Senior Research Manager/Associate Director

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200 countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Senior Research Manager/Associate Director (Qualitative),Advisors Research Center

Our Purpose
We work to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. We cultivate a culture of inclusion for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences enable us to be a better team - one that makes better decisions, drives innovation and delivers better business results.

All About Us
The Data & Services team is a key differentiator for Mastercard providing the cutting-edge services that help our customers grow. Focused on thinking big and scaling fast around the globe, this agile team is responsible for end-to-end solutions for a diverse global customer base. We combine traditional management consulting with our rich data assets and in-house technology to provide our clients with powerful strategic insights and recommendations. Centered on data-driven technologies and innovation, these services include consulting, loyalty and marketing programs, test-and-learn business experimentation, and data driven information and risk management services. While specializing in the payments industry, Mastercard Data & Services also works closely with major retailers, airlines, and other enterprises, leveraging data and insights garnered from within and beyond its network.

All About the Role
The Advisors Research Center is a global research capability within Mastercard Advisors that responds quickly to evolving customer needs with high-quality research support. With a strong focus on value realization, the Advisors Research Center plays a key role in generating insights and actionable recommendations. It complements and enhances Advisors' traditional strengths, supporting deeper, evidence-based decision-making.
As a Senior Research Manager / Associate Director, you will lead custom research engagements that inform Mastercard's consulting projects, marketing strategies, and product innovations across a wide array of clients and industries.

Your responsibilities would include:

• Lead end-to-end primary research engagements, from proposal and design through to delivery of insights.

• Scope research approaches tailored to strategic business challenges, leveraging primarily qualitative methods.

• Moderate in-depth interviews and focus groups, manage vendors, and conduct analysis as needed.

• Synthesize findings into compelling stories with clear, actionable recommendations.

All About You
You are a skilled researcher who is passionate about uncovering insights that matter. You thrive in fast-paced environment and are confident managing multiple projects, stakeholders, and timelines.

• Proven experience leading custom research projects (mainly primary research), ideally in a consultancy, agency, or client-side insights team.

• End-to-end project management capabilities from scoping and design through execution, team oversight and final delivery.

• Strong ability to engage with internal and external stakeholders, including consulting to understand client objectives, frame research questions, and confidently lead presentations and communications throughout the project.

• Experience working with research vendors, including vendor management, managing fieldwork logistics, execution of primary research studies, and discussion guide preparation.

• Demonstrated people management responsibilities, including leading a small team and mentoring junior researchers (preferably, not mandatory).

• Excellent communication and business writing skills, with the ability to translate complex data into clear, compelling insights and produce professional, client-ready materials that influence decision-makers.

All About Your Education & Skills

• 8-10 years of relevant experience in research, customer insights, or strategy consulting, with a strong emphasis on qualitative research.

• Extensive experience leading primary research projects with a strong focus on qualitative methods, including end-to-end management from design and moderation to analysis and reporting.

• Highly skilled in applying a range of techniques such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic approaches tailored to project objectives and audiences, with a proven ability to generate actionable insights that inform strategic decision-making.

• Preferred (not mandatory) experience in quantitative research methods, with a collaborative mindset to work effectively with quantitative teams and integrate findings for a comprehensive understanding of consumer behavior.

• Strong knowledge of various qualitative research methodologies and tools, with the flexibility to tailor approaches according to specific project objectives and target audiences.

• Familiarity with the financial services industry is preferred, including awareness of recent trends, issues, and key topics.

• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in additional languages is considered an advantage.

• Advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are essential, with knowledge of project management tools preferred.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices;
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines.

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