Senior Research Manager

Creative Resource; Stockport; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A strategic research consultancy is seeking a Senior Research Manager in Stockport to lead the establishment of their research practice and deliver innovative insights in the experience economy. The role involves developing thought leadership, working with top-tier global clients, and blending traditional research with cutting-edge methodologies. Ideal candidates will have proven experience in consumer insight and a passion for building and mentoring a team. Hybrid working model with flexibility is offered as the business scales.

Qualifications

• Experience in a research manager role focusing on consumer insight.
• Ability to lead and shape research methodologies.
• Eager to experiment with new tools and analytics.

Responsibilities

• Establish research methodologies and outputs.
• Develop industry-leading insights and reports.
• Work with top-tier brands and clients globally.
• Blend traditional research with innovative methodologies.
• Lead a growing team as the business scales.

Skills

Proven research management

Consumer insight

Market intelligence

Experience measurement

Curiosity about experience economy

Advanced analytics

Job description

We’re working with an exciting strategic research consultancy that is building something new, looking for a Senior Research Manager.

Our Client

A new consultancy led by an established industry leader. They are focusing on the global experience economy, the fast-growing ecosystem around experiences, and delivering cut through data, insight and strategic collaboration.

The Role

This is not your typical research role. It’s a chance to establish global thought leadership, create new intelligence frameworks for the experience market, and work with the world’s leading brands, operators, suppliers and innovators in the sector.

• Establishing their research practice: defining methodologies, building the first outputs and shaping their strategic point of view on the global experience economy.
• Thought leadership: developing industry-leading insights, reports, metrics and perspectives that position them as the go-to consultancy in this space.
• Client partnership: working with top-tier brands, suppliers, stadiums, arenas, hospitality groups and experience operators around the globe.
• Sales, client pitches and presentations: sell their technical capabilities, close the proposal sale and then deliver the output in an authoritative manner.
• Innovation in research: blending traditional consumer research with emerging and next-generation methodologies including AI-led insights, social intelligence, experience measurement, etc.
• Growth & leadership: starting initially as a hands‑on expert, then recruiting and building a team as the business scales.
• Collaboration: working with external partners, freelancers and contributors to deliver world‑class projects as the business grows.

Hybrid working with 3 days per week in their Stockport base.

You

If you’re hungry, ambitious and excited by the challenge of building something new, this could be the right fit for you.

Ideally they’re looking for a proven research manager with experience in consumer insight, market intelligence or experience measurement.

You should be curious (or already engaged with) about the experience economy – sports, live entertainment, culture, hospitality, brand experiences, etc.

Comfortable working independently at first, then transitioning into a leader who can hire and mentor a team.

You should be eager to experiment with new research tools, advanced analytics and AI‑driven methodologies, and be proven within client facing situations, able to meet demanding growth targets.

This is a rare opportunity to help define a new field within consumer and experience research and strategy, with freedom to shape products, approaches and thought leadership strategy, as well as a clear route to a leadership position.

Our Commitment to Diversity

We are committed to improving diversity, equity and inclusion within the sectors we serve. We encourage applications for this role from all backgrounds and communities and offer equal opportunities to all candidates regardless of race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, age, and any other protected status. Should you require any reasonable adjustments at any point in the recruitment process we are very happy to discuss and work with you to accommodate these.