Research Associate

Role overview

This role sits at the centre of continuous brand tracker work for major brands across three continents. The right person will help shape studies, execute them accurately, and communicate the findings in a way clients can use.

About the company

Timelaps is an AI-first brand intelligence platform started by two seasoned founders, one of whom previously built the largest digital research agency in Africa. The business is already live, generating revenue, and running several tracker studies across three continents while expanding into new markets each month. The team operates with a global mindset from the outset and is based in the US and South Africa.

What you will handle

• Contribute to tracker design by selecting the right moments and associations within a fixed framework that remains consistent across waves.
• Build surveys in Alchemer so they are precise, fully aligned to the specification, and unchanged from wave to wave to preserve trend integrity.
• Launch fieldwork waves, manage quotas and incidence, protect data quality, and keep delivery on schedule.
• Review each wave carefully before client delivery, separating meaningful movement from background noise.
• Help clients understand the results, create clear onboarding materials, and serve as a dependable point of contact for questions.

What this role is not

• This is not a pure strategy position where execution is handed off to others; you will personally build the survey and manage fieldwork.
• You should be comfortable working without a fully documented playbook, because part of the job is helping define the process.
• Strong attention to detail is essential, as small mistakes such as a wrong question label or missed quota can compromise an entire wave.
• You will interact directly with clients, so this is not a fit if client-facing work is something you would prefer to avoid.

Profile we are looking for

• A hands-on market researcher with experience across study design, fieldwork, and analysis.
• Prior exposure to survey programming and fieldwork management; Alchemer experience is helpful, while transferable experience with tools such as Qualtrics, Decipher, or Forsta is also valuable.
• High accuracy standards and a habit of double-checking work thoroughly.
• Ability to translate charts and data into practical, client-ready insights and write documentation that is easy to follow.
• Strong organisation and reliability when managing several trackers and waves at once.
• Self-management skills, including knowing when to escalate issues for a second review.
• Nice to have: experience with brand tracking, mental availability, or Category Entry Point frameworks.

Compensation and working style

• Competitive pay.
• Fully remote role, with South Africa-based candidates preferred.
• Direct access to the founders and visibility into the company’s expansion into new markets.

How to apply

Send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “Research Associate” and include your resume, LinkedIn profile, X profile, personal project links, and any other information you think is relevant.