Research Director

Company Description

Pay Range - $98,000 - 140,000 CAD

This posting is for a current vacancy

Candidates must be currently located in the Greater Toronto Area, be able to attend in-person client meetings in the Toronto area and also travel within Canada and the US as required.

Job Description

NIQ is seeking a Canada-based Senior Research Director, Customer Success - Automotive to lead our relationship with a major automotive manufacturer across the U.S. and Canadian markets. This highly visible role will have primary responsibility for delivering strategic research and insights, managing senior client relationships, and ensuring excellence in execution across both markets. The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of the automotive industry across both the U.S. and Canada, with Canadian automotive market expertise particularly valued. Internally, this role requires a collaborative, hands-on leader who can provide guidance and mentorship across the account team, elevate the quality of client deliverables, and champion AI-enabled tools and new ways of working, helping the broader team adopt them to continuously improve the quality, efficiency, and impact of how we deliver insights to clients. 

Key Responsibilities 

Client & Account Leadership: 

• Lead the day-to-day senior relationship with your clients across the U.S. and Canadian markets, building trusted relationships with client stakeholders and serving as a strategic advisor. 

• Own account deliverables and timelines across both markets, remaining hands-on throughout the reporting process, from storyline development and analysis through executive presentation of results. 

• Manage client expectations and confidently navigate challenging situations, balancing client needs with NIQ priorities, and identifying mutually beneficial solutions. 

• Develop a deep understanding of your clients’ business priorities and proactively identify opportunities for research and insights to inform client decision-making. 

• Lead the development of proposals for contract renewals and incremental opportunities, partnering with internal stakeholders to support account growth and retention. 

Insights, Storytelling & Executive Presentation: 

• Navigate large data sets across multiple sources to test hypotheses and identify meaningful patterns, translating complex findings into compelling insights and actionable recommendations that address strategic business questions. 

• Demonstrate strong executive presence, presenting research and recommendations confidently to senior and executive-level audiences.