Research Manager / Associate Director (AI Insights Studio Team)

VERVE; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Verve is seeking a client-focused, mid-level insight leader to deliver AI-powered insight projects. You will lead day-to-day delivery, shape directions with senior leads, and manage junior teammates to ensure high-quality work.

You’ll learn and apply our AI-enabled simulation tools, getting hands-on with building, shaping and interpreting simulations as part of project work. This role requires strong commercial judgement and client-facing excellence.

Qualifications

• Commercial insight background (at a market research agency or client-side) is essential.
• Ability to translate briefs into clear, commercially impactful research programmes.
• Confident acting as a senior client advisor with experience leading complex delivery and building relationships.
• Strong commercial judgement across scoping, resourcing, and profitability.
• UK-based candidate, able to work from Manchester or London hub at least once per week.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of AI-powered insight programmes across multiple high-value client accounts.
• Act as a trusted senior advisor, shaping briefs and guiding clients through AI-enabled approaches.
• Own scoping, resourcing, timelines and budgets, turning objectives into actionable plans.
• Identify opportunities to grow client relationships and support new business through pitches and proposals.
• Lead, coach and develop Senior Consultants, Consultants and Associates to build confidence in leadership and capabilities.
• Partner closely with Sales, Consultancy and Operational teams to deliver joined-up client programmes.
• Shape Build Studio standards and best practices as a role model for curiosity and ownership.

Skills

Commercial insight

Client advisory

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Ambiguity handling

Learning agility

Team development

Tools

APIs

AI tools

ML concepts

Job description

At Verve, we’re redefining how insight works in an AI-powered world. We combine Human, Cultural and Artificial Intelligence to help leading brands make faster, smarter decisions with confidence.

Through Verve Vero – our AI-powered platform and consultancy ecosystem – we turn human truth into living simulations, giving teams the ability to bring their customers into any decision. The result is insight that’s faster, more scalable, and grounded in real human understanding.

The Role

This is a client-facing, mid-level insight leadership role focused on delivering AI-powered insight projects.

You’ll act as the day-to-day lead on projects, owning delivery from end to end – working closely with senior leads to shape direction, while managing junior team members to execute high-quality work.

A core part of the role is learning and applying our AI-enabled simulation tools. You won’t be expected to come in as an expert, but you will be expected to get hands‑on—building, shaping, and interpreting simulations as part of your project work.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of AI-powered insight programmes across multiple high-value client accounts.
• Act as a trusted senior advisor, shaping briefs, guiding clients through AI-enabled approaches, and constructively challenging thinking where needed.
• Own scoping, resourcing, timelines and budgets, translating business objectives into clear, actionable plans and ensuring work is commercially sound and drives real business impact.
• Identify opportunities to grow client relationships and support new business through pitches and proposals.

Technical Delivery & Innovation

• Interest in how AI capabilities (such as large language models, machine learning, or Retrieval-Augmented Generation models can enhance insight delivery and efficiency
• We’ll provide training and guidance on the tools and processes that power our AI‑enabled solutions.
• Experience applying AI to insight workflows or automation is a plus, but not essential — curiosity and a willingness to learn matter most.
• Any technical experience (e.g. coding or working with APIs) is a bonus.
• Proactive, lateral thinker — able to solve problems, comfortable operating in ambiguity and helping shape structure as new approaches evolve.
• Work closely with specialist teams to test, refine and embed smarter, faster and more scalable tools into delivery.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and scalability through AI‑enabled approaches.
• Stay close to developments in AI, applying them pragmatically to client work.
• Lead, coach and develop Senior Consultants, Consultants and Associates, building confidence across client leadership and evolving capabilities.
• Set clear expectations that balance quality, efficiency and commercial discipline.
• Partner closely with Sales, Consultancy and Operational teams to deliver joined‑up client programmes.
• Shape Build Studio standards and best practice, acting as a visible role model for curiosity, adaptability and ownership.

What We’re Looking For:

• 5–8 years’ experience. Commercial insight background (at a market research agency or client-side) is essential.
• Ability to translate briefs into clear, commercially impactful research programmes.
• Confidence operating as a senior client advisor. With experience leading complex delivery and building relationships.
• Strong commercial judgement across scoping, resourcing, and profitability.
• Curiosity about how AI can enhance insight delivery, with an openness to build capability (experience is a bonus, not essential).
• Ability to quickly learn new technical tools and ways of working.
• Leadership style that builds confidence and capability in others.
• Strong organisational skills, managing multiple projects, deadlines and stakeholders.
• Clear, confident communicator — able to explain complex ideas simply and align teams.
• A growth mindset – comfortable working in fast-moving, ambiguous environments where the model is still evolving.
• UK-based candidate. Able to work from our Manchester or London Hub at least once per week.

Join Us

At Verve you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects, expand your insight, management and AI skill set, and grow in a supportive environment that thrives on innovation and impact.

By applying to Verve, you acknowledge our use of AI-assisted tools to help screen applications against job-related criteria. All outcomes are reviewed by humans and are not determinative. You can request human review, express your views, or contest any assessment at any time via [e-mail]. Full details of the Privacy Notice can be found here: Privacy Notice