Research Consultant | Tourism & Placemaking

TOPOSOPHY; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A destination development agency is looking for a Research Consultant - Tourism & Placemaking in Edinburgh. This hybrid role combines research and consulting with responsibilities such as conducting analysis on tourism and visitor behaviour, engaging with stakeholders, and producing strategic reports. Ideal candidates have strong research skills, excellent communication abilities, and knowledge of the tourism policy landscape. The position offers competitive salary and flexible work arrangements.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Private health insurance

Flexible work arrangements

Professional development allowances

Qualifications

• Experience in stakeholder engagement and workshop facilitation.
• Track record in producing white papers and strategy reports.
• Knowledge of the UK, Irish, and European tourism policy landscape.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and analysis on tourism and visitor behaviour.
• Contribute to evidence-based tourism plans.
• Translate complex research into engaging reports and presentations.

Skills

Quantitative research skills

Qualitative research skills

Stakeholder engagement

Presentation skills

Data visualization

Communication skills

Tools

Excel

PowerBI

Tableau

GIS

SPSS

Job description

Location: UK & Ireland Employment Type: Full-time Reporting to: Director, Destination Strategy

Who We Are

TOPOSOPHY is a destination development, marketing, and placemaking agency working at the intersection of research, strategy, and experience design. For more than 15 years we've supported governments, DMOs, cultural institutions, and global organisations such as the European Travel Commission, Mastercard, UNDP, and UNWTO.

Our work spans the UK, Ireland, and Europe — from national tourism strategies and destination experience development plans to city masterplans and cultural programming.

The Role

We are looking for a Research Consultant - Tourism & Placemaking to join our Destination Strategy & Research team.

This is a hybrid role: part researcher, part consultant. You'll design and deliver research, but also engage with stakeholders, run workshops, and present findings to decision-makers. Your work will directly contribute to Destination Experience Development Plans (DEDPs), Destination Management Plans (DMPs), tourism strategies, and thought-leadership outputs across the UK, Ireland, and Europe.

The right candidate is comfortable moving between data, policy, and people — someone who can interpret complex research and turn it into practical insights for destinations.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research and analysis on tourism, visitor behaviour, and policy across the UK, Ireland, and Europe.
• Contribute to DEDPs, DMPs, and tourism masterplans with evidence-based insights.
• Design and deliver stakeholder and public consultations.
• Prepare and deliver workshops, roundtables, and client presentations.
• Write strategic reports, white papers, and trend briefings.
• Translate complex research into clear, engaging communication outputs (reports, visuals, presentations).
• Benchmark DMOs, tourism boards, and marketing campaigns internationally.
• Track and apply emerging themes such as sustainability, design thinking, digital tools, and AI in tourism

Requirements

• Strong skills in both quantitative and qualitative research; familiarity with a range of methodological frameworks is essential.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, public consultations, and workshop facilitation.
• Confidence in delivering presentations, workshops, or keynotes.
• Track record in producing white papers, strategy reports, or published research outputs.
• Ability to transform data into accessible, engaging insights for policymakers and public audiences.
• Knowledge of the UK, Irish, and European tourism/policy landscape.
• Proficiency with tools such as Excel, PowerBI, Tableau, GIS, or SPSS.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to manage multiple projects at pace

Benefits

• Competitive salary and private health insurance
• Work on global projects that impact destinations worldwide
• Career growth and mentorship in a dynamic, collaborative environment
• Flexible work arrangements (remote/hybrid options available)
• Professional equipment allowance to ensure you have the tools you need to perform at your best
• Professional development courses allowance to support continuous learning and career growth
• A diverse, international team shaping the future of destinations