Director, Head of Insights, Insights Practice

The Role

Madano is seeking a highly experienced and commercially minded Director, Head of Insights to lead our Insights Practice. Reporting to Madano’s Managing Partner and part of our Leadership team, you will set the strategic direction for a multidisciplinary team ensuring our offer reflects the evolving consultancy landscape and the opportunities brought by data science, AI-enhanced products and mixed-method intelligence. 

You will be central to shaping commercial growth, deepening relationships, unlocking new revenue opportunities and raising Madano’s external visibility. You will play a pivotal client-facing and market-facing role, driving our ambition to scale existing accounts and proactively identify and win new ones. 

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic leadership and team growth 

• Lead, inspire and develop a growing team of researchers, data scientists and analysts. 
• Drive the integration of Insights to deliver a unified value proposition for clients. 
• Create a culture that values experimentation, innovation, accountability and best-in-class delivery. 
• Shape and execute the long-term vision for the Practice aligned with Madano’s broader strategic goals. 
• Oversee capability development, recruitment and workforce planning in line with the growth trajectory. 

Commercial leadership 

• Serve as a senior commercial leader accountable for revenue generation within the Insights function. 
• Lead the proactive identification of new opportunities through your own networks, industry engagement and market scanning. 
• Act as pitch lead on RFPs, supporting teams to convert opportunities into revenue. 
• Champion strong account management, ensuring the practice identifies internal and external opportunities to expand existing client relationships. 
• Be commercially disciplined, overseeing utilisation, productivity, write-off management and accurate forecasting.   
• Partner with other Madano Practices to create integrated proposals and cross-sell insight-driven services. 

Market visibility, networking & Thought Leadership 

• Build and maintain a visible presence across the research, analytics, data science and communications ecosystem. 
• Represent Madano at industry events, conferences and roundtables; develop relationships that open commercial pathways. 
• Develop thought leadership on AI-enabled insight, productised intelligence, predictive analytics and strategic forecasting. 
• Support external marketing efforts to enhance Madano’s reputation and align visibility with priority clients and sectors. 

Insight Strategy, Methods & Product Innovation 

• Oversee the delivery of mixed-method insights that combine: 
  • Advanced data science and modelling 
  • Qualitative & quantitative research 
  • Digital & social intelligence 
  • Behavioural insight and audience understanding 
• Shape the strategic application and commercialisation of productised insight tools (e.g., advanced analytics platforms, rapid AI-enabled products). 
• Ensure insight approaches are scalable, efficient and aligned to evolving client needs. 

Governance, Quality, Ethics & Performance Standards 

• Ensure high operational standards, including robust project governance, resourcing and QA processes. 
• Uphold best practice in GDPR, data ethics and responsible AI. 
• Contribute to leadership processes, frameworks and rituals that improve delivery consistency across the team. 

The Person

Skills & Experience Required 

Essential 

• Extensive senior leadership experience within an insights, research or, data science or analytics function — ideally within consultancy, advisory or communications. 
• Strong capability in data-science-led insight generation, along with fluency across research methodologies and digital analytics. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead commercial growth through networking, relationship development and strategic business development. 
• Proven ability to manage, grow and inspire multidisciplinary teams of 10+ people. 
• Strong track record of leading pitches, converting opportunities and driving revenue growth. 
• Comfortable operating in complex topics (healthcare experience an advantage but not essential). 
• Clear strategic thinker with excellent communication, storytelling and influencing skills. 

Desirable 

• Experience developing or commercialising AI-enabled or productised insight tools. 
• Background in integrated or multi-discipline consultancies. 
• Understanding of the consultancy shift towards rapid, product-driven insight cycles. 

Personal Attributes 

• Commercially minded with strong instinct for opportunity. 
• Highly collaborative and comfortable working across multiple disciplines. 
• Practical, grounded and calm under pressure, with strong judgement. 
• Passionate about elevating insight through innovation and productization. 
• A visible, credible and engaging external ambassador for the practice. 

Important Information

Our recruitment process can consist of virtual interviews, in person interviews, and written tasks, please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements so that we can accommodate your needs during this process.