Research Director, Advisors Research Center - EEMEA Region

About Mastercard

Mastercard facilitates economic growth and empowerment globally by supporting over 200 countries and territories. We provide a variety of secure and accessible digital payment solutions, combining technology, innovation, partnerships, and networks to help individuals, businesses, and governments reach their fullest potential. Our culture, guided by our decency quotient (DQ), fosters inclusion and values diverse perspectives, enabling better collaboration, innovation, and business outcomes.

Role Overview

The role of Research Director at the Advisors Research Center (ARC) for the EEMEA region focuses on bridging research activities with commercial outcomes. ARC is a new capability designed to swiftly meet evolving customer needs by delivering insightful and actionable research. This role involves developing and implementing strategies tailored for the region, fostering growth, and strengthening strategic partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead initial engagement efforts for ARC across all tracks and business units within the EEMEA region.
• Collaborate with Business Development Leads and Pre-Engagement Managers to scope and price research opportunities effectively.
• Represent ARC in the region’s third-party spending committee, overseeing all research-related expenditures.
• Serve as the single point of contact for managing pipeline opportunities within the region.
• Provide constructive feedback to Product teams to integrate research initiatives across various product lines.
• Conduct regional ARC roadshows and communications to promote awareness of ARC’s capabilities.

Candidate Profile

• Possesses over 15 years of extensive experience in research, particularly quantitative projects, from leading market research organizations.
• Expertly manages market research opportunities for the EEMEA region through close coordination with Account Managers, Business Development, and Pre-Engagement teams.
• Defines project scopes, oversees cross-team activities, manages timelines and pricing, ensuring successful project delivery.
• Acts as the main liaison for stakeholders throughout project phases, ensuring effective communication and issue resolution.
• Works with internal research teams to develop surveys that meet business objectives and follow research standards.
• Coordinates with third-party vendors to manage fieldwork, ensuring data collection is accurate, timely, and aligned with project criteria.
• Maintains a centralized and securely managed data repository for internal use, with version control and regular updates.
• Collaborates with market research, analytics, and business teams to align project efforts with strategic goals.
• Prepares reports analyzing revenue, third-party commission agreements (3PCA), and net efficiency metrics for the region.
• Contributes valuable insights to strategic initiatives and thought leadership activities across Mastercard.
• Ensures research outputs are customized to meet the needs of internal teams and external clients, making data accessible and actionable.

Education & Skills Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Business, Economics, Market Research, or related disciplines.
• Proven experience in market research with comprehensive knowledge of end-to-end research processes.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, advanced formulas, and visualization techniques.
• Exceptional attention to detail, ensuring data accuracy and insightful analysis.
• Effective communication skills and strong collaboration abilities for coordinating with internal teams and external vendors.
• Fluency in Arabic is mandatory for this position.

Corporate Security Responsibilities

• Adhere to Mastercard’s security policies and protocols.
• Protect the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information.
• Report any suspected security violations or breaches immediately.
• Complete all required periodic security training as outlined by Mastercard guidelines.