Please Note: This is an 6-month contract role to cover a parental leave.

RBC is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director, Ethnography on an 6-month contract, to join the Client Experience Design and Insights department. This cross-functional role is integral for driving qualitative research initiatives and enhancing the ethnography discipline across the bank. The successful candidate will lead a team of qualitative researchers, collaborate closely with other research teams, partner with various stakeholders across the bank, and manage external vendor relationships to ensure the delivery of insightful and impactful research.

What will you do?

• Selecting, supervising, training and directing the work of Research and Development staff.
• Preparing and managing research and development budget.
• Helping senior management and internal clients to understand the results and implications of research and development initiatives.
• Developing and implementing research and development procedures and techniques.

Team Leadership and Management:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of high-performing qualitative researchers
• Strengthen the ethnography practice by implementing best practices and ensuring the highest quality standards in research methodologies and outputs
• Foster a culture of innovation and collaboration across the wider research team

Research Excellence:

• Plan and execute foundational, high-visibility research projects with stakeholders across multiple lines of business
• Present insights-driven narratives and recommendations to a wide range of audiences, including senior executives
• Collaborate closely with other Directors and Senior/Managers within the CXDI department to ensure cohesive and robust research output
• Ensure integration of qualitative insights with quantitative insights and behavioural data

Stakeholder Relationship Management:

• Maintain and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders across product, marketing, retail enablement, and other teams
• Understand and anticipate the research needs of different business units, ensuring alignment with the bank’s strategic goals.

Vendor Management:

• Manage relationships with external research vendors to ensure high-quality deliverables and adherence to timeline
• Evaluate and select vendors, negotiate contracts, and oversee the execution of outsourced research projects.

What do you need to succeed?

Must have:

• Master’s degree or higher in a related field (e.g., Anthropology, Sociology, Market Research)
• 7+ years of experience in qualitative research, with a mix of vendor and in-house experience
• 3+ years of team management experience
• Excellent relationship management and communication skills
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical abilities
• High comfort in operating with ambiguity
• Experience in managing external vendors and contracts
• Strong knowledge of quantitative research

Nice to have:

• Familiarity with the financial services industry is an asset

What’s in it for you?

We thrive on the challenge to be our best, progressive thinking to keep growing, and working together to deliver trusted advice to help our clients thrive and communities prosper. We care about each other, reaching our potential, making a difference to our communities, and achieving success that is mutual.

• Ability to make a difference and lasting impact
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team
• Opportunities to do challenging work

Job Skills

Budgeting, Business Analytics, Business Process Design, Conflict Management, Effectiveness Measurement, Group Problem Solving, Industry Knowledge, Interpersonal Relationships, Oral Communications, Research and Development Operations

Additional Job Details

RBC WATERPARK PLACE, 88 QUEENS QUAY W:TORONTOTorontoCanada37.5Full timePERSONAL & COMMERCIAL BANKINGContract (Fixed Term)Salaried2025-10-172025-11-03

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the application deadline date above

Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employment

At RBC, we believe an inclusive workplace that has diverse perspectives is core to our continued growth as one of the largest and most successful banks in the world. Maintaining a workplace where our employees feel supported to perform at their best, effectively collaborate, drive innovation, and grow professionally helps to bring our Purpose to life and create value for our clients and communities. RBC strives to deliver this through policies and programs intended to foster a workplace based on respect, belonging and opportunity for all.