insights.
- Support interpretation of findings and recommendations where required.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of research processes and delivery frameworks.
Data Operations & quality Management
- Oversee data collection, validation, cleaning, processing, and reporting workflows.
- Ensure rigorous quality control standards across all project stages.
- Review data deliverables, tabulations, dashboards, and reporting outputs for accuracy and consistency.
- Drive resolution of data-related challenges and operational bottlenecks.
- Maintain adherence to established quality, compliance, and governance standards.
Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaborations
- Lead, mentor, and develop project management and research operations teams.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
- Support resource planning, workload allocation, and capability development.
- Act as an escalation point for operational and client-related challenges.
Strategic Problem Solving
- Take ownership of both major and minor project issues from identification through resolution.
- Navigate high-pressure situations with professionalism, maturity, and sound judgment.
- Drive process optimization initiatives to improve efficiency, quality, and client experience.
- Support leadership with operational insights and strategic recommendations.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Market Research, Statistics, Economics, Business, Psychology, Social Sciences, Data Analytics, or a related field.
- 8–15 years of experience in market research, insights, research operations, or client delivery.
- Proven experience managing large-scale research programs and enterprise client accounts.
- Strong understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
- Experience overseeing fieldwork, sampling, data processing, and reporting functions.
- Demonstrated success managing cross-functional teams and complex stakeholder environments.
Required Skills & Competencies
Research & Analytics
- Strong knowledge of research design and methodology.
- Understanding of survey research, tracking studies, U&A, brand studies, customer experience, concept testing, and ad-hoc research.
- Familiarity with data processing, tabulation, data validation, and analytics workflows.
- Ability to evaluate data quality and identify study limitations.
Project & Operations Management
- Exceptional project planning and execution skills.
- Strong risk management and problem-solving capabilities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
- Experience handling global and multi-market studies is preferred.
Leadership & Communcations
- Strong people management and mentoring skills.
- Excellent client-facing and presentation abilities.
- Executive-level communication and stakeholder management.
- Ability to influence and collaborate across teams and functions.
Personal Attributes
- High ownership and accountability.
- Strong business acumen and commercial understanding.
- Calm, composed, and solution-oriented under pressure.
- Detail-oriented with strong decision-making capability.
- Professional maturity and sound judgment.
Preferred Experience
- Experience working with global research agencies, insights consultancies, or research technology companies.
- Exposure to advanced analytics, dashboards, visualization tools, and AI-enabled research workflows.
- Experience managing international clients and multi-country studies.
- Familiarity with modern research operations, automation, and agile delivery models.
