Research manager

The Role

You'll own the full research lifecycle for client projects—from methodology design through fieldwork, analysis, and presentation. This isn't pure account management: you'll design great surveys, manage WhatsApp fieldwork, troubleshoot recruitment issues, and synthesise messy qualitative data into clear insights. Clients should love working with you because you're organised, responsive, and deliver work that genuinely helps them.

You'll also become a Yazi platform expert and advocate—helping clients understand why WhatsApp-based research outperforms traditional methods, especially for hard-to-reach audiences.

This role blends strategy and execution in a high-growth, fast-paced environment. You'll shape the right approach and deliver flawlessly.

What You'll Do

Research Delivery

• Lead full-service research projects end-to-end (qual and/or quant)
• Consult on research approach, scoping, and methodology
• Design instruments (surveys, discussion guides); iterate rapidly based on client feedback
• Manage participant recruitment strategies across multiple channels (client databases, social media ads, partner networks) to ensure quota fulfillment
• Execute fieldwork on WhatsApp (invites, incentives, quotas, quality checks)
• Analyse data and synthesize insights; craft clear narratives and compelling visuals
• Produce client-ready deliverables and present findings professionally

Platform & Client Excellence

• Become a Yazi platform expert—champion WhatsApp-based research methodology with clients
• Train clients on AI interview and survey capabilities; troubleshoot technical issues
• Manage project timelines, stakeholder expectations, and budgets; keep work on track
• Champion innovative/AI-driven research methods and workflows
• Contribute to case studies, methodology documentation, and thought leadership content

Operational Excellence

• Balance consultative thinking with hands-on execution—no task too small
• Navigate emerging market research challenges (connectivity, incentives, language barriers)

What You'll Bring

Essential

• 3-5 years in research agency/consultancy delivering client projects end-to-end
• Deep understanding of agency workflows and standards—you know how to deliver to the high expectations of global research partners (e.g., Ipsos, Kantar)
• Strong survey design, reporting, and storytelling skills
• Comfortable with both qual and quant; pragmatic about method trade-offs
• Client-facing excellence: clear communication, expectation management, ability to handle difficult conversations
• Highly organized, reliable, and outcomes-oriented—you ship work on time
• Fluency with modern research tools; open to AI-assisted workflows
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision

Highly Valued

• Experience with WhatsApp/mobile-first research or emerging market fieldwork
• Comfort with AI-assisted research methods and willingness to experiment
• Familiarity with SaaS, product feedback research, or CX measurement
• Data visualization skills and basic design taste (turn insights into simple visuals)
• Experience optimizing incentives, response rates, and sample quality across diverse audiences

How We Work

• High-growth, fast-moving environment; bias to action and iteration
• Strategic thinking paired with hands-on delivery and ownership
• Cross-functional collaboration with Sales and Marketing on topical content and case studies and Product and Sales to improve our platform based on real-world project data

Success Looks Like (First 6 Months)

• Happy clients who renew, expand, and refer others
• Consistently on-time, high-quality project delivery with clear, actionable insights
• 90%+ client satisfaction across your projects
• 2+ case studies/client testimonials generated from your work
• Improved response rates and operational efficiency using AI-driven workflows
• Clients specifically requesting you for future projects

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary + meaningful equity stake
• Budget for tools, learning, and professional development
• Work with cutting-edge AI research technology
• Opportunity to shape the future of conversational research

About Yazi

Yazi transforms how businesses understand their customers through AI-moderated interviews, surveys, and diary studies on WhatsApp. We deliver 6x higher response rates vs. traditional methods, especially in emerging markets where email/app-based research fails.

• Our clients include global research agencies (Ipsos, TRA, Culture Foundry), enterprises (Discovery, Old Mutual, Pick n Pay), and NGOs across South Africa, UK, Nigeria, Australia, and beyond.

We recently closed a funding round and are scaling rapidly—this is your chance to join at an exciting inflection point.