Senior Manager, Research & Insights

Sodali & Co is a recognized global capital markets stakeholder advisory firm, serving over 2,000 clients in more than 65 countries. The Firm advises a diverse and global client base including many of the world’s largest companies. Formed by the mergers of several market-leading capital markets stakeholder engagement consultancies, Sodali is the largest global shareholder services firm in the world. The Firm operates out of three global headquarters in New York, London, and Sydney and is supported by 12 regional offices in major financial capitals around the world.

Sodali provides a full suite of shareholder, sustainability, and strategic communications advisory services that, together, enable the Firm to deliver clients differentiated insights, integrated expertise, and bespoke advice to address complex interconnected issues, identify and capitalize on strategic opportunities, and drive successful business outcomes.

Practice Group Summary

Strategic Communications services include Corporate Communications, Financial and Transaction Communications, Investor Relations, Public Affairs and Campaigns, Crisis and Special Situations, and Research.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Associate Director to join our growing Research team in Sydney.

This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of research, strategy and advisory, helping some of Australia's leading organisations navigate complex reputation, stakeholder, governance, investor and public policy challenges.

The role is suited to an experienced researcher who combines strong technical research skills with commercial acumen and strategic thinking. You will lead end-to-end research projects, manage client relationships, contribute to business development activities, and help translate evidence into actionable strategic recommendations.

Working closely with senior leaders across the business, you will play a key role in integrating research into broader client engagements and demonstrating how evidence-based insights can inform decision-making at the highest levels of organisations.

Key ResponsibilitiesResearch Leadership

Lead the design and delivery of qualitative and quantitative research projects from proposal through to final reporting.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing research methodologies and project approaches
• Designing questionnaires and discussion guides
• Moderating interviews, focus groups and stakeholder consultations
• Managing quantitative and qualitative analysis
• Synthesising findings into clear strategic insights
• Ensuring the quality and rigour of all project outputs
• Leveraging AI-enabled research tools and emerging methodologies to enhance efficiency and insight generation

Client Management

Build trusted relationships with clients and act as a day-to-day senior point of contact.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing multiple client accounts and project workstreams
• Understanding client objectives and translating them into effective research programs
• Providing strategic counsel based on research findings
• Presenting findings and recommendations to client teams
• Identifying opportunities to deepen existing client relationships

Business Development

Support the continued growth of the research practice through active participation in business development activities.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading proposal development and pricing discussions
• Participating in client pitches and capability presentations
• Working with colleagues across the business to integrate research into broader advisory engagements
• Contributing to thought leadership initiatives and market-facing content
• Supporting the development of new research products and service offerings

Operational Excellence

Contribute to the effective management of the research practice.

Responsibilities include:

• Resource planning across multiple projects
• Maintaining quality assurance processes
• Supporting capability development across the team
• Sharing best practice methodologies and approaches
• Contributing to a collaborative, high-performance team culture

Qualifications:

• 7-12+ years' experience in market, stakeholder, reputation, public affairs or strategic research
• Strong quantitative and qualitative research expertise
• Extensive experience designing and executing surveys, interviews and focus groups
• Advanced proficiency in Q
• Experience using AI tools to improve research efficiency, analysis and insight generation
• Strong proposal writing and business development skills
• Excellent written communication and storytelling abilities
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• A commercial mindset and ability to identify opportunities for growth within client accounts
• Experience working with corporate, government or public affairs clients is highly regarded
• Comfort working in fast-paced, evolving environments where priorities may shift.
• Proactive, self-starter, comfortable working in a flat organization.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Sodali & Co is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to support candidates with disabilities or access needs throughout the recruitment process.