Research Manager

Information Commissioner's Office; London; Hybrid; GBP 71,000; Full time

Job summary

The Information Commissioner's Office is seeking a Research Manager to lead market research initiatives that inform policy and decision-making. This role involves collaborating with various teams, managing research projects, and ensuring the application of research evidence to enhance organizational effectiveness. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in both qualitative and quantitative research, strong communication skills, and a passion for data-driven decision-making.

Benefits

Pay progression scheme

25 days paid holiday per year

Flexi leave

Pension with employer contribution

Health Cash Plan

Online discount scheme

Development opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum three years experience in a research environment.
• Experience managing research projects including design and analysis.
• Excellent written communication skills for research documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage qualitative and quantitative market research projects.
• Collaborate with departments to identify research needs and methodologies.
• Disseminate findings in engaging ways to internal stakeholders.

Skills

Research management

Qualitative research

Quantitative research

Communication

Project management

Education

Relevant academic or vocational qualifications

Tools

SPSS

Excel

Survey Monkey

Job description

Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Wilmslow

Job Summary

Research Manager

Full time/Part Time

Salary: £55,591 - £62,793 pa, with potential for further progression to £70,907 pa with our pay progression scheme.

Location: Hybrid

Contracted to our Wilmslow, London, Edinburgh, Belfast or Cardiff office, however, through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.

Why work for the ICO?

• Pay progression scheme.
• Hybrid and flexible working options.
• 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
• Flexi leave (up to 24 additional days leave per year).
• Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
• Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
• Health Cash Plan.
• Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.
  
  

Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website .

About Us

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.

As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.

Job Description

This role is central to building the ICO’s approach to using insight and evidence to inform ICO’s policy and decision-making. An evidence-based and outcome focused approach to regulation, which puts people at the heart of what we do, will be crucial to ensure we deliver on the vision set out in ICO25.

You will be working in the newly formed Market Research function. You will have responsibility for supporting teams across the ICO on their respective research projects, as well as supporting the commissioning of market research projects.

You’ll work closely with qualitative and quantitative researchers, insights specialists, and research managers within the function to help deliver strategically important research programmes.

You will need to brief senior colleagues on a regular basis, producing up-to-

date insight into key research findings in a way that is both accessible

and engaging. You will be fully conversant with a wide range of research

techniques, be able to advise on the most appropriate methodology, and be

experienced at working with others to co-create robust outputs and demonstrate how best to apply research evidence.

You’ll be collaborating closely with colleagues across the ICO to ensure a joined up approach to research, and support to build a research culture across the ICO. You will also support the team as they scope the needs of the organisation and identify evidence gaps that require market research with the UK public.

Key Responsibilities

• Working with departments across ICO to champion the value and importance of market research, identify priority areas for research, build ongoing relationships and ensuring early understanding of research needs and training.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to understand key concerns, the evidence required, and identify the most effective, timely and value for money approaches to delivering those needs, including advising on the most appropriate methodology, sample, questionnaire design etc.
• Leading on procuring and managing qualitative and quantitative market research, including quality control processes and oversight of key outputs, keeping colleagues updated and ensuring milestones are met.
• Disseminate findings internally in compelling and engaging ways, including to senior colleagues.
• Identify opportunities for bringing together and disseminating both internally and, where appropriate, externally. To understand how research has been utilised and applied, and evaluate, where possible, the impact of this.
• Building and maintaining excellent working relationships with external stakeholders and representing the ICO in a variety of research forums.
• Support Head of Market Research and Market Research Manager to deliver against the departmental delivery plan, to ensure projects and deliverables are on time, in budget and within Spec. Additionally, to work with fellow managers to inform and educate colleagues on best practice and ensuring that high standards are adhered to.
• Proactively develop Market Research expertise, keeping abreast of developments in research methods and provide and act upon accurate management information.
  
  

This role is central to building the ICO’s approach to using insight and evidence to inform ICO’s policy and decision-making. An evidence-based and outcome focused approach to regulation, which puts people at the heart of what we do, will be crucial to ensure we deliver on the vision set out in ICO25.

You will be working in the newly formed Market Research function. You will have responsibility for supporting teams across the ICO on their respective research projects, as well as supporting the commissioning of market research projects.

You’ll work closely with qualitative and quantitative researchers, insights specialists, and research managers within the function to help deliver strategically important research programmes.

You will need to brief senior colleagues on a regular basis, producing up-to-

date insight into key research findings in a way that is both accessible

and engaging. You will be fully conversant with a wide range of research

techniques, be able to advise on the most appropriate methodology, and be

experienced at working with others to co-create robust outputs and demonstrate how best to apply research evidence.

You’ll be collaborating closely with colleagues across the ICO to ensure a joined up approach to research, and support to build a research culture across the ICO. You will also support the team as they scope the needs of the organisation and identify evidence gaps that require market research with the UK public.

Key Responsibilities

• Working with departments across ICO to champion the value and importance of market research, identify priority areas for research, build ongoing relationships and ensuring early understanding of research needs and training.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to understand key concerns, the evidence required, and identify the most effective, timely and value for money approaches to delivering those needs, including advising on the most appropriate methodology, sample, questionnaire design etc.
• Leading on procuring and managing qualitative and quantitative market research, including quality control processes and oversight of key outputs, keeping colleagues updated and ensuring milestones are met.
• Disseminate findings internally in compelling and engaging ways, including to senior colleagues.
• Identify opportunities for bringing together and disseminating both internally and, where appropriate, externally. To understand how research has been utilised and applied, and evaluate, where possible, the impact of this.
• Building and maintaining excellent working relationships with external stakeholders and representing the ICO in a variety of research forums.
• Support Head of Market Research and Market Research Manager to deliver against the departmental delivery plan, to ensure projects and deliverables are on time, in budget and within Spec. Additionally, to work with fellow managers to inform and educate colleagues on best practice and ensuring that high standards are adhered to.
• Proactively develop Market Research expertise, keeping abreast of developments in research methods and provide and act upon accurate management information.
  
  

Person specification

Essential Criteria Assessed At Application Stage

• Experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience.
• Significant relevant experience (minimum of three years), gained from a research environment – for example within a research agency, public sector research profession, think tank, academic institution, or research commissioning.
• Experience of managing qualitative and quantitative research projects (minimum of three years), including sample design, questionnaire/topic guide drafting, and analysis of findings.
• Experience of training and leading junior researchers, as well as supporting colleagues who do not work in research with their research needs.
• Excellent written communication skills, including an ability to write research briefs, procurement documents, sample questionnaires, and to summarise research findings in a persuasive and compelling way.
• Experience of research software or data analysis techniques, for example (but not limited to), Excel, SPSS, R; and surveying software for example Survey Monkey, Snap Surveys or Smart Survey.
  
  

Essential Criteria Assessed At Interview Stage

• Experience of developing complex questions into clearly scoped research projects, including identifying research questions, methodologies, samples, procurement processes, and/or reporting.
• Experience of leading research activities and projects from concept to deliverables using project management.
• Excellent research management skills, design skills, and ability to develop research approaches to meet organisational needs within budget, timeframes and resources.
• Excellent presentation and training skills, and an ability to explain research methods and findings in a clear and engaging way, as well as represent the ICO with a range of stakeholders
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
• Ability to draw together research findings into high quality outputs that tell a clear story and bring the issues being explored to life.
  
  

Alongside your salary of £55,591, Information Commissioner's Office contributes £16,104 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Please visit ico.jobs for full details, including salary and benefits.

Selection process details

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.



Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme.



If you have a disability or impairment and require an alternative application method, please email the HR team at [e-mail] .

Closing Date

Please submit your CV and cover letter by 23:59, Sunday 8th June 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

• Name : [e-mail]
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]