Consumer Recruitment & Panel Strategy Manager

Job Description

The Opportunity

The Consumer Recruitment & Panel Strategy Manager will be responsible for defining and executing SAM France's consumer recruitment and panel development strategy.

By leveraging traditional recruitment methods, digital acquisition channels, data-driven decision-making, and process innovation, you will ensure sustainable access to diverse, engaged, and high-quality consumer populations across our six French facilities and national consumer panel.

As SAM's internal expert on consumer recruitment, you will partner closely with project managers, field teams, and external recruitment partners to deliver recruitment excellence across all consumer research activities.

The role is critical to maintaining SAM’s quality standards by ensuring that every recruitment activity meets the methodological and operational requirements of each project. Access to the right consumers at the right time is a key driver of SAM’s success, directly supporting business growth and the delivery of best-in-class consumer insights.

The position may be based in Paris, Nantes, Aix‑en‑Provence or Lille under the management of the Field Director.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Panel Development

• Define and drive SAM's consumer recruitment strategy across France.
• Develop and implement long-term initiatives to grow, diversify, and strengthen consumer databases and panels.
• Anticipate future recruitment needs and identify new opportunities to expand access to relevant consumer target groups.
• Act as the internal subject matter expert for recruitment strategy and panel management.
• Provide strong leadership and strategic direction to recruitment teams across SAM's French facilities.

Recruitment Excellence

• Assess project feasibility and recommend the most effective recruitment approaches.
• Design tailored recruitment plans for standard, specific, and hard-to-reach target populations.
• Oversee all ad hoc recruitment activities for consumer research projects.
• Ensure recruitment quality, participant engagement, and compliance with study requirements.
• Manage recruitment budgets, quotations, and cost forecasts.

Digital Acquisition & Innovation

• Identify and develop innovative recruitment channels and consumer sourcing solutions.
• Leverage digital marketing tools, social media platforms, and emerging technologies to accelerate panel growth.
• Work closely with internal IT teams to continuously improve recruitment tools, databases, and processes.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, consumer behaviours, and new acquisition methodologies.

Partner & Stakeholder Management

• Build strong partnerships with internal research, project management, and field teams.
• Manage external recruitment partners and ensure delivery against quality, timing, and budget expectations.
• Influence and support stakeholders by providing expert recommendations and recruitment solutions.
• Collaborate closely with Recruitment Managers across SAM to share learnings, embed best practice, and drive consistency in service delivery.

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Define, monitor, and report recruitment KPIs.
• Track panel health, recruitment efficiency, participant engagement, and database growth.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase productivity, quality, and operational performance.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and recruitment excellence.

Qualifications

Profile & Capabilities

• Strong experience in consumer recruitment, panel management, sensory research, market research, or related fields.
• Proven ability to develop, scale, and optimize consumer databases and panels.
• Strong understanding of both traditional and digital recruitment methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and stakeholders simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution
• Good financial awareness, including budget management and forecasting.
• A proactive, innovative, and results-oriented mindset.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and engage confidently and credibly with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Strong alignment with SAM’s values and culture.
• Excellent written and spoken French and English.

Education and Experience

• 5+ years of experience in consumer recruitment, sensory research, market research, database marketing, or related discipline
• Experience within FMCG, consumer insights, sensory science, or research agencies.
• Previous experience managing external recruitment partners.
• Leadership or team management experience is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Scientific Studies, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field.
• Advanced qualifications are an advantage.