Associate, Primary Research

Application deadline 10 June 2026

WHAT MAKES US A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

We are proud to be consistently recognized as one of the world’s best places to work. We are currently the top ranked consulting firm on Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work list and have earned the #1 overall spot a record seven times. Extraordinary teams are at the heart of our business strategy, but these don’t happen by chance. They require intentional focus on bringing together a broad set of backgrounds, cultures, experiences, perspectives, and skills in a supportive and inclusive work environment. We hire people with exceptional talent and create an environment in which every individual can thrive professionally and personally.

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

You’ll join our Research and Design experts within the AI, Insights & Solutions team. This team is part of Bain’s digital capabilities practice, which includes experts in analytics, engineering, product management, research and design. In this multidisciplinary environment, you'll leverage deep research expertise with business acumen to help clients tackle their most transformative challenges. You’ll work on integrated teams alongside our general consultants and clients to develop data-driven strategies and innovative solutions. Together, we create human-centric solutions that harness the power of data and artificial intelligence to drive competitive advantage for our clients. Our collaborative and supportive work environment fosters creativity and continuous learning, enabling us to consistently deliver exceptional results.

WHERE YOU’LL FIT WITHIN THE TEAM
 As a Associate Primary Researcher you will work closely with Bain project teams – across strategy, value proposition design, customer experience – as well as the Private Equity Group and clients. You’ll design and deliver high-quality primary research, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to generate actionable insights that shape critical business decisions. 

You’ll also be part of a team dedicated to evolving our primary research capabilities, helping redefine how we generate insights through innovative approaches – including the use of human-AI collaboration to deliver faster, deeper, and more actionable results.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Provide primary market research and user research expertise to Bain case teams and clients globally, although with more focus on Europe and the Middle East. As an Associate, Primary Research, you will support the full end-to-end research process – from designing the right approach (qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods), data collection and insight synthesis. Your work will translate research findings into clear, actionable insights that directly inform strategic recommendations and drive business impact.
• Apply a range of research methods and analytical techniques to address key business questions – such as customer implications for strategy, customer acquisition and retention, new product development and pricing, customer experience design and engagement,  brand strategy and messaging, go-to-market strategy, among others. 
• Train and coach AIS colleagues and consultants on primary research procedures.
• Take ownership of the end-to-end research to insight process – from defining the research approach to delivering actionable insights. 
• Stay at the forefront of emerging and cutting-edge research methodologies and tools
• Develop relationships with external research vendors and interact with as needed at the project level
• Codify, document and share best practice experience with Bain’s consulting team to enhance the value of primary research / user research
• Leverage AI-enabled research tools and workflows to enhance research design, data synthesis, insight generation, and scalability of primary research delivery

ABOUT YOU

• 1-2 years of experience with primary market research or user research experience in a business, market research or social science environment 
• Master’s Degree or PhD in market research, sociology, ethnography or related field is a plus
• Expertise in quantitative research methodologies, knowledgeable with qualitative research methodologies
• Experience in using statistics to analyze quantitative research data such as significant test, sample reweighting, regression and clustering, segmentation, conjoint analysis etc.
• Champion the voice of customer / user
• Strong interpersonal, communication and storytelling skills
• Must thrive in a fast paced environment and be able to work independently 
• Fluency in English is required, along with business-level proficiency in the local language of the office location.
• Interest or experience in applying AI-enabled tools, automation, or generative AI technologies within research, insights, or analytics workflows