Director, Sales, Qualitative & Creative Strategy

R26_0019106

Location:  Remote in US #LI-Remote

About this job

We are building a world-class qualitative research and creative strategy business within NIQ, and we're looking for a commercially driven leader to accelerate growth across North America. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at turning client interest into strategic partnerships, uncovering opportunities within existing relationships, and leading consultative sales conversations that deliver measurable business impact.

While this is a leadership role within our qualitative and creative strategy practice, success will be defined primarily by your ability to convert inbound demand into revenue and grow client partnerships.

You'll leverage NIQ's unmatched client access across FMCG, Technology, Consumer Durables, and other sectors while partnering closely with sales, client success, and delivery teams to create new growth opportunities.

This role offers a unique opportunity to join a startup within a global organization. While backed by the scale, reputation, and resources of NIQ, our team operates with an entrepreneurial mindset—moving quickly, building new capabilities, creating innovative solutions, and shaping the future of qualitative research and creative strategy within the business. The ideal candidate will be energized by building something new, comfortable navigating ambiguity, and excited to contribute beyond a traditional leadership role.

Key Responsibilities

Drive Revenue Growth

• Lead the commercial growth strategy for NIQ's Qualitative Research and Creative Strategy practice across North America.
• Convert inbound leads and client interest into consulting engagements, strategic research programs, and long-term partnerships.
• Identify expansion opportunities within existing accounts and collaborate with account teams to increase client spend.
• Lead discovery conversations, qualify opportunities, scope solutions, and develop compelling client proposals.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline while consistently achieving revenue and growth targets.

Develop Executive Client Relationships

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders across marketing, innovation, insights, and brand strategy functions.
• Conduct consultative sales conversations focused on solving complex business challenges.
• Present strategic recommendations and tailored solutions that demonstrate clear business value.
• Build strong relationships that generate repeat business, referrals, and long-term partnerships.

Lead and Scale the Business

• Establish a growth-oriented culture focused on client success, business development, and operational excellence.
• Partner with internal sales teams to maximize cross-selling opportunities across NIQ's broader portfolio.
• Help shape the commercial strategy, positioning, and go-to-market approach for the Qualitative Research and Creative Strategy practice.
• Operate with an entrepreneurial mindset, helping build the processes, capabilities, culture, and commercial foundations needed to scale a rapidly growing business.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, curiosity, and continuous learning.

Deliver Strategic Solutions

• Collaborate with research and consulting teams to design impactful client solutions.
• Ensure proposals and project designs align with client objectives and business outcomes.
• Maintain a strong understanding of market trends, consumer behavior, innovation, brand strategy, and communications.
• Act as a commercial champion for new methodologies, tools, and strategic offerings.
• Roll up your sleeves when needed to support strategic project delivery, facilitate client workshops, contribute to consulting engagements, and help ensure exceptional client outcomes.
• Partner closely with qualitative, quantitative, and analytics teams to deliver integrated solutions that address complex client challenges.

Build and Innovate New Offerings

• Help shape and expand a portfolio of qualitative, quantitative, and AI-enabled solutions that address evolving client needs.
• Contribute to the development of innovative products that combine qualitative insight, quantitative validation, behavioral intelligence, and strategic consulting.
• Stay at the forefront of emerging research methodologies, AI applications, and innovation trends, identifying opportunities to bring new capabilities to market.
• Help position NIQ as a modern insights and consulting partner through thought leadership and innovative client solutions.

What We're Looking For

You are a proven sales leader and relationship builder who combines commercial acumen with strategic thinking. You excel at turning conversations into opportunities and opportunities into long-term client partnerships.

You understand how to navigate complex organizations, influence senior decision-makers, and articulate the value of insights, consulting, and strategic services. Most importantly, you have a track record of growing revenue through consultative selling and account expansion.

You thrive in entrepreneurial environments and enjoy balancing business development with hands-on client work. You're equally comfortable leading a sales conversation, facilitating a strategic workshop, advising senior stakeholders, or contributing to the design and delivery of a high-impact research engagement.

You bring deep expertise in qualitative research and understand the strengths, nuances, and appropriate applications of both traditional and emerging AI-enabled methodologies. You are intellectually curious about the future of insights and excited by the opportunity to build integrated solutions that combine qualitative and quantitative approaches to answer clients' most important business questions.

• 10+ years of experience in qualitative research, business development, consultative sales, account management, strategic consulting, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success achieving and exceeding revenue targets.
• Strong experience, managing inbound opportunities and converting leads into profitable engagements.
• Proven ability to build executive-level client relationships and influence key decision-makers.
• Experience selling consulting, research, insights, analytics, innovation, marketing, or related professional services.
• Deep understanding of qualitative research methodologies, including both traditional and AI-enabled approaches.
• Experience designing, leading, or overseeing strategic insight, innovation, brand, or consumer research programs.
• Strong interest in developing integrated qualitative and quantitative solutions and bringing innovative offerings to market.
• Exceptional presentation, negotiation, storytelling, and proposal development skills.
• Strong commercial mindset with the ability to identify and capitalize on growth opportunities.
• Knowledge of CPG, UX, consumer insights, market research, innovation, consulting, or adjacent industries preferred.
• Travel expectation: ~10-15%

Ideal Candidate Profile

A commercially minded qualitative research leader who enjoys consultative conversations, can capitalize on a steady flow of inbound opportunities, builds trusted client relationships, and has the strategic credibility to sell high-value research and consulting solutions to senior executives.

The ideal candidate combines sales leadership with deep methodological expertise and an entrepreneurial spirit. They are energized by building a business, developing innovative offerings, and helping clients solve complex challenges through a blend of traditional qualitative research, AI-enabled methodologies, and integrated qual-quant solutions. They are equally comfortable driving revenue growth, facilitating strategic workshops, contributing to client delivery, and helping scale a high-growth practice within NIQ.

US Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare plan (medical, Rx, dental, and vision).
• Flexible spending accounts and a Health Savings Account (including company contributions).
• Life and AD&D insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan including company matching contributions.
• Disability insurance.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Discretionary paid time off program and 11 paid holidays.
• Flexible working environment
• Volunteer time off
• LinkedIn Learning
• Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP)

This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation of the following range: $117,500.00 - $150,000.00.  Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location. This role is eligible for a sales-based incentive or performance-based bonus. Other benefits include flexible working environment, comprehensive health insurance, industry-leading parental leave, life insurance, education support and more.  

Our Benefits

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

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: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/info/niqs-ai-safety-policies/

About NIQ

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

Want to keep up with our latest updates?

Follow us on: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At NIQ, we are steadfast in our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace that mirrors the rich diversity of the communities and markets we serve. We believe that embracing a wide range of perspectives drives innovation and excellence.  All employment decisions at NIQ are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We invite individuals who share our dedication to inclusivity and equity to join us in making a meaningful impact. To learn more about our ongoing efforts in diversity and inclusion, please visit the https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/diversity-inclusion