Research Manager - Sampling & Survey Methodology

Ipsos; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Pension contribution

Income protection

Life assurance

Hybrid working 3 days in office

Job summary

Ipsos is recruiting a Quantitative Research Manager to join the Probability Surveys Unit. The role focuses on survey methodology, sampling and weighting for large government studies, using SPSS, R, and Stata.

You will design high-quality random probability work, collaborate across teams, and contribute to innovative methodological approaches. The position offers a hybrid working model with opportunities to shape methods, work with big data, and present clear technical outputs to clients.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of survey research methods and quantitative research principles.
• Knowledge of sampling and weighting approaches used in social, public affairs, market or academic research.
• Experience with large datasets and statistical software (SPSS, R, Stata or similar).
• Strong statistical aptitude and ability to work with quantitative data.

Responsibilities

• Design and manage probability surveys with sampling frames and random probability samples.
• Support PSU to deliver large, complex probability surveys through sampling, weighting and methodological innovation.
• Collate population data from official statistics to support weighting methods.
• Write clear, concise technical reports detailing objectives, challenges and solutions.
• Explain complex methods clearly to clients and non-technical colleagues.
• Mentor junior staff to develop methodological and statistical skills.
• Lead innovation to improve processes and quality in survey design and analysis.

Skills

Survey research methods

Quantitative analysis

SPSS

R

Stata

Large datasets

Communication skills

Education

Quantitative degree

Tools

SPSS

R

Stata

Job description

Make Your Mark at Ipsos

Do you have expertise in survey research methods and quantitative research principles?

Job Description

We are recruiting a Quantitative Research Manager to work within our Probability Surveys Unit (PSU). The PSU designs and manages some of the largest and most technically complex government studies.

This is an exciting opportunity for a quantitative researcher skilled in survey methodology, sampling and weighting. We are seeking someone with Knowledge of sampling and/or weighting approaches used in social, public affairs, market or academic research and experience working with large datasets and using SPSS, R, Stata or similar statistical software.

What is in it for you?

You will get the opportunity to:

• Play a key role in designing and deliver high-quality random probability work through our online probability panel the KnowledgePanel as well as ad-hoc research.
• Contribute to the design, implementation and continuous improvement of survey methodologies
• Challenge existing processes and seek to develop innovative improvements.
• Get exposure to the entire breath of Ipsos policy research, from politics, to public services, employment and welfare, transport, climate change and energy, societal attitudes and many more.

The role

These are the types of things you can expect to be doing during your day to day, though, as Ipsos is a dynamic organisation, we would encourage you to shape the role as other opportunities arise:

• Working with the UK KnowledgePanel, Ipsos’s online random probability panel, to create sampling frames and draw random probability samples to maintain nationally representative samples.
• Supporting our Probability Surveys Unit to deliver large, complex probability surveys through sampling, weighting and methodological innovation.
• Collating and managing population data from official ONS statistics and other large scale probability surveys to support weighting methods.
• Writing clear and concise technical reports, documenting your activities, setting out objectives, challenges and solutions.
• Explaining complex methods clearly to clients and other non-technical colleagues.
• Work with junior staff to help develop their methodological and statistical skills.
• Lead and contribute to innovation work, keeping abreast of new relevant developments and aiming to continually improve processes and quality
• Contributing to the design of experimental approaches to deliver methodological innovations and efficiencies.
• You will use Ipsos’ in-house AI to support your work and help to develop AI agentic solutions.
• You will be supported by experienced staff who will provide support and guidance.

Essential Skills

• Strong understanding of survey research methods and quantitative research principles.
• Knowledge of sampling and/or weighting approaches used in social, public affairs, market or academic research.
• Experience working with large datasets and using SPSS, R, Stata or similar statistical software.
• Strong statistical aptitude and confidence working with quantitative data.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Degree-level qualification or above in a quantitative discipline such as Statistics, Social Research Methods, Mathematics, Economics, Psychology, Data Science or a related subject, or equivalent relevant experience.

Desirable Skills

• Experience designing or implementing survey samples for probability-based or random probability studies.
• Experience developing, applying or evaluating survey weights.
• Understanding of survey error, non-response bias, coverage error and weighting adjustment techniques.
• Experience working with online panels, longitudinal studies or official statistics.
• Experience of process automation, reproducible workflows, scripting or systems development.
• Experience developing technical documentation, methodological reports or survey standards.
• Experience contributing methodological expertise to proposals, bids or client presentations.
• Knowledge of multivariate statistical techniques and survey data analysis e.g. factor analysis, clustering, regressions, multilevel models

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you as an individual. Our standard benefits include 25 days annual leave, pension contribution, income protection and life assurance. In addition, there are a range health & wellbeing, financial benefits and professional development opportunities.

We have a hybrid approach to work and ask people to be in the office or with clients for 3 days per week. We appreciate you may have commitments outside of work and will consider flexible working applications - please highlight what you are looking for when you make your application.

We are committed to equality, treating people fairly, promoting a positive and inclusive working environment and ensuring we have diversity of people and views. We recognise that this is important for our business success - a more diverse workforce will enable us to better reflect and understand the world we research and ultimately deliver better research and insight to our clients. We are proud to be a member of the Disability Confident scheme, certified as a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. We provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Your application will be reviewed by someone from our Talent Team who will be in touch either way to let you know the outcome.

About Us

Ipsos is one of the world’s largest research companies and currently the only one primarily managed by researchers, ranking as a #1 full-service research organization for four consecutive years. With over 75 different data-driven solutions, and presence in 90 markets, Ipsos brings together research, implementation, methodological, and subject-matter experts from around the world, combining thematic and technical experts to deliver top-quality research and insights. Simply speaking, we help the biggest companies solve some of their biggest problems, serving more than 5000 clients across the globe by providing research, data, and insights on their target markets. And we are proud of our continuous efforts in making Ipsos the best place to work!

About The Team

The Public Affairs Service Line is the world leader in Social and Opinion Research. We work with clients on political and public opinion polling, citizen and stakeholder management, social policy improvement, sustainable development strategy and identifying societal trends and perceptions across several sectors. We assess how government and public affairs policies as well as societal trends and views impact our client’s brand/products/markets.