Associate Director - Strategy and Insights (Social and Commercial Research) Melbourne, Aus $AUD 110-140,000 + SUPER + benefits - (posted Jan 29 2026)
Company: Resources Group Advertisers Ref: JB345667MrWeb Ref: 162702
Job Spec: If you're the kind of researcher who loves getting under the surface and into people, culture, behaviour and context, this could be your next move.
We are partnering with a high-calibre insights and strategy consultancy working across some of Australia's most meaningful and complex challenges. The work spans social impact research and commercial strategy, and it's always grounded in sharp thinking, rigorous methods, and a genuine commitment to making research matter.
This is a senior role for someone who can confidently lead end-to-end programs, build trusted client relationships, and elevate the thinking and craft of the team around them.
The work you'll do
You'll lead bespoke research that helps organisations make better decisions. Whether that's improving services and communications, shaping policy, or guiding brands through change.
Projects are varied, immersive and often emotionally engaging. You'll work across:
- Social research and public-facing topics that have real-world impact
- Commercial insight and strategy for organisations navigating growth, innovation and customer needs
- Multi-method research design that blends qualitative and quantitative approaches (always fit-for-purpose, never cookie-cutter).
You'll be known for:
- Leading complex, high-value research projects end-to-end, delivering excellence every step of the way
- Turning messy information into clear, compelling insights and evidence-based recommendations
- Crafting strong narratives that help clients make confident, strategic decisions
- Being a trusted 'safe pair of hands' who builds long-term client partnerships and repeat work
- Confidently presenting debriefs, leading discussions, and responding to stakeholder questions
- Contributing to proposals, pitches and identifying new opportunities for growth
- Mentoring and developing others, sharing knowledge and raising capability across the team.
What we're looking for:
- Significant experience in market and/or social research (agency-side experience essential)
- Strong capability across both qualitative and quantitative methods
- A track record designing bespoke research from pitch through to presentation
- A strategic mindset - you're able to see the bigger picture and make insight actionable
- A calm, confident presence with senior stakeholders
- A commercial edge and appetite for growing relationships and opportunities.
The kind of person who thrives here
You're passionate about the role research can play in shaping decisions, and you bring genuine curiosity to every brief. You are always looking for smarter, better ways to deliver value. You're collaborative, proactive, and generous with your knowledge, and you enjoy helping others lift their thinking and skills. You're also comfortable leading under pressure, taking ownership of outcomes, and being the calm, trusted person clients and teams rely on.
Interested?
If you want to lead work that's smart, varied, meaningful and grounded in a culture of curiosity and excellence, we'd love to hear from you.
About Resources Group
We are the Leading Global Talent Agency for Insights, Analytics & Data Strategy. Our consultants take the time to truly understand your career aims and are dedicated to providing tailored, impartial advice to find you the very best career move. We have access to an unrivalled and exclusive range of job opportunities with trailblazing agencies and blue-chips across Australia, NZ and APAC.
Resources Group's Diversity and Equality Policy determines that we submit applicants to our clients on the basis of merit and ability, regardless of race, colour, age, disability, family responsibilities, gender, marital status, nationality, religious or political views or affiliations, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.
Who to contact: Send your CV to Jennifer Besanvalle at jbesanvalle@resourcesgroup.com
Please say that you found the vacancy on Greenbook / MrWeb! Thanks for your interest.