Job Vacancies

Essential Research is a highly regarded full service research agency specialising in media, communications and technology. Established in April 2005, boasting some of the UK’s most important and innovative media brands on our client list, including the BBC, Microsoft, ITV, Channel 4, Freeview, MTV and Three Mobile.

A former winner of the MRS ‘Best New Agency’ award, Essential are a “boutique” agency committed to intelligent and impactful research that makes a real difference for their clients. Essential was recently acquired by SPA Future Thinking retaining its name and identity within the group.

Essential are now looking to add a qualitative Research Executive to their team.

Who are Essential looking to employ?
The chosen candidate will a motivated qualitative researcher with at least one year of research experience preferably agency-side and a genuine interest in people and the world around them.

Your role:

• Handling most aspects of project set-up, including: writing screeners, briefing recruiters, preparing stimulus, pre-checking respondents, planning and booking incentives, travel and accommodation.
• Participating in brainstorms for client proposals and providing support to proposal writing teams (e.g. writing up case studies
• Playing a supporting role in new business activity by providing desk research / preparing materials as and when required
• Conducting fieldwork across the UK and occasionally abroad
• Contributing to project analysis and assisting senior researchers by providing evidence to back-up key presentation points (verbatim, images, video)
• Contributing to our accumulated knowledge and insight base regarding media and the consumer
• Contributing to our ongoing development of new and creative qualitative methodologies
• Reporting directly to the Qualitative Senior Research Manager

What we want from you:

• At least 1 years’ experience as a qualitative researcher at a research agency/as an ad agency planner
• An understanding of the basic principles of qualitative recruitment, interviewing and moderation
• Some practical experience of moderation (preferably both face-to-face and in the online environment)
• Graduate level education
• An enthusiasm for media and technology
• Ability to work under pressure, in a team environment
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and analytical skills
• Excellent PowerPoint charting skills and experience of presentation writing
• An ability to derive clear stories from data
• Pro-active, creative thinker
• Attention to detail

What you get from us:

• Interesting, exciting projects with some of most innovative and important media brands in the world
• Stimulating, informal working environment
• Opportunity to learn and develop, and as much responsibility as you can handle
• Competitive salary, negotiable depending on experience
• A range of flexible benefit options which you can select to suit your lifestyle
• Training / Progression opportunities across the parent group SPA Future Thinking

Please send your CV along with a covering letter to:

JobsLondon@spafuturethinking.com

This role will be based at our sister company Essential Research.

The chosen candidate will be a confident, first-rate qualitative researcher with 5+ years of agency-side experience, genuine interest in the media industry, and someone who thrives on challenging briefs and working in a stimulating environment.

THE ROLE:

• Handling all aspects of qualitative projects from proposal to debrief, delegating where appropriate
• Fostering existing and developing new client relationships, contributing to Agency revenue
• Working with senior clients across the duration of each project
• Conducting fieldwork across the UK and occasionally abroad
• Contributing to our accumulated knowledge and insight base regarding media and the consumer
• Contributing to our ongoing development of new and creative qualitative methodologies

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

• At least 5 years’ experience as a qualitative researcher at a research agency/as an ad agency planner, including at least 4 years’ experience in qualitative design, moderation, analysis and debriefing.
• Graduate level education
• AQR or similar qualitative training accreditation
• Strong opinions on great qualitative practice
• Proven success in fostering and developing client relations, leading to repeat and new business wins
• Genuine interest in media and new, emerging media in particular
• Ability to work under pressure
• Excellent client relations skills and confidence in dealing with clients from SRE to boardroom level
• Evidence of impactful and insightful debriefing writing and presenting skills
• Previous experience in media, comms and telco research a plus

Please send your CV along with a covering letter to:

JobsLondon@spafuturethinking.com

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Senior Research Executive to work within our Automotive Quant team.

We are looking for a pro-active, passionate person to work on one of our key accounts, working on one of our high profile Customer Satisfaction tracking projects.

THE ROLE:

• Looking for insight in the various areas of the tracker data to feed into quarterly presentations
• Must have a good level of client exposure to advise on key themes emerging from the data and drive continuous development of the processes
• Be a key part of the team running of one of SPA Future Thinking’s key automotive quant accounts
• Handling reporting and ad-hoc data requests

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

• Proven project management skills with ability to plan and manage timelines / workloads
• Previous tracker experience
• Proven experience handling primary research data – must be comfortable with reading data tables
• Ability to deal with and impart information to people within all levels of the organisations
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially PowerPoint and Excel
• Ideally looking for someone familiar with SPSS or other reporting tools
• Educated to degree level (preferably 2:1 or above)
• Positive outgoing person keen to work on high profile accounts
• Pro-active to look at the data and work with the client to create story driven reporting

Please send your CV along with a covering letter to JobsWycombe@spafuturethinking.com

The Qual team has grown rapidly in turnover and client relationships over the last few years and we are looking for a bright, energetic, dynamic quallie who can help maintain this growth. The Qual team is a small, supportive and hard working group where initiative and team spirit is integral to our success.

THE ROLE:

• An opportunity has arisen for a SRE / RM to work within our qual team.
• We are looking for someone with proven qualitative experience and has a minimum of 2 years experience within a UK Research Agency. 
• The role will also involve responding to client briefs and writing proposals, managing and conducting research as well as analysing findings and writing reports.
• You will also be required to present findings to clients alongside directors.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

• Articulate, creative, innovative and ambitious
• A solid thinker and actively looking to develop their role
• Great attention to detail
• Good analytical and writing skills
• Good client handling skills
• Have an interest in the FMCG / retail industry. (although FMCG experience not essential)
• Be confident with a variety of qualitative approaches and willing to undertake fieldwork
• Be well-versed in all aspects of project set-up.
• Able to undertake analysis and write charts/presentations.
• Have experience of dealing with, and potentially presenting to clients.
• Have experience and ability to manage projects.
•  Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Exceptional time management and organisational skills
• Good presentation skills
• Able to work effectively in a team and independently
• A strong level of drive, resilience, tenacity, flexibility and initiative
• Be enthusiastic and have a desire to progress

Please send your CV along with a covering letter to JobsOxford@spafuturethinking.com

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

• Experience of all aspects of research projects, from writing proposals and questionnaires, overseeing fieldwork, checking data, writing reports and attending/ presenting de-briefs.
• Confidence in dealing with clients.
• Experience of developing business with existing clients, and a proactive approach to new business development.
• Ability to manage multiple projects at once.
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and effectively.
• Wide ranging knowledge of quantitative research methodologies and strong analytical skills.
• Well organised, with attention to detail.
• Have experience of qualitative research, or at least the willingness to give it a go.
• Have experience of retail research.
• Know your way around a non-linear digital video edit suite, or would like to learn.

Please send your CV along with a covering letter to JobsOxford@spafuturethinking.com