Director, Ethnography (18-month Contract)

Job Summary

Job Description

Please Note : This is an 18-month contract role to cover a parental leave.

What is the opportunity?

RBC is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director, Ethnography on an 18-month contract, to join the Client Experience Design and Insights department.

This cross-functional role is integral for driving qualitative research initiatives and enhancing the ethnography discipline across the bank.

The successful candidate will lead a team of qualitative researchers, collaborate closely with other research teams, partner with various stakeholders across the bank, and manage external vendor relationships to ensure the delivery of insightful and impactful research.

What will you do?

Team Leadership and Management :

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of high-performing qualitative researchers

Strengthen the ethnography practice by implementing best practices and ensuring the highest quality standards in research methodologies and outputs

Foster a culture of innovation and collaboration across the wider research team

Research Excellence :

Plan and execute foundational, high-visibility research projects with stakeholders across multiple lines of business

Present insights-driven narratives and recommendations to a wide range of audiences, including senior executives

Collaborate closely with other Directors and Senior / Managers within the CXDI department to ensure cohesive and robust research output

Ensure integration of qualitative insights with quantitative insights and behavioural data

Stakeholder Relationship Management :

Maintain and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders across product, marketing, retail enablement, and other teams

Understand and anticipate the research needs of different business units, ensuring alignment with the bank's strategic goals.

Vendor Management :

Manage relationships with external research vendors to ensure high-quality deliverables and adherence to timeline

Evaluate and select vendors, negotiate contracts, and oversee the execution of outsourced research projects.

What do you need to succeed?

Must have :

Master's degree or higher in a related field (e.g., Anthropology, Sociology, Market Research)

7+ years of experience in qualitative research, with a mix of vendor and in-house experience

3+ years of team management experience

Excellent relationship management and communication skills

Strong strategic thinking and analytical abilities

High comfort in operating with ambiguity

Experience in managing external vendors and contracts

Strong knowledge of quantitative research

Nice to have :

Familiarity with the financial services industry is an asset

What's in it for you?

We thrive on the challenge to be our best, progressive thinking to keep growing, and working together to deliver trusted advice to help our clients thrive and communities prosper.

We care about each other, reaching our potential, making a difference to our communities, and achieving success that is mutual.

Ability to make a difference and lasting impact

Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team

Opportunities to do challenging work

Job Skills