Director Research & Partnership Management Gö, Mü, HH (m/f/d)

Our purpose, to create a new connection between pleasure and responsibility and to help our customers and people in society to achieve this as well, is at the heart of our thinking and actions. To help shape this path, we are looking for a Director of Research & Partnership Management to start as soon as possible. You can choose between our offices in Göttingen, Munich or Hamburg as your place of work.

You are an experienced leader who is very familiar with the FMCG market and its key players, having supported and advised them for many years. You have the ability to translate customer challenges, market developments, and trend insights into business challenges and potential research initiatives.

Over the years, you have developed comprehensive expertise in Sensory Consumer Science and Human Insights and you are well-versed in the relevant testing methods and approaches. You support your teams with your expertise, from day-to-day project challenges to cross-organizational transformation processes. In doing so, you become an important co-creator of our vision for the future.

You are not only task-oriented but also strongly people-oriented, and you enjoy shaping your department, engaging employees and accompanying them along their learning journey.

Your specific responsibilities:

Role within the organization:

• You will work in the second management level in close collaboration with the isi leadership team.
• You will lead one of four Account- and Market Researcher teams.
• You will be responsible for the design and strategic development of one or more business areas beyond client management.
• You are a permanent member of various committees and working groups (e.g. the Strategy Working Group for the development and implementation of our future strategy; the Current & Future Business Meeting, where all directors discuss topics related to market and client development and associated personal challenges).

Leadership responsibilities:

• You will have disciplinary and professional leadership responsibility for several employees (e.g., Senior Research & Partnership Manager, Head of Research & Partnership Manager; some with 10+ years of tenure). These colleagues may themselves lead smaller teams.
• Our leadership concept is that of "Host Leadership", which interprets leadership as hosting. 
• People orientation & psychological safety are at the core of our leadership understanding. As a leader, you embody our culture and stand up for our values.
• Your responsibilities also include biweekly check-in meetings (30 minutes) and conducting annual development conversations.
• You design individual development paths, define specific development goals, and plan the measures to achieve them. You also support your team members with leadership responsibilities in all these areas and set the framework for them.

• You are responsible for all isi accounts assigned to your team and act as a coach and sparring partner for your account managers in strategic account management, supporting them in client conversations, sales meetings, and key project work.
• You set the framework for daily project operations (e.g., organization of resource planning, project team composition, content coaching of the project teams).
• You also support strategic client development in line with our economic growth and purpose-driven goals, as well as the integration of new clients into your cluster.
• You are responsible for supporting your account managers in preparing annual budgets and three-year account plans.
• You oversee budget and contribution margin planning and monitor target achievement with the necessary resources for all accounts in your cluster.

Additional responsibilities:

• You will support the management team in implementing strategic projects and communicate at all levels and with all departments of the company.
• You will represent isi at trade fairs, conferences and on social media to acquire new customers.
• You maintain contact- /customer relationships and have an extensive network of contacts.

• Completed university degree in economics, business psychology, social sciences, business administration, or comparable.
• Many years of relevant professional experience in a comparable position with in-depth knowledge of the FMCG market and its players.
• Extensive experience in project and account management.
• Solid leadership experience.
• Profound expertise in Sensory Science, Sensory Consumer Testing, Human Insights and related testing methods and approaches. Strong focus on Expert Sensory (Descriptive Panels) and Sensory Decoding approaches.
• Knowledge/experience in the application of AI solutions in the context of Sensory & Consumer Insights.
• Business fluent written and spoken in German and English.
• High sense of responsibility, courage to explore new paths, curiosity and eagerness to learn.

• A great team and a company that is clearly moving towards becoming a "human-centered organization".
• Comprehensive onboarding to optimally prepare you for your role.
• A challenging position with a high degree of creative freedom.
• An independent area of responsibility with active collaboration with colleagues.
• Remote work possible up to 50%.
• In addition to standard IT-equipment, you will receive a company phone and an iPad.
• Company car as part of the compensation package.
• Inspiring work environment with regular company events.
• Fitness allowance, JobRad, supplementary health insurance and company pension scheme.

Convince us & apply now with your complete application documents at  https://jobs@isi-insights.com using the “Apply” button.

• isi ist eine der weltweit führenden Agenturen für sensorische Marktforschung
• Mittelständisches Unternehmen mit mehr als 100 isi-aner*innen
• Gegründet 1995 in Göttingen
• Standorte: Göttingen (Hauptsitz), München und Hamburg
• Funktionsübergreifende Teams aus den Bereichen Wirtschaftspsychologie/Psychologie, Sozial-, Agrar-, Ernährungs- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften
• Besonders familienfreundliches Unternehmen
• Verknüpfung von Unternehmens- und Mitarbeiterinteressen

• Mobiles Arbeiten & flexible Arbeitszeit
• Betriebliche Altersvorsorge
• E-Bike-Leasing (JobRad)
• Rückenfit-Training in der Mittagspause
• EGYM Wellpass (Fitness)
• Betriebliche Krankenversicherung
• Laufgruppen & isi-Fußballteam
• ergonomische Arbeitsplatzausstattung
• am Standort Rosdorf gemütlicher Gemeinschaftsraum mit offenem Küchenbereich und angrenzender sonniger Dachterrasse
• technisch ausgestattete Konferenzräume