Group Account Director

Job Details

Location: Auckland or Wellington, New Zealand
Employment Type: Permanent Full-time 
Work Type: Hybrid

About Us

Verian is New Zealand’s leading social research and advisory company with a global presence. We are three-time Supreme award winners at the NZRA Effectiveness Awards and gold winner at ESOMAR’s global awards. We combine deep local knowledge with global expertise to deliver high-quality social research, policy evaluation, and insights that inform government decision-making.

Our projects help agencies understand complex social issues – from health and wellbeing to education, transport, physical activity, environmental change and so much more. We’re trusted to deliver the evidence that drives public good. We combine expertise in human understanding with advanced technologies and data science, connecting governments with citizens across the world. We support the rapid development of policy thinking in moments of urgency. We build communications to reach diverse and complex audiences

We are Verian. Powering decisions that shape the world.

About the role:

We’re looking for a talented social researcher and adviser to join our award-winning team in the role of Group Account Director, with a particular focus on further developing our user design and innovation offer. We are open to this role being based in either our Wellington or Auckland office.

This is an exciting role that requires a solutions-focused approach to all aspects of research from managing existing clients, pitching for new business, and designing research approaches, to delivering findings in a way that is engaging and provides strategic insight.

We expect the successful candidate to have a proven track record of relevant senior-level experience (typically gained with 10+ years industry experience).

Essential to this role are:

• A natural curiosity about our clients, their challenges and their audiences.
• The ability to build a comprehensive understanding of the wider context for a research project, including client constraints, priorities and broader long-term goals.
• Exceptional research design and qualitative research skills.
• The ability to moderate research that generates rich, human insight into how participants think, feel and behave. With the judgement to ask the right questions, at the right time, to build rapport and unlock deeper discussion.
• Strong new business development skills, with experience leading and growing key client accounts.
• The ability to prepare high quality research proposals, reports, and presentations.
• Strong conceptual thinking and the ability to generate strategic insights.
• Proven ability to provide senior-level advice that influences decision-making and shapes strategy, with the confidence to challenge thinking constructively and act as a trusted adviser.

In this role you will be hands-on, designing and leading research projects that involve a range of research techniques, including:

• Traditional qualitative methods (e.g. interviews/focus groups).
• UX research and observational techniques.
• Ethnography (incl. mobile phone enabled digital ethnography).
• Online discussion boards.
• Working alongside quantitative researchers to design and deliver integrated quant/qual research.
• You will also be encouraged and supported to design and build novel techniques that enhance our offering.

Your project reporting and delivery will go beyond simple insights reports – you will be skilled and confident taking a consultative approach with clients:

• Identifying the ‘so what’ for clients.
• Thinking creatively about solutions to client challenges.
• Using insights as a springboard for design and innovation processes.
• Framing insights within the broader sector context that the client is working within.
• Designing and facilitating workshops to collaborate with clients on ideation and action planning.
• Applying and designing strategic frameworks that bring insights to life.
• Telling compelling stories that help clients to empathise deeply with their audiences.

The Group Account Director is responsible for cultivating and maintaining strong client relationships, identifying new business opportunities, winning and executing work, achieving financial goals, driving thought leadership and enhancing the Verian brand. This position combines strategic insight, business development, leadership and technical expertise to deliver exceptional client outcomes and reinforce Verian’s market position. You will also mentor and manage junior team members.

Why Join Us

• The diversity of our projects and team, commitment to training, and an open and engaging work environment, will allow you to develop both professionally and personally.
• We greatly value the positive atmosphere of collaboration we have built, where you will be supported to follow your interests and grow your career.
• The chance to work on high-impact, meaningful projects that drive real-world change
• You will receive a salary with benefits including medical insurance and KiwiSaver, paid wellbeing leave, work flexibility, and options to work from home.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you require any adjustments to participate fully in the recruitment process, please let us know—we’d be happy to help.

Visit www.veriangroup.com to learn more about who we are and the impact we make.