Research Director

Research Director Ad Effectiveness Location: Newcastle (hybrid; typically 1 day per week in office). Salary: 75,00085,000 benefits (flexible working, standard pension/holiday). The Company A UK-based research & insights consultancy (mid-sized) undergoing strong growth. They blend behavioural science, data analytics, and creative storytelling to help brands make better media and advertising decisions. The team operates across ad effectiveness, brand strategy, and audience insight, with an emphasis on evidence-based, innovative methods. The Role This is a senior, hands-on leadership role owning the Ad Effectiveness & Media Research practice. Youll balance methodology, client growth, and team leadershipdesigning, running, and elevating crossmedia measurement programmes that deliver clear, actionable outcomes. Key Responsibilities: Lead end-to-end ad effectiveness and media measurement projects across TV/AV, digital, social, and crossmedia. Define and evolve measurement frameworks (brand lift, attribution, MMM/MTA, attention/engagement metrics). Choose appropriate methods (quant, qual, mixed) and ensure outputs are narrative-led and commercially relevant. Partner with senior clients to translate results into strategy; lead debriefs, thought leadership, and POVs. Drive growth via proposal ownership, scoping, pricing, and pipeline development. Manage and mentor a team (c. 68 across SREs/Research Managers), raising standards in delivery and storytelling. Collaborate with Strategy/Marketing Effectiveness leads to develop new offers (e.g., crossmedia attribution, behavioural & emotional coding, AI-driven sentiment, biometrics). Skills & Experience Essential: Proven expertise in Ad Effectiveness / Media Research (multi-channel campaigns; crossmedia desirable). Strong client leadership: leading pitches, complex debriefs, and Csuite discussions. Advanced quantitative skills (survey design, experiment/brand lift design, stats basics) with comfort directing qual. Demonstrable commercial impactgrowing accounts and shaping roadmaps. Team leadership (line management, coaching, QA of deliverables). Desirable: Experience with attention/biometric measures or AIled sentiment/creative diagnostics. Exposure to MMM/MTA or incrementality testing. Sector breadth across media, entertainment, consumer, or platforms. Interview Process Introductory (culture & fit). Inperson/virtual presentation: insight case study and discussion with senior stakeholders. Final stage: capability & leadership deepdive. How to Apply Send your CV to Mohammed Buhariwala at Harnham or connect on LinkedIn to learn more. Keywords Research Director, Ad Effectiveness, Media Measurement, Brand Lift, CrossMedia, Incrementality, MMM, MTA, Attention, Biometrics, Survey Design, Insight Storytelling, Client Leadership, Team Management, Consultancy, London, Newcastle.55b20050-bc17-4e5d-bfce-3c406318dffc

Created: 2025-11-01