Associate Director of Qualitative Research - #2167505

Up to £65,000 + 11.5% Annual Bonus (Paid Quarterly)
London (Southwark) - 2 days per month if outside M25

I'm hiring an Associate Director, Qualitative Research for a global healthcare research business with an outstanding reputation across pharmaceuticals, healthcare, biotech, and life sciences.

This is a brilliant opportunity for an experienced research operations leader who enjoys managing people, delivering high-quality client work, and helping research teams perform at their best. The role sits within a large, established qualitative research function and combines leadership, client management, and operational delivery.

Part of a globally recognised healthcare group, this business supports many of the world's leading pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, and life sciences organisations with research, recruitment, data collection, and engagement services.

They combine the feel of a specialist healthcare research consultancy with the backing, reach, and stability of a global organisation operating across more than 200 markets worldwide.

This is a senior leadership role within the Qualitative Research division.

You'll report into the Head of Qualitative Research and lead a team of Project Management professionals responsible for delivering complex healthcare research programmes.

Importantly, this is not a research design or insights role.

Instead, the focus is on:

• Team leadership
• Project delivery
• Operational performance
• Client relationship management
• Commercial delivery
• Process improvement

You'll act as the senior escalation point for both clients and project teams, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to a consistently high standard.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 4-5 Project Managers.
• Manage resource allocation, utilisation, and team performance.
• Support career development, coaching, and succession planning.
• Help build a high-performing, collaborative culture.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with healthcare research clients.
• Act as a senior escalation point on complex projects.
• Ensure client expectations are met and exceeded.
• Support profitability, project performance, and account growth.

• Oversee qualitative healthcare research projects from an operational perspective.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.
• Monitor team KPIs and operational performance.
• Improve delivery processes and ways of working.

• Partner with senior leadership on operational improvements.
• Help shape the future growth of the qualitative function.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across the wider business.

• 5+ years' experience within the market research industry.
• Strong project management and operational delivery experience.
• Previous people management experience.
• Experience managing client relationships and stakeholders.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage workloads, KPIs, budgets, and delivery.
• Experience operating in fast-paced, project-led environments.

• Healthcare market research experience.
• Experience leading project management or operations teams.
• Exposure to pharmaceutical, healthcare, biotech, life sciences, or patient research projects.

• Associate Director
• Project Director
• Senior Project Director
• Client Services Manager
• Research Operations Manager
• Operations Director (Research)
• Healthcare Research Programme Manager

• Lead an established team within a highly respected healthcare research business.
• Manage and develop a team of experienced project professionals.
• Work with some of the world's leading healthcare and pharmaceutical organisations.
• Strong balance of leadership, operational delivery, and client engagement.
• Backed by a global organisation with excellent stability and growth.
• Flexible working approach for candidates outside London.

London (Southwark)

• Standard expectation: 2 days per week in the office if inside the M25
• For candidates based in the Midlands or North, the business can offer a more flexible arrangement of approximately 2 days per month in London.

• Up to £65k
• 11.5% annual bonus (paid quarterly)
• Hybrid/flexible working
• Strong career progression
• Healthcare and wellbeing benefits
• Global business with excellent long-term opportunities

Stage 1: Teams interview with senior leadership

Focus on:

• Leadership experience
• Team management
• Client ownership
• Operational delivery
• Career motivations

Final Stage: In-person presentation exercise assessing:

• Communication skills
• Stakeholder management
• Commercial thinking
• Executive presence
• Client-facing capability

This role would suit someone who enjoys leading people, improving operations, and building strong client relationships while remaining close to project delivery in a healthcare research environment.