Insights Director (Freelance)

1000heads • Chicago, IL

1d

About The Position

The Insights Director is a temporary freelance role covering for the current Insights Director during parental leave. The role sits between hands-on analysis and strategic leadership, guiding project teams, shaping research methodologies, improving the quality of insights, and supporting the broader Insights team.

The Insights team uses data to understand online communities and audience behavior, and to help brands connect meaningfully with audiences. It turns complex data into narratives, strategic recommendations, and measurement frameworks for recognized brands. The role also contributes to client work and new business, while mentoring Senior Managers and Analysts.

Requirements

• 7–9 years of experience in insights, analytics, research, or digital measurement; agency experience is ideal.
• Advanced expertise in social listening tools, social and digital analytics platforms, and audience research tools such as GWI.
• Proven experience developing research methodologies, measurement frameworks, and cross-channel performance reporting.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate data into stories that influence strategy and creative thinking.
• Excellent presentation, communication, and client relationship skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with statistical tools, SQL, Python, or R.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of research plans, measurement methodologies, and cross-channel analysis frameworks, ensuring accuracy and consistency across projects.
• Create and implement measurement frameworks to guide KPI selection, target setting, and performance evaluation.
• Synthesize data from social listening, platform analytics, and audience tools into actionable narratives that inform strategy and creative thinking.
• Partner with account leads and serve as a senior client-facing contact to refine briefs, shape insight solutions, and present findings.
• Oversee timely delivery of reports, briefs, presentations, and research outputs, maintaining consistent data use, tools, and reporting standards across the team.
• Support new business through insight-driven points of view, strategic contributions, and pitch materials.
• Use AI-driven analytics and generative tools to enhance insight discovery, trend identification, and storytelling.
• Mentor and guide Senior Managers and Analysts, providing feedback to strengthen analytical rigor and storytelling quality.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed