Senior Research Manager

WEBRECRUIT; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization in education is seeking a Senior Research Manager to lead projects supporting policymaking. This role involves managing evidence synthesis outputs, overseeing innovations, and ensuring high-quality evidence is accessible. Ideal candidates will have a strong interest in education and proven experience in stakeholder management. The position offers a salary of £51,750, flexible working, and generous benefits, including pension contributions and holiday allowances.

Benefits

Salary of £51,750 per annum

Flexible working opportunities

27 days’ holiday a year

6% employer pension contributions

Life insurance cover

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Direct experience producing evidence synthesis outputs aimed at practice or policymaking.
• Demonstrable experience across all stages of a systematic review process.
• Experience working across teams and managing external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage responsive projects supporting policymaking and practice.
• Drive forward innovative project approaches and pilot new methods.
• Line manage Research Managers within the team.

Skills

Evidence synthesis

Communication skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

AI-supported practices

Job description

Senior Research Manager

London (with hybrid working opportunities)

About the Organisation

Our client is focused on supporting education to break down barriers between student success and finance. They support the education sector through research and working within schools to drive initiatives that directly support learners.

Benefits

• Salary of £51,750 per annum
• Flexible working opportunities
• 27 days’ holiday a year (plus 8 bank holidays including 3 which can be taken flexibly)
• 2 festive season closure days
• 6% employer pension contributions, minimum 3% employee contribution
• Life insurance cover
• Interest‑free season ticket loan and cycle scheme
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave pay (conditions apply)
• Confidential Employee Assistance Programme to help you deal with any personal and professional problems

The Role

As a Senior Research Manager, you will lead and manage responsive projects that support policymaking, practice, and our client’s strategic priorities. Specifically, you will drive forward innovative project approaches, piloting new methods, exploring the potential of AI‑supported practices, and helping shape mechanisms such as a helpdesk function that make high‑quality evidence accessible when policymakers and practitioners need it most. At the same time, you will embed evidence‑focused practices into wider policy reforms, ensuring that the latest insights are reflected in government‑supported professional development and other national initiatives.

• Line manage Research Managers within the team
• Oversee the annual plan to ensure evidence synthesis outputs keep progressing
• Represent our client’s team at events
• Identify future innovations that could support wider bodies of work

About You

• Direct experience producing evidence synthesis outputs aimed at practice or policymaking
• Demonstrable experience across all stages of a systematic review process
• Experience working across teams and managing external stakeholders to deliver high‑quality outputs
• A genuine interest in education and commitment to our mission
• Excellent communication skills

All staff are subject to a check by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The level of check which will apply shall be a “Basic” level check.

The closing date for this role is the 22nd December 2025 (23:59 GMT or BST), with first round interviews held on the 13th January 2026, and second round interviews held the w/c 19th January 2026.

Other organisations may call this role Evidence Synthesis Manager, Systematic Review Lead, Education Evidence Manager, Senior Researcher, or Senior Evidence Analyst.

Webrecruit and our clients are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.

So, if you want to apply your expertise to a Senior Research Manager role, please apply via the button shown. This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency.