Research Director

📋 Description

• • As a Research Director at WPP Media, you will be instrumental in shaping the future of media research, driving innovation, and delivering transformative growth for the world's leading brands. This pivotal role sits within the Client Strategy organization's Culture & Insights team, contributing directly to Vision 2030 for the Dutch market by integrating best-in-class platforms, people, and partners. You will lead the commercial and strategic development of research programs, ensuring scientific rigor and methodological excellence while championing the adoption of cutting-edge AI-driven methodologies. Your expertise will guide clients towards optimal research solutions, foster talent within the research team, and solidify WPP Media's position as a pioneer in AI-driven media insights.
• • Your day-to-day responsibilities will be multifaceted and dynamic. You will spearhead the commercial development of research projects, with a significant focus on securing and managing complex and high-value accounts. This involves proactively identifying new business opportunities, meticulously crafting bespoke research proposals that align with client objectives, skillfully negotiating contracts, and ensuring a seamless onboarding process for key clients. Your efforts will directly contribute to the revenue growth of the Research division. Furthermore, you will provide comprehensive oversight for the end-to-end design and execution of a diverse portfolio of research projects. This includes establishing and rigorously upholding stringent scientific standards and methodological quality, ensuring all research outputs are robust, reliable, and actionable, and guaranteeing strict alignment with both specific client needs and WPP Media's overarching strategic goals. You will also be tasked with proactively building, nurturing, and managing strong, collaborative relationships with key internal stakeholders across departments such as Client Leadership, Strategy, and Growth teams. This collaborative approach will be crucial for identifying emerging commercial opportunities, translating client needs into viable research projects, and actively contributing to the development and execution of strategic growth plans for the organization. A significant aspect of your role will involve leading the exploration, development, and practical implementation of cutting-edge AI-driven research methodologies. This requires close collaboration with internal expert teams and external vendors to leverage advanced analytics and machine learning, with the ultimate goal of maximizing the quality, depth, and predictive power of insights. You will also play a pivotal role in the continuous development and implementation of new, innovative research methodologies and tools, enhancing the existing WPP Media Research product portfolio to ensure it remains competitive, scalable, and responsive to evolving market demands. This fosters continuous innovation and efficiency across all research offerings. You will possess the expertise and confidence to strategically challenge clients' assumptions and briefs, guiding them towards the most effective research solutions. This involves developing compelling narratives and crafting impactful presentations that effectively communicate complex research proposals, findings, and strategic recommendations to diverse internal and external audiences, including senior executive leadership. Finally, you will actively mentor, coach, and guide junior research staff, including Research Managers and Specialists, providing constructive feedback, fostering skill development, sharing best practices, and supporting their professional growth to build a strong, capable, and motivated research team.
• • WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, dedicated to uniting media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalization at scale. Powered by Open Intelligence and connected through the WPP Open platform, we provide clients with clear visibility into the effectiveness of their media investments. Our foundation is built on core values: 'We're Extraordinary' – pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo; 'We're Open' – fostering trust and seamless collaboration; and 'We're Optimistic' – embracing change with a growth mindset. The Research team itself is a capability team that blends scientific excellence with detail-oriented, open-minded analytical pragmatists, acting as trusted advisors who fuse the best of WPP Media for our clients.
• • In this role, you will have the opportunity to become a thought leader in AI-driven research methodologies, influencing the direction of research innovation within a global organization. You can develop and implement novel research products and strategies that directly impact client growth and WPP Media's market leadership. Furthermore, you will gain invaluable experience in commercially leading complex accounts and managing high-performing teams, honing your leadership and strategic business development skills. You will also have the chance to mentor and develop junior talent, contributing to the growth of the next generation of research professionals within the WPP network, and significantly contribute to the company's Vision 2030 for the Dutch market.