Qualitative Research Excellence Expert

Smarty Pants

12d•Remote

About The Position

Smarty Pants is a market research and strategic consulting firm that provides consumer insights, brand solutions, and industry intelligence to powerful brands. They lead research and consulting initiatives for various industries including tech, entertainment, healthcare, toy, retail, CPG, finance, automotive, and apparel/footwear. Smarty Pants acts as strategic consultants, designs research programs, executes initiatives with research professionals, analyzes findings, creates compelling deliverables, and helps clients apply learnings. The company culture is described as diverse, fun-loving, supportive, virtual, cohesive, smart, nimble, and efficient, valuing talent with "will and skill" and expansive thinkers. They emphasize hard work, passion for their work, strong relationships with colleagues and clients, and a dedicated team serving loyal clients. The Qualitative Research Excellence Expert is a foundational role within the research operations team, ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of primary research. This role is specifically responsible for managing participant recruitment, fieldwork logistics, platforms, vendors, data compliance, budgets, and resources for assigned qualitative research projects. The objective is to enable Insights teams to focus on fieldwork leadership, analysis, deliverables, and client relationships by handling the operational aspects of the projects.

Requirements

A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field – with high academic achievement
A minimum of five years of relevant work experience (business operations, project management, technology or market research)
Experience in research/project enablement — creating documentation, templates, and leading internal workshops around best practices
Experience and strong understanding of the qualitative research lifecycle
Experience leading the coordination of research vendors, ensuring seamless execution of fieldwork processes and maintaining exceptional standards in project performance
Experience negotiating contracts with vendors, tracking spending for department, providing financial insights and projections
Experience researching and comparing appropriate platforms for recruiting and managing participant information
Experience in supporting fieldwork processes by coordinating with sample providers and monitoring project performance
Experience and comfort with all data collection and tracking mechanisms
Experience tracking and managing both internal and external project costs, including project time tracking and external expenses, to ensure projects stay within budget
A proven track record of proactively troubleshooting fieldwork challenges, addressing issues promptly and effectively under the guidance of senior team members
A proactive process and operations leader who thrives in complex and demanding environments that require agility and flexibility
Exceptionally organized with an ability to manage multiple projects with attention to efficiency and detail and adherence to timelines and quality standards
Able to autonomously assess importance of tasks and prioritize, pivot and juggle accordingly
Able to proactively identify and address potential challenges and requirements before they arise
Exhibit strong leadership abilities, guiding teams towards achieving their goals with confidence and clarity
Able to consistently drive successful project outcomes and spearhead continuous improvement initiatives to optimize and elevate fieldwork processes
An adept, proactive communicator across audiences who is confident in sharing ideas and recommendations – internally and externally, verbally and in writing
Tech-forward and well-versed in various apps, software, research and AI tools
A strong relationship builder who is able to work seamlessly with colleagues, vendors, research participant and client stakeholders, fostering a cooperative and productive work environment
Be proactive, have a strong drive to consistently exceed expectations and overdeliver, be open to mentorship, and be solutions-focused
A positive, generous disposition, be a collaborative, supportive colleague and be open-minded, patient, tolerant and empathetic
Able to work on a company computer using digital platforms and industry-specific software for up to the full duration of the workday
Must be able to effectively communicate and exchange information via phone, video, reading, writing, studying, analyzing and entering data
Must be able to cognitively process business information, analyze situations and goals, and effectively collaborate with others without creating additional or undue work for others
Must be able to travel to in-person research and client/company meetings. Travel may include: Personal (or rented) automobiles, Public transportation such as rideshare, train, bus or airplane, International travel that requires a valid US passport

Responsibilities

Manage qualitative research participant recruitment and scheduling.
Administer and oversee research participant consent form completion and accuracy.
Manage participation incentives and compensation fulfillment.
Lead all necessary participant communications throughout the research life cycle.
Create, maintain, and ensure adherence to detailed execution plans, schedules, and timelines.
Source, purchase, ship, customize, prepare, and manage research stimuli, physical equipment, digital assets, and products needed for flawless execution.
Set up project-specific qualitative research platforms, software, and tools.
Document effective protocols, templates, and best practices for qualitative research operations and enablement.
Source, negotiate with, and manage third-party facilities, venues, recruiters, and specialists.
Oversee vendor/partner contracts, ensure adherence to agreed-upon terms, and verify invoice accuracy.
Oversee procurement and ongoing management of top-tier qualitative tools and platforms, including software/hardware asset management.
Manage access privileges, user seats, and evaluate platforms for participant recruitment and info management.
Ensure all participant information is accurate, honest, useful, and thorough.
Share participant data in relevant, compliant ways for Insights teams.
Oversee data privacy, participant safety, and ethical communication practices, including proper disposal of personally identifiable information (PII).
Educate Insights teams on client’s contractual obligations and communicate policy updates.
Conduct regular audits of research platforms/tools to ensure compliance with data privacy regulations, MSAs, and SOWs; send reminders and oversee retention and destruction protocols.
Manage and ensure timely compliance with client’s Smarty Pants offboarding policies.
Partner with project leaders to manage team member bandwidth, staffing, and scheduling.
Input time allocations/needs in resource and project management software.
Support proposal development by gathering bids, making vendor recommendations, creating and reviewing contracts.
Oversee contracts and billing in close partnership with the Smarty Pants Finance Manager.
Manage budgets as SOWs shift between studies, ensuring expenditures (software/vendor fees, incentives, travel) align with financial goals.
Review post-project finances to ensure estimated and actual costs align, providing recommendations and cost-saving measures to optimize future initiatives.

Benefits

Competitive salary range
Eligible for discretionary year-end and/or spot bonus, based on company performance and discretion
Eligible to participate in Smarty Pants’ health care plan offered through Blue Cross/Blue Shield following 60 days of full-time employment
Eligible to participate in Smarty Pants-sponsored 401(k) retirement plan following 90 days of full-time employment
Employer contribution of 3% of salary to Smarty Pants-sponsored 401(k) retirement plan following one year of employment, with no vesting schedule
Eligible for Smarty Pants’ Paid Family Leave Plan following one year of full-time employment
Eligible to participate in Smarty Pants’ sponsored 529 savings plan
Up to $100/month phone/internet stipend
Company closures (currently 16.5 weekdays)
Up to 15 planned Vacation days
Up to 3 unplanned Personal/Bereavement days
Unlimited Just Get Better (sick) days
Twice-per-quarter half-day Happy Hours