Associate

Associate, Consulting Team

Job Location: (Hybrid) New York City, Boston, or Chicago

Primary Objective

• Delivery of high-quality/high-impact foresight, innovation, brand strategy and consulting solutions, while actively building client relationships with the world’s most valuable brands and developing consulting skills in a dynamic, vibrant, collaborative and fun environment
• Multi-talented, multi-taskers who bring energy, expertise, momentum, and discipline to our projects

Scope of Role

• Deliver a range of consulting engagements including trends and strategic foresight, cultural insight and applied semiotics, front-end innovation, commerce and brand strategy, market structures, consumer and demand segmentation, brand valuation, portfolio and architecture strategy, and brand purpose.
• Understand and frame client challenges across marketing, foresight, commerce, and innovation; support solution design with manager guidance to ensure outputs are meaningful, accurate, and actionable.
• Contribute to project and client discussions, collaborating proactively with team members to achieve project objectives.
• Support end-to-end project delivery, including questionnaire and sample design, analytic planning, trend scouting, and cultural mining.
• Analyze and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data from primary research and secondary sources into clear, compelling narratives; demonstrate strong written, verbal, and visual storytelling skills.
• Effectively use AI tools to support analysis, efficiency, and delivery.
• Manage timelines, quality, and execution, coordinating with internal teams and clients and identifying and resolving issues as they arise.
• Ensure rigorous quality control through in-depth checks at key stages of the project lifecycle.
• Support team capability building, acting as a resource for new team members and sharing guidance on tools, tasks, and best practices.
• Demonstrate critical thinking and ownership, following research and project plans, contributing ideas, and constructively challenging perspectives.
• Develop clear, impactful client deliverables, including presentations and supporting materials.
• Continuously improve ways of working, identifying opportunities to streamline, automate, and enhance processes, including through AI-enabled approaches—without compromising quality.
• Build personal and team capability, taking ownership of skill development and supporting others through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Maintain curiosity and functional expertise, developing a strong understanding of Kantar capabilities, data sources, tools, practice areas, and industry developments.
• Build strong internal relationships, proactively seeking feedback and collaboration across consulting teams.
• Support growth activities, including proposal development and broader business initiatives.
• Actively contribute to culture and community, participating in team, ERG, and social/community activities.

Essential Knowledge & Experience

• 1-2 years of professional experience or strong internships / MMR programs; market research or consulting experience preferred with exposure to foresight, brand strategy, innovation engagements supported by qualitative and quantitative methodologies
• Bachelor’s degree; preferred major or concentration in marketing / market research, social science, or other analytic fields
• An insatiable curiosity, open-minded and willingness to learn – always on the lookout for innovative ideas and inspiration, new ways of working, frameworks and thinking that can inspire our team
• Strong process and time management skills; capable of prioritizing and delivering against multiple/competing deadlines, prior project management experience preferred
• A keen interest in the interplay among people, culture, brands, and business as well as social, technological, economic, environmental, human and political change
• Experience with AI tools and openness to exploring more ways to incorporate AI into our work
• Strong detail-orientation skills; ability to manage multiple work streams and among multiple teams,
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) with ability to use logical reasoning and problem solving

• Natural curiosity, a can-do attitude, driven and willing to take initiative
• Takes the initiative and has a proactive mindset to work independently and within a team 
• Excellent organizational and time management skills

Essential Skills & Capabilities

Communication

• Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills
• Confidently delivers messages and exemplifies Kantar values

Technical/ Analytical

• Interest / passion in marketing research methods, tools, and science
• Interest / intellectual curiosity in learning the various Kantar solutions
• Strong analytical skills – both quantitative (Excel, SPSS etc.) and qualitative
• Proficiency in Microsoft office tools and ability to master other needed business tools
• Ability to think strategically and support the development of insights, implications and recommendations for our clients 
• Aptitude for technical leadership for maximum client impact

Kantar Benefits

We provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package, including

• Medical plans with comprehensive, affordable coverage for a range of health services
• Health Savings Account/FSA
• Dental, Vision and benefits to cover unique healthcare needs
• Wellness Program
• 401k with match
• Tuition Reimbursement, Commuter benefits
• Unlimited PTO

Why join Kantar?

We shape the brands of tomorrow by better understanding people everywhere. By understanding people, we can understand what drives their decisions, actions, and aspirations on a global scale. And by amplifying our in-depth expertise of human understanding alongside ground-breaking technology, we can help brands find concrete insights that will help them succeed in our fast-paced, ever shifting world.

And because we know people, we like to make sure our own people are being looked after as well. Equality of opportunity for everyone is our highest priority and we support our colleagues to work in a way that supports their health and wellbeing. While we encourage teams to spend part of their working week in the office, we understand no one size fits all; our approach is flexible to ensure everybody feels included, accepted, and that we can win together. We’re dedicated to creating an inclusive culture and value the diversity of our people, clients, suppliers and communities, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds and sections of society. Even if you feel like you’re not an exact match, we’d love to receive your application and talk to you about this job or others at Kantar.

Privacy and Legal Statement

PRIVACY DISCLOSURE: Please note that by applying to this opportunity you consent to the personal data you provide to us to be processed and retained by The Kantar Group Limited (“Kantar”). Your details will be kept on our Internal ATS (Applicant Tracking System) for as long as is necessary for the purposes of recruitment, which may include your details being shared with the hiring manager

The salary range for this role is $72,800- $121,400 USD Annual. Your final base salary will be determined based on several factors which may include but are not limited to location, work experience, skills, knowledge, education and/or certifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability

Kantar Rewards Statement

At Kantar we have an integrated way of rewarding our people based around a simple, clear and consistent set of principles. Our approach helps to ensure we are market competitive and also to support a pay for performance culture, where your reward and career progression opportunities are linked to what you deliver. 

We go beyond the obvious, using intelligence, passion and creativity to inspire new thinking and shape the world we live in. Apply for a career that’s out of the ordinary and join us. 

We want to create an equality of opportunity in a fair and supportive working environment where people feel included, accepted and are allowed to flourish in a space where their mental health and well being is taken into consideration. 

We want to create a more diverse community to expand our talent pool, be locally representative, drive diversity of thinking and better commercial outcomes. 

Kantar is the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company. We understand more about how people think, feel, shop, share, vote and view than anyone else. Combining our expertise in human understanding with advanced technologies, Kantar’s 30,000 people help the world’s leading organisations succeed and grow.

Location

Kantar Rewards Statement

At Kantar we have an integrated way of rewarding our people based around a simple, clear and consistent set of principles. Our approach helps to ensure we are market competitive and also to support a pay for performance culture, where your reward and career progression opportunities are linked to what you deliver. 

We go beyond the obvious, using intelligence, passion and creativity to inspire new thinking and shape the world we live in. Apply for a career that’s out of the ordinary and join us. 

We want to create an equality of opportunity in a fair and supportive working environment where people feel included, accepted and are allowed to flourish in a space where their mental health and well being is taken into consideration. 

We want to create a more diverse community to expand our talent pool, be locally representative, drive diversity of thinking and better commercial outcomes. 

Kantar is the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company. We understand more about how people think, feel, shop, share, vote and view than anyone else. Combining our expertise in human understanding with advanced technologies, Kantar’s 30,000 people help the world’s leading organisations succeed and grow.