Research & Insights Project Manager

Vanilla Recruitment; Mansfield; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Free parking

Job summary

Vanilla Recruitment is partnering with a leading marketing services company to hire a Research & Insights Project Manager. You will drive end-to-end qualitative and CX programmes across client accounts, from brief to delivery, ensuring on-time, within-budget, and high-quality output with smooth team collaboration.

The ideal candidate has agency/consultancy experience, a solid grasp of qualitative research, and a passion for seamless project execution, with hybrid working: 2–3 days in Mansfield

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in a Research & Insights role with project management responsibilities in an agency environment.
• Strong understanding of qualitative research processes and methodologies.
• Ability to lead and coordinate cross-functional teams across multiple projects.
• Experience working with international/stakeholder-driven projects is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Take insight briefs from clients and Research Account Directors.
• Estimate costs, challenge objectives at project start and manage budgets.
• Manage all aspects of insight projects – estimates, timings, recruitment, suppliers, clients, presentations, debrief sessions, budget.
• Be the primary client contact for all insight projects you manage.
• Produce timing plans and schedule internal/external resources to meet deadlines.
• Prioritize work based on team priorities and scope changes.
• Identify and manage conflicts between cost, time and quality.
• Attend client briefings and presentations with the client team.
• Collaborate with Research Account Directors to ensure objectives are achievable and meet quality standards.
• Identify opportunities for updates and development of systems and business methods.
• Keep informed of emerging trends and market conditions.

Skills

Project management

Qualitative research

Client liaison

Stakeholder management

Budgeting

Job description

On behalf of a leading marketing services company, we’re looking for an organised, proactive Research & Insights Project Manager to drive the delivery of qualitative and CX programmes across client accounts.

Working closely with Research & CX Managers, Strategists and Creatives, you will take ownership of projects from brief through to delivery, ensuring everything runs smoothly, on time, within budget and to an exceptional standard. A natural ability to direct and lead others to ensure end to end project delivery, whilst managing all aspects of the research process will be imperative.

You will be a key point of contact for clients, helping to turn strategic recommendations into robust delivery plans. The ideal candidate will bring experience from an agency or consultancy environment, a good understanding of qualitative research or business transformation projects, and a passion for seamless project execution.

• Working hours Monday to Friday 9am-5.30pm
• Hybrid working, 2/3 days per week in Mansfield with some days in London each month
• Free parking

Key Responsibilities:

• Taking insight briefs from clients and Research Account Directors.
• Estimating costs, challenging the objectives at the beginning of a project and managing agreed budgets.
• Managing all aspects of insight projects – estimates, timings, recruitment, suppliers, clients, presentations, design, debrief sessions, budget etc.
• Being the client contact for all insight projects you’re managing.
• Producing timing plans and scheduling internal and external resources, working alongside the rest of the team to do this to ensure deadlines are met.
• Continuously prioritising work based on the insight teams priorities and also scope changes.
• Identifying, prioritising and managing conflicts between cost, time and quality.
• Attending client briefing and presentation meetings alongside other client team members.
• Engaging with Research Account Directors to ensure project objectives are achievable and meet quality standards.
• Identifying opportunities for the update and development of systems and business methods.
• Continuously keeping informed of emerging trends and market conditions.

Skills and experience required:

• Extensive experience of carrying out a Research & Insights role involving project management responsibilities within an agency environment.
• Strong project management skills, with examples of having successfully delivered a range of projects which generated excellent client feedback.
• Sound understanding of qualitative research processes.
• International project management skills would be an advantage.
• Ability to run multiple projects with many stakeholders and solve day-to-day problems with resources and a variety of clients
• Experience of working effectively with people – particularly in terms of briefing, estimating and efficiently managing internal studio and production resources.
• Demonstrates a natural ability to direct and lead both colleagues and suppliers to ensure end-to-end project delivery, while managing all aspects of the production process.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment