Research Director (Sports Research)

Location: Hybrid, Melbourne or Sydney, Australia; client-facing presentations and onsite hot-desking may be required.

Company

hirify.global Sport Australia provides sports data, consumer research, insights, and media evaluation for premier sports organisations across Australia.

What you will do

• Lead the delivery, retention, and growth of the hirify.global Sport consumer research business and manage the client base across leagues, clubs, and sporting organisations.
• Design and implement research strategies using syndicated data, bespoke research solutions, and a broad range of methodologies.
• Manage research projects end to end, including planning, budgeting, delegation, coordination, timelines, quality, and client requirements.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and performance-manage a team of researchers while managing workflows and contributing hands-on to projects.
• Analyse research results, including segmentation, max-diff, and multivariate regression, and prepare and present clear reports and insights.
• Develop client accounts, prepare proposals and costings, support new business pitches, expand the business across APAC, and contribute to marketing, PR, tools, and process improvement.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience conducting custom, primary market research projects; sport experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong client relationship management, client growth, account management, and new business development experience.
• Experience in people and team management, including coaching, mentoring, performance management, and workflow coordination.
• Experience with proprietary tools and data, and a wide variety of research techniques and client sectors; quantitative research is essential.
• Strong analytical mindset, proactive problem-solving abilities, impeccable attention to detail, and a focus on quality and process.
• Strong professional oral and written communication, interpersonal, organizational, time-management, multitasking, and collaboration skills.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a related field.
• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Q Software.
• Innovative mindset with demonstrated use of AI in the workplace and the ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.

Nice to have

• Qualitative research experience.
• Sport research experience.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid work environment with in-person client exposure and opportunities to work onsite when required.
• Values-driven workplace focused on accuracy, ethics, proven methodologies, innovation, and mutual respect.
• Global and diverse team supporting research that represents a wide range of opinions and backgrounds.
• Benefits supporting physical, financial, and emotional wellbeing, including a supportive workplace focused on belonging.