VP, GROUP ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
The VP, Group Account Director will play a major role in managing client relationships and marketing the company's services, with a particular emphasis on CPG and other sector clients. The position is two-fold: Responsibility for delivering the highest caliber research solutions to existing clients and the acquisition of new business,
This position will have a team of 3-5 direct reports with many more project management staff reporting indirectly, on an engagement basis (e.g., analysts, project directors). The candidate will work to manage and expand key client relationships, to develop KN's intellectual capital and to position KN as a leading value-added research supplier within consumer packaged goods space. It offers significant growth potential and opportunity to influence the direction of the business.
Essential Functions:
- Be an ambassador for KN by successfully managing our most important client relationships - in meetings, teleconferences, workshops, presentations with research and non-research client functions, industry conferences, etc.
- Build loyalty, revenues and profitability by virtue of extraordinary delivery to our clients.
- Lead KN engagement staff to ensure the highest quality deliverables for our clients – day-to-day management and oversight of engagement teams.
- Sell the company's services to current and prospective clients – take the lead on proposal development, from formulating methodology to writing, presenting and closing proposals.
- Supervise and mentor team members, including training of team members in research methodologies and business applications.
Additional Responsibilities & Skills:
- Engage in research and development activities, as needed, to develop and refine new frameworks/services for Knowledge Networks.
- Involvement in strategic and tactical planning.
Education/Experience Requirements:
- 12+ years market research experience with strong quantitative skew
- Advanced degree in business or social sciences a plus
- Understanding of application and interpretation of advanced statistics/research methods essential (however, not looking for a statistician)
- Industry-specific skills: Retail/ and/or consumer packaged goods research expertise and/or shopper insights expertise a plus
- Proven ability to grow client revenues through superior performance – expected to manage $4-$5 million+
- Ability to deliver marketing driven insights in written and oral formats
- Issue-specific skills: Candidate must be expert in strategic issues such as market segmentation, brand positioning, new product development, marketing communications (both traditional and non-traditional
Location/Travel:
- Availability to travel domestically as needed. "Out-of-town" travel not expected to exceed 20-25%.
Candidate Fit with KN Culture:
- KN is an innovative research firm known for providing our clients with high value added insights; we challenge the status quo with new approaches and solutions that combine advanced analytics, unimpeachable data and industry insight.
- Ideal candidate will have the drive and vision to drive KN's fast growing practice to the next level, building on KN's already excellent relationships with blue-chip client companies.
- Ability to collaborate with colleagues very important – not just managers, but also with peers inside and outside client service function.
- The successful candidate should possess superb communication skills and strong business acumen.
- Candidates with an entrepreneurial "spark" usually thrive in our corporate culture.
- KN offers competitive compensation and benefits, including four weeks of paid time off.
Knowledge Networks is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.
