Vacancies at Kantar

Key Outcomes

Management of studies and resources using research principles and Kantar systems:

Client Management and Growth:

• Build strong partnerships and deliver business impact for clients
• Takes accountability for client satisfaction on overall project delivery
• Service clients and interact independently with clients on an on-going basis. This includes regular communication regarding current projects, as well as relationship building to promote client retention, enhancement and growth
• Create and drive execution of business plan
• Manage and build relationships with lead client stakeholders
• Take accountability for client satisfaction on overall project delivery
• Handle more complex client enquiries regarding research inputs and outputs
• Have a deep understanding of the client business, industry, strategy and business issues
• Deliver thought leadership to client, drawing on expertise across Kantar to deliver client impact
• Deliver insights in a storytelling way, through strong analysis, presentation and workshopping skills 
• Is recognised by clients as an expert in an area of delivery
• Demonstrate research & marketing expertise to inspire clients and team

Team and Project Management:

• Mentor, coach and train team (on the job and formal)
• Build cooperative relationships within team and across functional teams
• Performance management, through objective setting and ongoing performance evaluation
• Identifying development areas and assist and support to ensure team member’s flourish
• Manage team capacity and resourcing
• Recruit, develop, and retain high quality people through succession planning and performance management
• Manage and supervise research projects. This includes delivering to agreed timelines, completing all the necessary administrative procedures and liaising with service departments to ensure process is effectively executed
• Take responsibility for the data and research quality and quality delivery of a project including all documents such as questionnaires and instructions
• Accountable for final questionnaire design, flow and wording
• Oversee supplier relationships ICs, external charting) to ensure quality of deliverables

Commercial Management: Contributing to financial performance and business profitability

• Accountable for team financial targets
• Accountable for client revenue targets
• New business development within existing clients
• Client proposals and costings
• A major contribution to and responsibility for the growth and profitability of clients
• Provide solutions to company barriers that are holding back profitability and growth
• Employs own knowledge of to initiate suitable process improvements that enhance overall service
• Applies understanding of commercial and financial principles to costing recommendations on more complex projects

Leadership:

• Apply research knowledge to ensure the best (most cost and time effective and efficient) delivery of research
• Be involved in complex / high profile studies to support managers towards the best (most effective and efficient) possible delivery
• Demonstrate excellence in technical research and marketing expertise to inspire both clients and team members
• Actively transfer learning to others
• Provide energy and drive to identify and exploit opportunities for new and innovative ways to answer clients’ needs
• Proactively responsible for own learning and development
• Promote team spirit
• Maintain personal well-being and balance
• Lead by example and live the company’s values

Brand interest and expertise:

• Brand domain knowledge (Brand guidance, brand strategy, equity model, key brand concepts, philosophies and point of views)
• Constant curiosity and self-learning to know more about brand and keep abreast of trends, philosophies and POVs
• Ability to recognise opportunities for brand domain applications and solutions in client conversations

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Relevant tertiary education (B.Com /Business Admin, B Bus Sc Marketing B. Bus Sci Marketing, Project Management / relevant degree pref)
• Good marketing (research) knowledge – at least 3-5 years’ experience
• Proven ability as a team manager
• Confident sales/ negotiation/ persuasion skills
• High level of business/client understanding and insight
• Must have a very good working and practical knowledge of the research process and marketing research
• Excellent client relationship development skills
• Nurture/develop team members through coaching and performance management

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Key Outcomes

Financial Management and Business Acumen

• Accountable for the achievement of team's annual sales, GM and profit results.
• Responsible for the growth and profitability of Qualitative Research business for Kantar South Africa
• Develops well-constructed and justified business plans within the context of the strategic objectives
• Demonstrates an understanding of the commercial environment by successful negotiation; aims for win-win scenarios
• Identifies commercial strengths and weaknesses to have a clear understanding of leverage

Client Development and Management

• Manages development of client account/s greater than ZAR 5 million
• Confidently contributes to sector/industry general trends conversations with clients
• Recognised by clients as an expert in one Practise Area, sector or industry
• Exerts a broad level of influence across the client relationship
• Keeping up to date with research at large and specifically Kantar products and expertise

Proposals, Analysis and Presentations

• Prepare winning proposals and provide insight and thought leadership for team members’ proposals
• Continued demonstration of the highest level of research excellence and client issue focus through strategic insights and assistance to internal teams in generating their insights

Communication

• Promote Information sharing across country and thought leadership and other value add initiatives
• Communicates effectively to wider team/s to ensure teamwork and motivation towards goals

Leadership

• Demonstrates and lives our SPARK drivers and behaviours
• Provide the team with strategic direction and insight
• Pioneers new ideas and creates new solutions
• Leads thought leadership events
• Champions knowledge management procedures and policies within the organisation
• Turns conceptual ideas into commercial reality

Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills

• Experience and proven excellence in managing a team
• Senior level client experience and line management responsibility.
• Exceptional English communication (written and verbally) and able to communicate confidently and persuasively across all within an organisation.
• Knowledge of research processes and methodologies (quantitative and qualitative)
• Ability to consult on research methodologies and products widely both to clients and senior internal staff
• World class analysis and story telling ability
• Able to mentor and train easily
• Effective People Management and performance management ability
• Enhanced financial awareness and commercial know how

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Key responsibilities

Client Relationship Leadership

• Build deep positive relationships with key clients
• Take and interpret briefs into our organization
• Write proposals and sell Consulting solutions to win business
• Lead thinking on solutions to client briefs

Solution Leadership

• Lead Segmentation design, execution, analysis, and growth strategy
• Deliver convincing, innovative solutions to client briefs
• Provide strategic and inspiring thinking for clients' marketing challenges
• Write and present intellectually convincing and emotionally appealing proposals and debriefs
• Facilitate workshop process design and co-facilitate internal and external client workshops

Project Delivery

• Ensure quality, timely delivery of projects through the team
• Take ownership of project deliverables, including project administration and finances
• Mobilize and coach our teams
• Oversee the work scope of junior team members
• Monitor and maintain the quality of outputs

Business Development

• Manage project finances and deliver profitability
• Win new work and build sustainable relationships with clients
• Understand the long-term needs of client businesses

What we're looking for

• We are seeking experienced research and marketing leaders with a diverse track record and 8+ years of relevant experience.

The ideal candidate should have:

• Proven expertise in quantitative analysis, analytics, and commercial sales & marketing
• Ability to manage complex, unfamiliar problems
• Creative ideas and a strong point of view
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Strong understanding of financial operations and business strategies
• Passion for excellence in execution
• Minimum of 8 years of experience, preferably in research or analytics capacities
• University degree or equivalent experience with excellent scores in stats, business science, quantitative research, or mathematics