Research Executive/ Senior Research Executive

About Ahead Strategy

Ahead Strategy is a forward-looking market research and insights consultancy serving clients across global markets. We help organisations move from data to direction by combining rigorous research, commercial thinking and clear, actionable storytelling with focus on the complex markets of APAC and MENA.

As the research industry evolves, Ahead Strategy is building a modern agency model that brings together human insight, technology and responsible use of AI. This role is ideal for an ambitious researcher who wants broad project exposure, direct involvement with international clients and the opportunity to help shape the future of an agile insights business.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a Research Executive or Senior Research Executive with 1–3 years of agency experience to join our growing team. You will support and progressively lead market research projects from initial brief and research design through fieldwork, analysis, reporting and client delivery.

The role will have a stronger quantitative emphasis, while still offering meaningful involvement in qualitative research. You should be comfortable working with data, curious about people and markets, and interested in applying AI-enabled tools to make research faster, smarter and more valuable—without compromising quality, confidentiality or human judgement.

Appointment at Research Executive or Senior Research Executive level will depend on demonstrated capability, project ownership and client readiness. Industry career guidance typically places Research Executives at around 1–3 years’ experience and Senior Research Executives at a later stage, so Ahead Strategy should assess seniority primarily through autonomy and performance rather than tenure alone.

Working arrangement: Remote/hybrid with 1-2x a month regional travel

Employment type: Full-time

Experience: 1–3 years in a market research or insights agency

Research mix: Approximately 60% quantitative and 40% qualitative

Key Responsibilities

• Manage or support research projects end to end, including briefing, proposal development, research design, project setup, fieldwork, analysis, reporting and delivery.
• Translate client business questions into clear research objectives, practical methodologies and well-structured project plans.
• Design quantitative research materials, including questionnaires, sampling specifications, analysis plans and tabulation requirements.
• Coordinate survey programming, data collection, quality checks, data cleaning and fieldwork progress with internal teams and external partners.
• Analyse quantitative data using cross-tabulations and other appropriate techniques to identify patterns, differences and commercially relevant insights.
• Support qualitative research through discussion-guide development, participant recruitment, interview or group coordination, note-taking, coding and thematic analysis.
• Maintain day-to-day communication with clients and partners, providing accurate updates and managing expectations around timelines, scope and outputs.
• Test and apply suitable AI tools across the research workflow—for example, desk research, questionnaire development, open-ended coding, qualitative synthesis, analysis support and reporting.
• Check AI-assisted outputs for accuracy, bias, confidentiality risks and methodological soundness, ensuring that final conclusions remain researcher-led.

Candidate Profile

Essential

• 1–3 years of full-time experience in a market research, consumer insights or research consultancy environment.
• Hands-on experience supporting or managing primary research projects from setup through delivery.
• Strong grounding in quantitative research, including questionnaire design, sampling, fieldwork management, data checking, cross-tabulation and interpretation.
• Practical exposure to qualitative research, such as depth interviews, focus groups, online communities, coding or thematic analysis.
• Confidence working with numbers and identifying the business meaning behind research findings.
• Strong skills in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; experience with statistical, survey, dashboard or data-visualisation tools is an advantage.
• Excellent written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate clearly with colleagues, partners and global clients.
• Strong organisation, accuracy and ownership, with the ability to work independently in a remote/hybrid environment.
• Intellectual curiosity, commercial awareness and a willingness to learn quickly.

AI and Technology

• Some practical exposure to AI-assisted research, generative AI, machine learning, automation or research-technology platforms.
• Understanding of where AI can add value in the research process—and where human review, contextual judgement and methodological discipline remain essential.
• Awareness of data privacy, confidentiality, transparency, bias and responsible AI use.
• Willingness to experiment thoughtfully with new tools and share learning with the wider team.

The global ICC/ESOMAR Code emphasises legality, transparency, data protection, accountability and human oversight in research and analytics, including projects using AI and emerging technologies. These principles should form part of the role’s expected professional practice rather than treating AI capability as tool proficiency alone.

Advantageous

• Experience working across more than one country, category or client sector.
• Exposure to new ways of doing brand tracking, segmentation, concept or communications testing, customer experience, usage and attitude studies, or market landscaping.
• Experience with platforms or tools such as SPSS, survey-programming software or AI research platforms

What Success Looks Like

Within the first 3-6 months, the successful candidate will be expected to:

• Deliver assigned projects and workstreams accurately, on time and with decreasing supervision.
• Help improve Ahead Strategy’s processes, templates and technology stack as the agency grows.