Program Research Director

About us:

We invite you to come grow with us.

Inizio Ignite, Research Partnership 

Inizio Ignite is the global advisory partner for health and life sciences, encompassing connected expertise across Research Partnership, Putnam, Vynamic, and STEM. Guided by purpose, passion, and precision, we collaborate with clients to ignite impact, accelerate performance, and deliver lasting change for patients. By uniting strategy, insights, and innovation with a unique depth and breadth of expertise, we drive transformation and shape the future of health.

Our Research Partnership healthcare market research team provides research and insights to inform and power healthcare decisions. Serving a variety of clients across the lifecycle, our expertise includes data, research & insights (proprietary syndicated and custom research) and brand tracking (ATU). Proudly part of Inizio – the market-leading commercialization partner for health and life sciences. From early-stage development to loss of exclusivity, we simplify complexity, unlock value, and make collaboration seamless at every pivotal moment – supporting confident, insight-driven decisions that move innovation forward.  

About the team:

Our Custom Research team partners with global pharmaceutical and biotech clients to enable them to solve marketing, brand, advertising and communications problems through a mixture of innovative qualitative and quantitative market research techniques. Within our Custom Research team, this role sits in the Major Tracking Programs Center of Excellence.

The Program Research Director role will report into the global Head of Major Tracking Programs, and will focus on client engagement strategy and oversight of program delivery for a major quantitative brand tracking program (approx. $3m in annual value) across multiple waves of research. This APAC regional program involves highly innovative methods (including AI tools) and outputs for the client, informing real-time strategic decision-making.

These programs are multi-year and cover multiple markets and therapy areas, with each therapy area having its own project team for delivery. The central delivery teams focus on coordinating resources, research materials, questionnaires and deliverables across each indication, as well as bringing in expertise in analytics, dashboard development and automation.

Your primary role:

• Your primary role will focus on managing and nurturing relationships across a range of client stakeholders, including business intelligence as well as commercial / brand teams, ensuring that we are delivering to expectations, remaining on-scope, and evolving in line with our joint ambitions
• You will partner with colleagues in the Commercial Team to ensure that the program remains aligned with the commercial agreement and deliverables, and to support retention and expansion objectives
• You will work alongside the RP research excellence delivery team, to ensure we are closely aligning client feedback across our deliverables, and ensuring on time, quality assured delivery at every stage of our process
• Beyond the specific research program, you will contribute to wider commercial and client strategic discussions and initiatives across our Custom, Tracking and Syndicated offerings, bringing your expertise to bear on new proposals, pitches and offer development
• Line management of midlevel staff
• Involvement in talent acquisition and assessing potential new staff

About You…

Your skills and experience:

• Significant experience in primary quantitative market research, specialised within the healthcare industry
• A strong commercial mindset, able to demonstrate significant success in growing client relationships with existing and new clients, including securing repeat business
• Demonstrable capabilities overseeing major quantitative research programs (either brand tracking or syndicated projects) including exposure to dashboard deliverables
• Have significant experience in leading projects autonomously and managing client relationships during the lifecycle of a research program
• Passionate about working with emerging technologies (including AI) to deliver insights for clients
• Expertise in long-term planning across multiple waves of research
• Expertise in collaborating with teams across geographies, including off-shore
• Exposure to innovative methods, including incorporating AI into market research, would be preferred
• Therapy area expertise within Oncology and Immunology preferred
• Fluency in either Mandarin Chinese or Japanese is preferred, but not essential

Ideal profile:

• You are proactive, dedicated and enthusiastic, with a ‘can do’ attitude and approach
• You demonstrate a high level of accuracy and attention to detail, as well as strengths in organisation and prioritisation
• You are a collaborative team player who works well with colleagues
• You communicate ideas and issues in an effective, straightforward fashion
• You are highly motivated and want to seize opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career

Life at Inizio Ignite | Research Partnership:

We love what we do and continuously strive for innovation and creativity. We believe everyone should continuously be learning and provide:

• A comprehensive training and development programme for all staff, from entry level apprentice to senior management
• A relaxed and friendly working environment
• Social events - including a summer day out and end-of-year party, along with regular social events after office hours

Further information:

This is a full-time role, working in a hybrid pattern (2 days per week in the office) at our fantastic location in Singapore.