Explorer | Qualitative Research Director | Ontario

Explorer is seeking a Qualitative Director to join our Research team, playing a pivotal role in delivering outstanding client service, and building a high‑performing team. Are you ready to lead qualitative projects that turn human insight into compelling stories? At Explorer, you'll drive client success and team excellence.

About Us:

At Explorer, we are shopper experts. We focus on all things shopper research, using a behavioral approach to identifying and understanding actionable opportunities for our clients. As part of Savanta, we have a broad range of shopper research offerings, with a specialty in Pack, Planogram, Retail, Signage, and Path-to-Purchase research.

Explorer is part of the Savanta Group which is a fast-growing data, market research, and advisory group. Being part of the Savanta Group provides Explorer with global coverage while maintaining our consultative approach with clients.

This role requires you to reside in Ontario, Canada, with travel throughout the US at least once a month. Currently this role is remote but will be linked to the Ontario office and may change to hybrid in the future.

About the Role:

Step into a role where you lead qualitative research projects and act as a senior, trusted contact for clients. Working alongside the Vice President and senior colleagues, you'll oversee work from proposal through to delivery, keeping projects on track and stakeholders informed. You'll have support from senior colleagues on proposals and commercial decisions. You will be an experienced moderator, moderating qualitative research groups (in person & digitally) and other qualitative methodologies, and delivering hands-on qualitative-only and qual-quant mixed projects.

You'll be the bridge between qualitative insight and those who need to act on it. Your work connects insight with commercial impact. You'll bring findings together into a clear, compelling story, ensuring consistency across the team's work. You'll advise clients on qualitative strategy, champion digital and tech-enabled approaches, and act as the point of sign-off for presentations, always setting the standard for best practice. When issues arise, you'll resolve them swiftly and keep clients informed.

You'll play an active part in developing a high-performing team. You'll mentor and develop team members to build qualitative expertise, providing constructive feedback and helping them grow in confidence and capability, and support the team lead in fostering a culture of continuous innovation, client obsession and service excellence.

You'll report directly to the Vice President, leveraging your expertise to make a real difference.

Key responsibilities will be:

• Leading Qualitative Projects: Design and deliver high-quality qualitative research projects from proposal through to delivery, using a range of methods (e.g., IDIs, focus groups, shopalongs, ethnography and online sessions), keeping projects on track to required project margins.
• Moderation: Moderate qualitative research both in person and digitally, drawing on a range of methodologies.
• Client Account Management: Lead client relationships as a senior, trusted contact, keeping stakeholders informed, building an in-depth understanding of clients' businesses, and identifying revenue opportunities through technology.
• Field & Travel: Attend fieldwork and meet clients, including travel throughout the US at least once a month.
• Project Management & Quality: Coordinate projects involving multiple projects simultaneously, set out vision and objectives for junior staff, review outputs to ensure quality, and link insight to commercial outcomes for clients.
• Commercial Responsibility: Take ownership of project profitability and accurate costing, working with senior colleagues on commercial decisions and providing accurate, reliable forecasts for the Head of the team.
• Proposals: Lead qualitative proposals, with support from senior colleagues on new business and key accounts.
• Transforming Insight into Narratives: Bring findings together into clear, compelling stories, ensuring consistency across the team's work, and develop reports and presentations that resonate with both strategic planners and operational managers.
• Mentoring & Training: Mentor and develop team members, providing constructive feedback and helping them grow in confidence and capability.

Please click here to view the full job description

About You:

Explorer is looking for an experienced qualitative leader who is highly skilled at managing complex projects and making insight actionable.

Essential Experience:

• Substantial ability to run qualitative research projects, ideally gained at a market research agency.
• In-depth knowledge of qualitative research methods, with a solid understanding of quantitative methods.
• Strong hands-on moderation experience, in person and digitally, across methodologies such as IDIs, focus groups, shopalongs, ethnographic interviews and online qualitative sessions.
• Proven leadership skills that inspire and guide teams, with a track record of mentoring and developing others.
• Excellent project management, including coordinating teams and multiple moderators, and experience managing client accounts and recruitment vendors, delivering precise strategies and insights under tight schedules and fast turnaround requirements.
• Enthusiasm for in-person fieldwork and client visits, including travel throughout the US at least once a month.
• Excellent senior-level client management, with the confidence to be the key client contact, and excellent storytelling that turns qualitative findings into clear, actionable narratives.
• Commercial awareness, including an understanding of project margins.
• Sound judgment about research approaches, including when technology and AI add value and when a traditional approach is more appropriate or a client does not permit AI use.
• The confidence to work autonomously while bringing in senior support when needed.

Beneficial Experience:

• Qualitative analysis tools such as CoLoop.
• Shopper Research, particularly packaging testing, optimizing store layouts, and understanding customer pathways.
• Championing digital and tech-enabled research approaches.
• Running workshops or activation sessions.
• Previous involvement in proposals or selling. Prior sales experience is not required, as support is provided to develop this area.

And in return, Explorer offers*:

• Salary: $105,000 CAD + (depending on experience and ability)
• Bonus scheme
• Flexible working practices
• Health package
• Team & Company Socials

Why Join Us:

Part of the vibrant Savanta & Next 15 Communications Group, we have an entrepreneurial company culture that actively recognizes and values its people and offers excellent opportunity for career development.

Explorer Research is committed to being an equal opportunities employer and continuously strives to be an employer of choice. Our people are our greatest assets, we value workplace diversity and inclusion, oppose all forms of unlawful discrimination, and welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates of all backgrounds.

*Full details of local benefits and perks available on request from the People Team (HR).

All candidates will be considered equally; however, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

We encourage authentic responses to demonstrate your experience and approach, rather than relying on Generative Al tools to write your cover letter or any questions in the application process.  We may use Al Decoders as part of the review process and if answers match to a high extent that may be factored into the review.

For information on how Savanta uses your data, please see https://savanta.com/about/careers/job-opportunities