Senior Consultant Associate Director AI-powered Insight

About Verve

At Verve were expanding whats possible in modern research. We combine the best of Human Cultural and Artificial Intelligence to help some of the worlds most iconic brands -like Samsung Unilever Mars Petcare and Shell make faster smarter decisions.

At Verve we dont bolt AI on we build in it. Through Verve Vero our AI-powered platform we fuse rigour creativity and next-gen tech to deliver transformative solutions and deeper insight at scale on demand and grounded in human truth.

The Role

Were looking to build relationships with experienced Senior Consultants / Research Managers / Associate Directors who could grow into / play a leadership role within ourBuild & Growth Studio the team responsible for building tailored AI insight solutions for our clients and managing stakeholder relationships to ensure what we deliver drives real business impact.

This role is designed for someone with a strong grounding in commercial insight delivery and client growth leadership - someone already trusted by clients confident owning complex delivery and commercially sharp in how work is scoped delivered and grown.

Alongside this core skillset were looking for someone who can stretch into technical leadership within an AI-powered delivery environment. Ideally youll bring experience or exposure to areas such as AI build architecture automation or workflow optimisation. However were equally open to candidates who are still building hands-on AI experience but demonstrate clear aptitude curiosity and ability to bridge that gap quickly.

Youll sit at the intersection of client strategy insight delivery and AI-enabled build helping shape how we deliver smarter more scalable solutions - while growing confidence and capability across the team.

Key Responsibilities

Client Delivery & Commercial Leadership

• Lead end-to-end delivery of AI-powered Build & Growth Studio work across multiple high-value client accounts.
• Act as a trusted senior advisor shaping briefs guiding clients through AI-enabled approaches and challenging thinking where needed.
• Own scoping resourcing timelines and budgets ensuring delivery is commercially sound and profitable.
• Translate client and business objectives into clear executable build plans.
• Identify opportunities to grow client relationships and support new business through pitches and proposals.

Technical Delivery & Innovation

• Familiarity and experience with AI concepts and techniques such as large language models machine learning or Retrieval-Augmented Generation models.

• • Experience or desire to grow capability in using AI to support insight workflow optimisation or automation looking to develop technical understanding over time
  • Bonus points for: Technical literacy such as coding or working with APIs
  • Note: We will provide training and guidance in the specific processes and tech underpinning Verve Vero solutions

• Demonstrate curiosity and lateral thinking proactively solving problems as we redefine how insight is built and delivered
• Champion delivery that is smarter faster and more scalable across the Build Studio.
• Partner with technical and delivery teams to test refine and systemise workflows and tools.
• Drive automation and repeatable delivery approaches to improve efficiency consistency and margin.
• Stay close to AI developments applying them pragmatically to Build Studio delivery.
• Be comfortable operating in ambiguity building structure as you go

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead coach and develop Senior Consultants Consultants and Associates building confidence across client leadership and emerging technical capability.
• Set clear expectations that balance quality efficiency and commercial discipline.
• Partner closely with Consultancy and Enablement to deliver joined-up client programmes.
• Shape Build Studio standards and best practice acting as a visible role model for curiosity adaptability and ownership.

What Were Looking For:

• 58 years experience. Direct commercial insight background is valuable but not essential - we also welcome candidates from adjacent fields (e.g. consultancy creative or tech-driven agencies marketing product UX or innovation) who bring strong transferable skills

• Proven experience leading complex client delivery and growing client relationships
• Strong commercial judgement across scoping resourcing margin and profitability
• Confidence operating as a senior client advisor
• Exposure to or strong interest in AI-powered build environments automation or technical workflows
• Evidence of learning fast in new technical or delivery domains
• A leadership style that builds confidence capability and momentum in others

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects deadlines and stakeholders

• A clear confident communicator - able to explain complex technical ideas simply and align teams around them
• A growth mindset youre comfortable working in fast-moving ambiguous environments where the model is still evolving

• UK-based candidate. Able to work from our Manchester or London Hub at least once per week

Join Us

If youre excited by the potential of AI to change the research landscape and want to be part of a team thats shaping the future wed love to hear from you.

At Verve youll have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects expand your insight management and AI skill set and grow in a supportive environment that thrives on innovation and impact.

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Required Experience:

Director