Director of Advanced Quantitative Research

Smith-Dahmer Associates LLC

Director of Advanced Quantitative Research

Job Posting

 

Company Overview 

Smith-Dahmer Associates (SDA) is a full-service custom market research company providing strategic insights across many industries including consumer durables, healthcare, insurance, retail, CPG and hospitality.  Our core focus is goods and services that are chosen by consumers after careful consideration. 
 
Utilizing a variety of methods and tools, SDA designs, executes, and delivers qualitative and quantitative research in three areas of expertise:
 
  • Brand Strategy, Communications, and Shopping Insights
  • Product Development & Design
  • eStudio™, our suite of online tools

Established in 1991, Smith-Dahmer Associates is proud to be recognized by the Corporate Executive Board for our actionable research, listed on Inc. Magazine's list of fastest growing privately held companies, and named a finalist by Inc. Winning Workplaces.  SDA offers fully-paid health insurance and comprehensive benefits, including a 401(k) plan and 20 vacation days per year.  SDA headquarters are St. Joseph, MI. We have 33 employees that work across the country in the St. Joe office, our Minneapolis, MN office or remotely from home offices.

 

Quantitative Research Overview
 
Quantitative Researchers at Smith-Dahmer Associates are actively engaged in all phases of client projects, including proposing, planning, executing, analyzing and reporting.  A position in Quantitative Research offers the opportunity to be a vital part of a highly motivated, experienced group of quantitative researchers, and to utilize and develop skills as an individual, as a team member, and as a company employee.  We offer a way of work life where employees are stimulated and challenged by colleagues and clients, and encouraged to apply original thinking to create successes.  The position offers a competitive salary, commensurate with experience.
Position Overview
 
  • The primary responsibilities of this position are to establish and build SDA as an authority on quantitative research, specifically advanced analytics, in order to deliver our strategic imperatives
    • to deliver excellence and innovation in the development, design, and execution of quantitative research, with a focus on the advanced analytics
    • to teach and develop the professional quantitative research skills of SDA quantitative staff
    • to further SDA’s position as a thought leader in quantitative research
    • to embrace and facilitate productive relationships among SDA quantitative staff, other SDA team members and clients
    • to ensure profitable and effective execution of research projects to meet clients’ needs
 
 
Accountabilities

The Director of Advanced Quantitative Research is accountable for the following:

  • Accountable for SDA’s quantitative capabilities relative to the marketplace and fostering the development and delivery of company methodologies, new innovations and the implementation of industry best practices.
    • Prepare and develop all quantitative team members for the advancement of their research according to their potential and for the good of SDA.
    • Accountable for the successful execution of the quantitative forum (SDA University) including organization, topics and leadership.
    • Ensure that the SDA understanding of quantitative topics is current; make strategic recommendations on what SDA should pursue.
    • Support business development and client delivery by developing capabilities presentation elements, sample reports, proposal copy, estimating guidelines and other sales and execution tools so the quantitative capabilities and methodologies can be successfully implemented.
    • People leadership of the quantitative team may be assigned pending management skills and experience


  • As a member of  project teams:
    • Accountable for the quality, financial performance, timeliness and efficiency of quantitative research projects.
    • Development of the proposal including determining appropriate methodology and statistical analyses to be used, selecting data collection supplier(s) if outsourced, etc.
    • Development and execution of the analysis plan.
    • Balance the ideal quantitative methodology with the client’s needs and desires to maximize quality research that fits the clients’ situation.
    • Collaboration with Project Leader, Pillar leader on insights development.
    • Leadership of projects pending project management skills and experience.
 
  • Uphold SDA values and practices
    • Accountable for knowing, communicating, and maximizing own personal individual strengths.
    • Accountable to adhere to SDA policies and practices.
    • Recording and reporting own time expenditures for billable, non-billable, non-invoiceable hours on a weekly basis according to SDA policy.
    • Effectively work as and with remote employees
 
  • Ideal location is in the mid-west for proximity to our offices and clients. 
  • Must be able to work from one of our offices or successfully from home office.
 
 
Key Interactions and Reporting Relationship

While SDA strives to be a non-hierarchical organization, we have some reporting relationships and teams established to provide direction/support as well as further develop our capabilities.  In practice, our employees work with most of the organization throughout their year.  Successful employees are comfortable with a range of relationships working sideways with peers, gaining support from many places in the organization, and working with both strong collaboration skills and independence to do what it takes to get the job done.  We are a “roll up your sleeves” environment that also supports personal lives.  This culture runs throughout our organization and is a critical fit component for any new employee.
 
Key Interactions: Quantitative Researchers and Project Managers, Pillar Directors of Brand Strategy, Communications & Shopping, Product Development & Design, and eStudio teams, Client Directors, Business Development Director, Director of Operations, Project Coordinators, and President
 
Reports to: President
 
 
Qualifications

This position requires extensive experience in quantitative market research, including a thorough understanding of research design, sampling and analysis in the service of client business objectives.  In addition, the Quantitative Researcher must work effectively in a team environment, collaborating with colleagues and clients at all levels of experience.

 
Qualified candidates should possess the following:
    • Substantial, successful, and relevant work experience, including:
      • Advanced Analytics including but not limited to clustering for segmentation, perceptual mapping and Max Diff.
      • Quantitative Research design
      • Project Management
      • Quantitative Analysis
      • Report writing
      • SPSS
    • Ability to clearly articulate/communicate methodologies not only within SDA but also with clients/prospects.
    • Experience executing broad range and depth of quantitative research methodologies and statistical analysis. 
    • Demonstration and experience developing new methodologies and creative problem-solving to fit clients’ needs.
    • Ability to successfully teach others, both team and clients.
    • Strong client service and relationship development
    • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
    • Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in applied statistics, social sciences, psychology, market research, or related field. 
      • A PhD is preferred.
    • Proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel and Word, and SPSS
    • A Midwest location is preferred.  Open to remote working.
    • Must be able to work in the U.S.   

 
Contact
 
Interested candidates should submit a resume, a cover letter detailing experience in market research advanced analytics, and contact information for three references to:
         
          Smith-Dahmer Associates – Quantitative Posting
careers@smithdahmer.com
(269) 983-4748

 

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