Director, Marketing Research - Brand - Remote

At the American Cancer Society, we're leading the fight for a world without cancer. Our employees and 1.5 million volunteers are raising the bar every single day. We actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds including communities of color, the LGBTQ community, veterans, and people with disabilities. The greater the diversity of our people, the better we can serve our communities.

The people who work at the American Cancer Society focus their diverse talents on our lifesaving mission. It is a calling. And the people who answer it are fulfilled.

For over 110 years, the American Cancer Society has improved the lives of people with cancer and their families but its ability to transform the lives of millions of people is not well told, understood or communicated. To help drive awareness, engagement, and support for our cause, the American Cancer Society is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Market Research, Brand to lead our efforts in understanding consumer behavior, brand performance, and market trends.

This role will be responsible for delivering data-driven insights that shape brand strategy, marketing campaigns, and business decisions. The ideal candidate is a highly analytical and forward-thinking leader with a deep passion for brand storytelling, consumer research, and data analytics. This role will report to the Managing Director of Strategic Insights.

***This is a remote position that can be home-based anywhere within the United States. ***

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY

Develop and execute a comprehensive brand insights strategy to support marketing, branding, advertising, and business initiatives.  Lead brand tracking and measurement programs to monitor brand health and perception over time.  Establish key performance indicators (KPI’s) and measurement frameworks to evaluate brand equity and the effectiveness of campaigns.  Humanize marketing strategies and creative briefs and conduct market research to elevate and optimize advertising. 

Market Research Leadership: Lead qualitative and quantitative research efforts, including, but not limited to, surveys, focus groups, competitive analysis, and market intelligence. Synthesize findings into clear, compelling insights that inform brand positioning, marketing strategies, messaging, and advertising.

Brand Tracking and Measurement: Analyze brand performance and consumer sentiment using various data sources, including market research, brand tracking tools, social media analytics, and internal data. Leverage insights to assess brand health, track shifts in consumer perception, and inform strategic decision-making.

Marketing Strategies and Campaigns: Lead research initiatives to evaluate the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, advertising, and messaging. Provide actionable insights to inspire creative direction and optimize performance through pre- and post-campaign analysis. Help humanize marketing strategies and creative briefs by grounding them in deep consumer insights and emotional connections.

Thought Leadership: Serve as a subject matter expert on brand health, nonprofit industry trends, emerging technologies, and consumer behaviors. Monitor key sibling charities and the broader nonprofit landscape to drive innovation.

Influence: Work across all levels of the organization—up, down, and across—to ensure research-driven insights drive action. Collaborate with teams to translate findings into impactful strategies that shape marketing, branding, and business decisions.

Communication: Tailor communication to different audiences, ensuring insights resonate with cross-functional teams and senior leadership. Leverage strong data visualization and storytelling techniques to present findings in a compelling, actionable manner.

Collaboration: Partner with cross-functional teams, including marketing strategy, creative, and business leads, to translate insights into actionable strategies. Work closely with the Brand Marketing Team to align research with business goals.

Vendor & Budget Management: Oversee third-party research vendors and manage research budgets to ensure cost-effective and high-quality outcomes.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

FORMAL KNOWLEDGE

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in marketing, Business, Data Analytics, or a related field.

• 7+ years of experience in brand insights, consumer research, or market analytics, with a proven track record in leadership roles.

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