Research, Vice President

Teneo is looking for a talented and data-driven Vice President with a passion for strategic communications to join our Research team in the Middle East. This role is part of a thriving team advising high-profile clients on how to create effective narratives, manage reputation, engage with key audiences, and tell proactive stories which support clients’ strategic objectives.

We’re interested in meeting candidates with wide-ranging perspectives, and we’re open to hearing from you whether you currently work in traditional opinion research, social and media analytics, or data analysis roles.

It’s key for us that you can cut across sectors and switch seamlessly between all our disciplines, from reactive issues management to proactive storytelling. And we’d love it if, like us, you’re intellectually curious, creative, collaborative, and eager to learn.

As a Vice President you’ll be responsible for providing the highest quality of service to our clients and play a pivotal role in driving forward activity across multiple account teams, delivering regular insight and analysis, and supporting clients’ reputational and strategic objectives. Vice Presidents manage and coach our Associates and Senior Associates and work into and learn from our Managing Directors and Senior Vice Presidents.

Key Responsibilities

As a Research Vice President with the Strategy and Communications team at Teneo, your role will include:

1. Research, analysis and advisory – Lead research and analysis to understand market, geopolitical and/ or business trends. Utilize research tools to extract insights and support the broader team, including, but not limited to: Survey research, Qualitative focus groups and in-depth interviews, Social and traditional media analytics tools and Online research communities.
2. Supporting research development and deployment – support the development of research briefs and situation analyses to the creation of tailored research programs to answer the client’s most pressing questions.
3. Leading on research projects design, planning and deployment - develop and implement tailored research programs to answer the client’s most pressing questions. Lead research methodology design, project set-up, vendor negotiations, project implementation, analysis, and recommendations.
4. Account management – manage client relationship through frequent client communication, developing and maintaining client communication materials, updating project trackers, maintaining budgets and ensuring all client needs are met in a timely and satisfactory manner.
5. Client management - work with SVPs and MDs to manage opportunities or areas of concern proactively and systematically.
6. Supporting new business development – actively building network of new client/ prospect relationships, working on new business opportunities including developing significant aspects of proposals, accurately scoping external costs and budgeting for projects, and participating in client pitch meetings. Support the team with pre-pitch research and tailored research proposals.

Furthermore, you will be expected to:

• Build strong client and team relationships, fostering long-term partnerships and seeking organic growth opportunities through new business proposal development;
• Provide support and insight to your client teams, proactively highlighting opportunities, and potential areas of concern;
• Build a strong network of effective relationships internally and externally;
• Proactively seek formal and informal learning and development opportunities to support your professional growth and contribute to the sharing of learnings across the wider team; and
• Actively coach and mentor Associates and Senior Associates on your account teams.

Skills and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in communications, journalism, political science, law, public policy, international relations, business, market research or a related field
• 5-7 years of experience in a research role – within agency or in-house
• Strong understanding of the region – its media and geopolitical landscapes
• Experience offering client counsel at the appropriate level, based on in-depth insight of client’s business and sector
• Deep knowledge of wider corporate reputational or market issues arising
• Strong ability to grasp clients’ business objectives and relevant wider industry dynamics to enable drafting of messaging and communications materials
• Experience working with international media
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills
• Exceptional presentation skills
• Analysis and data visualisation skills
• Excellent command of Microsoft Office (PowerPoint and Word)
• Excellent project management skills
• Client and team management skills
• Understanding of digital communications
• Arabic writing skills an asset (for Arabic speakers)

Characteristics and Attributes

• Strategic and critical thinker
• Collaborative and a team player
• Comfortable managing and mentoring junior colleagues
• Problem solver with a positive attitude
• Flexible and always willing to try
• Detail oriented and committed to high quality deliverables
• Intellectual curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit
• Humble, honest and respectful
• Resilient and performs well under pressure
• Comfortable with uncertainty
• Readiness for frequent travel and stints at clients’ offices

What we can offer

New joiners are supported by an induction programme, and continuous development is a key focus of life at Teneo - learning and knowledge sharing are at the heart of this. We have an environment and culture that is focused on supporting your development and career progression. We support this with a dedicated Learning Team who provide a range of learning opportunities and personal development support. 

Given our client base you’ll be working on career-defining work that is exciting, rewarding, and one where you can make a real impact to high profile projects.

Teneo works with clients on complex issues and challenges that often require a multidisciplinary approach that leverage our main business segments – Strategy & Communications, Management Consulting, Financial Advisory, People Advisory, and Risks Advisory. You will have opportunities to work alongside our experts in these disciplines to develop and deliver an integrated solution.

Company Benefits

As well as this we offer a whole host of benefits and reward including:

• Competitive salary
• 25 days holiday
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Annual salary review
• End-of-service benefits
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave (depending on length of service)
• Private medical insurance (individual and immediate family members)
• Life insurance
• Regular social, cultural and charitable activities
• Flexible and remote working with office laptop provided

About Teneo

Teneo advises private and public sector leaders, helping achieve goals by earning trust, navigating disruption, and removing barriers. We are built to drive success in a world defined by change and uncertainty. Working with the world’s leading companies and organizations, Teneo provides strategic counsel across their full range of key objectives and issues, with a focus on five main services offerings, including Strategy and Communications; Management Consulting; Financial Advisory; Risk Advisory; and People Advisory. The Teneo Research team works across all five disciplines, providing data-driven advice and counsel to help our clients make more effective decisions, faster.

Teneo employs more than 1,600 people around the world, offering global reach from a light infrastructure, built out of regional hubs. Our culture is critical to our success. We have a flat management structure with an open and supportive office atmosphere. To support progression and learning, we foster a supportive environment with a focus on mental health and wellbeing as well as adopting an inclusive environment that allows all employees to flourish.  We recognise that diversity is essential for our business and encourage applicants from all backgrounds.