Senior Research Director, Customer Success – Automotive

About the role

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.

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.

NIQ may utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools at various stages of the recruitment process, including résumé screening, candidate assessments, interview scheduling, job matching, communication support, and certain administrative tasks that help streamline workflows. These tools are intended to improve efficiency and support fair and consistent evaluation based on job-related criteria. All use of AI is governed by NIQ's principles of fairness, transparency, human oversight, and inclusion. Final hiring decisions are made exclusively by humans. NIQ regularly reviews its AI tools to help mitigate bias and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If you have questions, require accommodations, or wish to request human review were permitted by law, please contact your local HR representative. For more information, please visit NIQ's AI Safety Policies and Guiding Principles:

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights-delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms, NIQ delivers the Full View. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population.

For more information, visit NIQ.com.

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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.
• Think on your feet during client discussions, confidently responding to questions, defending conclusions when appropriate, and applying research and industry expertise to provide perspective beyond the data.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on the U.S. and Canadian automotive markets, bringing relevant industry trends and context into data interpretation and client recommendations.

Collaboration and Account Team Leadership

• Provide guidance, mentorship, and coaching to team members supporting the accounts, including thoughtful review and constructive feedback that strengthens both deliverables and team capabilities.
• Effectively delegate and coordinate work across the account team while maintaining accountability for the quality of final deliverables.
• Work collaboratively with the larger team across client accounts to contribute to product development and thought leadership.

Requirements

Desired Attributes

• A proactive, solution-oriented mindset with the ability to anticipate challenges and take ownership of resolving them.
• Intellectual curiosity and a commitment to continuously learning about clients, consumers, the automotive industry, emerging technologies, and evolving research approaches.
• A demonstrated ability to challenge the status quo and drive meaningful change, proactively identifying opportunities to apply AI-enabled tools and new ways of working while bringing others along to improve quality, efficiency, and client impact.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in market research, insights, brand tracking, advertising tracking, or a related field, with demonstrated experience leading client relationships.
• Automotive industry experience is strongly preferred, ideally supporting automotive manufacturers and/or agencies. Strong knowledge of the Canadian automotive market is a key priority, with experience spanning both Canadian and U.S. markets particularly valued.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex research and data into compelling, strategic insights and recommendations.
• Exceptional presentation and communication skills, with demonstrated executive presence and experience presenting to senior client audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy, exercise sound judgment, and make decisions that benefit both NIQ and our clients.
• Proven ability to lead multiple concurrent projects and manage timelines, priorities, and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and mentor colleagues, effectively delegate work, and provide constructive feedback.
• Strong proficiency in PowerPoint and Excel and experience working with large quantitative data sets. Working knowledge of SPSS or comparable analytical software preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Ability to travel approximately 10%, typically 8-10 business trips annually, including travel within Canada and to the U.S.

Benefits

• Flexible working environment
• Volunteer time off
• LinkedIn Learning
• Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP)