Research & Insights Manager
WE ARE OPEN TO HIRING IN HELSINKI, STOCKHOLM, COPENHAGUEN
About SAMY
SAMY is a global network of independent marketing and communications agencies, using research, technology, strategy, creativity, and performance to deliver impactful, data-driven solutions and drive growth for brands. With over 1000 employees in 15+ offices across 18 countries (Europe, U.S., Latin America) and operating in 55 markets, SAMY serves over 100 leading clients, specializing in award-winning, end-to-end digital campaigns.
As a Research & Insights Manager, you will define the research approach for a wide variety of projects and lead the analysis of complex, multi-source datasets to explore consumer behaviour in depth, understand brand perception, and identify product, category, or cultural opportunities. You will communicate insights in a compelling, structured way that directly addresses clients’ business questions, challenges, and objectives.
Each day will be excitingly different, but the focus will be to produce exceptional work around insights, measurement, and performance reports that help our clients grow their businesses. You will own and drive work across Social Listening reports, Brand Health analysis, Audience Profiling, Trend and Cultural Insight reports, Campaign Performance, Media Performance, and more.
You will be agile in your approach, able to manage your time with ease, work confidently under pressure, and deliver against fast turnaround timelines. You’ll use a mix of social intelligence platforms and data sources, including Sprinklr, Linkfluence/Radarly, Brandwatch, Facebook Insights, Twitter Analytics, YouGov, Global Web Index, and additional emerging tools.
You will also be responsible for providing structure and technical direction to more junior team members, ensuring data quality, consistency, and methodological rigor across deliverables. You will work closely with Data Science to expand our AI and automation capabilities and with the Creative and Strategy teams to inform impactful, insight-led solutions.
You’ll sit within the Research & Insights team and report directly to the Head of Research & Insights.
Job Functions
Research Intelligence
Must Have
Lead end-to-end Insights projects with inputs across study design, query writing, dashboard setup, data validation/analysis, visualisation, interpretation, and client delivery.
Expertise in handling multiple data sources (social intelligence, search data, behavioural signals, cultural trends) in delivering actionable recommendations.
Experience in monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc reporting cycles, assessing social performance and category movements across a variety of KPIs.
2. Data Custodian
Must Have
Ensure high standards of data accuracy, linguistic consistency, representativeness, and cross-market comparability.
Apply robust data governance practices across all projects, ensuring datasets are clean, complete, and reliable.
Ability to troubleshoot inconsistencies in multi-market or multi-language datasets and apply corrective logic.
Maintain rigour around sampling, query logic, translation validation, and KPI definition.
Good to Have
Experience in implementing quality-assurance pipelines or automated validation checks.
Familiarity with data engineering or workflow automation concepts (R, Python, SQL desirable).
3. Innovation
Must Have
Experience working with advanced listening methodologies: topic modelling, clustering, journey mapping, scoring frameworks, and audience systems.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate with Data Science on scalable analytical approaches and AI-driven enhancements.
Contribute to the development of new methodologies, frameworks, templates, and tools that increase insight depth or efficiency.
Good to Have
Experience building or influencing automation workflows (e.g., reporting automation, dashboard optimisation, entity extraction tools).
Experience experimenting with new platforms, APIs, or AI features to extend social intelligence capabilities.
4. Cross-Functional Collaboration
Must Have
Collaborate with Strategy, Creative, Data Science, Implementation, and global research teams.
Navigate multi-country, multi-language workflows and ensure clarity across time zones.
Support strategic projects and pitches through clear, structured insight contributions.
Good to Have
Experience coordinating large project teams across multiple regions simultaneously.
Experience building cross-functional briefing structures or delivery frameworks.
5. Client Servicing
Must Have
Own day-to-day client relationships, presenting with confidence and providing structured, insight-led guidance.
Translate complex datasets into senior-ready narratives that influence decision-making.
Identify new insight angles, unmet needs, and growth opportunities within accounts.
Deliver clear, well-reasoned recommendations aligned to client objectives and category dynamics.
Good to Have
Experience contributing to pitches, proposals, or strategic workshops.
Experience managing large or multi-market client portfolios.
4. People Development & Coaching
Must Have
Mentor Analysts and Juniors: provide consistent, actionable developmental feedback.
Build training materials, templates, documentation, and best practices (reflecting Saffie’s training library).
Delegate intelligently to upskill the team and strengthen independence.
Good to Have
Experience designing or contributing to formal training materials, playbooks, or methodology guides (e.g., query-writing guidelines, QA checklists).
Experience leading internal workshops, lunch & learns, or upskilling sessions across markets or functions.
Experience participating in performance review processes, career development conversations, or competency framework design.
