Senior Research Manager

Are you an experienced market research professional looking for an exciting next step in your career, motivated by building strong client relationships? We are looking for an ambitious, energetic and self-motivated Associate Research Director to join our China research team , working on global client accounts. This is a client-facing role within the China research team in Shanghai, with the primary aim of developing small and medium sized accounts by growing, managing and maintaining client relationships. Key Responsibilities Engage confidently with clients, building strong, long‑term relationships Lead research design, proposal writing, and end‑to‑end project delivery Ensure high‑quality outputs with strong data interpretation and commercial insight Add value at debriefs through clear storytelling and sector understanding Drive business development by nurturing and growing client accounts Manage, coach and mentor junior team members, supporting their growth and development Oversee team workflow and quality, ensuring smooth delivery across the full project cycle Skills, Knowledge & Expertise Agency experience (ideally ad hoc) is essential for this role Relevant research experience within the food, drink, household care and personal care industry is advantageous Product testing experience is ideal Experience within both small and large agencies would be beneficial Quant experience is essential and qual is desirable (though not necessarily as a practitioner) Strong self-management and communications skills Fluent in English and Mandarin Job Benefits MMR is the place where sensory science meets exciting, powerful commercial application, from branding and innovation to product development and retail strategy. We partner with over 50% of the top 100 global food and drink brands. We were founded on the belief that successful products, those that really deliver on their brand promise, are built from the perfect blend of sensory science and consumer insight. We help clients to achieve this, right across the globe with offices in London New York, Shanghai and everywhere in between. It’s our people that make all of this possible. We are proud of our collaborative culture which is driven by strong leadership and offers industry-leading training and growth opportunities. At MMR, we're committed to ensuring the happiness and well-being of each employee, regardless of where they are in the world! We offer a wide range of core and additional benefits. Competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and market-leading training opportunities are standard here. Our vibrant culture, talented team, and focus on employee wellbeing is what makes MMR so special.