Senior Research Consultant - Transportation Planning

AECOM; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Career development opportunities

AECOM University

Volunteer days

Job summary

AECOM in Manchester is seeking a Senior Research Consultant to lead and deliver high-quality social and market research for central and local government clients across the UK. You’ll design studies, manage data collection and analysis, and produce clear reports and presentations for both technical and non-technical audiences.

The role involves guiding junior colleagues, contributing to bids, and working across qualitative and quantitative methods. Hybrid working options support work-life balance.

Qualifications

• You should be willing to work both in quantitative and qualitative research although preferences for just quantitative could be accommodated.
• Degree or above in relevant field such as Social Science, Market Research, Geography (Human), and/ or relevant MRS qualifications.
• Prior experience in the technical delivery of Social and Market Research projects, including leading all stages of the research lifecycle, including research design, project delivery, and client management.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and work to deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail and a desire for high-quality outputs
• Problem-Solving: Ability to troubleshoot logistical or operational issues in real time.
• Comfortable using MS Excel
• Knowledge of other software will be beneficial and should have a desire/ aptitude to learn new software such as survey programming (SNAP and Askia) and managing data (SPSS)

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver robust qualitative and quantitative research activities, applying appropriate methodologies to meet client objectives.
• Undertake and coordinate data collection and analysis, applying qualitative and quantitative techniques to generate clear, evidence-based insights.
• Produce high-quality reports, presentations and other outputs, communicating findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Manage defined tasks, work packages and smaller projects, meeting agreed quality, programme and budget requirements and identifying risks or issues early.
• Engage effectively with clients and stakeholders, contributing technical advice and supporting meetings, workshops, interviews and consultations.
• Support and guide junior colleagues, sharing technical knowledge and helping maintain consistent standards across project teams.
• Contribute to business development and bids, including research design, methodology, work planning and preparation of technical proposals.

Skills

Quantitative qualitative research

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Problem-Solving

MS Excel

Education

Degree or above in Social Science / Market Research / Geography (Human)

Tools

SNAP

Askia

SPSS

Job description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations. There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world. We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

Start here. Grow here.

We are seeking a Senior Research Consultant to join the Manchester team to support the delivery of high-quality social and market research across Manchester and the wider UK. The role involves leading and contributing to robust research projects for central and local government clients, generating evidence-based insights that inform policy decisions, shape services, and drive positive change for communities and stakeholders. Your workload will be diverse and interesting and you will be given the opportunity to make the most of your abilities. You will work on a wide variety of projects including those requiring quick turnaround for example to help our clients respond to changing government policy or unforeseen events to more long-term tracking projects which help our clients plan for the future. Our projects are both Qualitative and Quantitative in nature and use a range of methodologies. The role would suit a self-motivated individual with good attention to detail who can be flexible and to undertake a range of different tasks.

• Design and deliver robust qualitative and quantitative research activities, applying appropriate methodologies to meet client objectives.
• Undertake and coordinate data collection and analysis, applying qualitative and quantitative techniques to generate clear, evidence-based insights.
• Produce high-quality reports, presentations and other outputs, communicating findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Manage defined tasks, work packages and smaller projects, meeting agreed quality, programme and budget requirements and identifying risks or issues early.
• Engage effectively with clients and stakeholders, contributing technical advice and supporting meetings, workshops, interviews and consultations.
• Support and guide junior colleagues, sharing technical knowledge and helping maintain consistent standards across project teams.
• Contribute to business development and bids, including research design, methodology, work planning and preparation of technical proposals.

Come grow with us.

We develop projects from concept through to operation providing engineering and construction services for multiyear, multimillion-dollar projects for major rail and transit agencies. Our specialists provide analytical and strategic expertise for every stage of a project And let's not forget about the perks at AECOM. You'll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customized to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

Qualifications

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• You should be willing to work both in quantitative and qualitative research although preferences for just quantitative could be accommodated.
• Degree or above in relevant field such as Social Science, Market Research, Geography (Human), and/ or relevant MRS qualifications.
• Prior experience in the technical delivery of Social and Market Research projects, including leading all stages of the research lifecycle, including research design, project delivery, and client management.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and work to deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail and a desire for high-quality outputs
• Problem-Solving: Ability to troubleshoot logistical or operational issues in real time.
• Comfortable using MS Excel
• Knowledge of other software will be beneficial and should have a desire/ aptitude to learn new software such as survey programming (SNAP and Askia) and managing data (SPSS)

At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives. If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you!

Additional Information

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address [e-mail] if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.