Senior Research Manager

Centre for Sustainable Energy; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension scheme (8% employer, 6

25 days' paid holiday

Subsidised bike purchase

Tech Scheme

Life Assurance

Health Cash plan

Retail discounts

Discounted breakdown cover

Job summary

Centre for Sustainable Energy in Bristol (Hybrid) seeks a Senior Research Manager to lead major research and evaluation projects, shape new funding opportunities, and build strong relationships with partners and policymakers to influence real-world decisions.

You will steer social research expertise and manage complex projects that advance CSE's mission to reduce fuel poverty and support a fair energy transition.

Qualifications

• Strong track record of conducting and leading impactful research.
• Experience developing successful funding proposals and new streams of work.
• Research methods skills including numerical/data analysis, survey design, and qualitative and/or evaluation methods.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with diverse audiences.
• Ability to produce clear research reports and concise summaries.
• Experience coordinating teams, stakeholders and clients for project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Manage large, strategic and technically complex research projects including design, planning, ethics, data management, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.
• Provide expertise in research management and social research across CSE.
• Contribute advanced knowledge in the social impacts of the UK energy transition.
• Lead and coordinate work of others, including external partners and subcontractors.
• Develop and maintain relationships with project partners and funders.
• Identify opportunities to influence policy and develop new funding proposals.
• Consolidate research insights to deliver outputs and policy influence.
• Present outputs to clients and stakeholders and represent CSE at events.
• Line manage junior team members and mentor staff.
• Participate in workload planning across the Research & Analysis team.

Skills

Research leadership

Funding proposals

Data analysis

Survey design

Qualitative methods

Communication skills

Project coordination

Time management

Independent work

Job description

Job Title: Senior Research Manager

Location: Bristol Office (Hybrid - minimum 2 days per week in the office)

Salary: £44,736 to £49,028 per annum (Band H/I, depending on experience), with a salary review after successful completion of a 5-month probationary period

Job Type: Permanent, Full time (37.5 hours per week)

The Role:

We are looking for an experienced research leader to help shape and deliver research that supports a fair and sustainable energy transition. You'll lead major research and evaluation projects, develop new opportunities for CSE's work, and build relationships with partners, funders and policymakers to ensure our evidence informs real-world decisions.

You will identify new opportunities, develop compelling funding proposals, and work with colleagues to win new projects that strengthen CSE's research portfolio and influence. You'll manage large, strategic and technically complex research projects, providing social research expertise and advanced subject knowledge to advance CSE's strategic objectives.

Through your work, you will help ensure that social and behavioural evidence plays a central role in reducing fuel poverty, tackling climate change and creating a more equitable energy system.

Specific responsibilities:

• Manage large, strategic and technically complex research projects, including research design, planning, ethics, data management, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.
• Provide expertise in research management and social research across CSE.
• Contribute advanced subject knowledge in the social impacts of the UK energy transition and/or a specialist area relevant to CSE's mission.
• Provide leadership and coordination of the work of others, including external partners and subcontractors.
• Develop and maintain relationships with project partners and funders.
• Identify opportunities for CSE to influence policy and industry developments, and develop new funding proposals.
• Consolidate research insights to deliver impactful outputs, communications and policy influence.
• Present outputs to clients and wider stakeholders and represent CSE at external events.
• Line manage two junior members of the team, providing mentoring and support.
• Participate in effective workload planning across the Research & Analysis team.

To see a more detailed list of responsibilities please see the supporting documents attached. These documents are also available to download from our website.

About you:

Essential attributes for this role include:

• A strong track record of conducting and leading impactful research, including complex, large-scale projects.
• Experience developing successful funding proposals and new streams of work.
• Research methods skills, including numerical/data analysis, survey design, and qualitative and/or evaluation methods.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to produce clear, accurate research reports and effective technical and non-technical summaries.
• Effective coordination of teams, stakeholders and clients for the purposes of project delivery.
• Excellent time management skills, including priority setting, multi-tasking and problem-solving.
• Advanced knowledge of UK sustainable energy policy and the social and behavioural dimensions of the energy transition.
• A positive, flexible approach, self-motivated with the ability to work independently.

To see the full list of essential and desirable skills please see the attached job description.

Benefits:

CSE offer a range of other benefits including:

• Company pension scheme (8% employer, 6% employee contributions)
• You will be entitled to 25 days' paid holiday (plus statutory holidays)
• Subsidised bike purchase and Tech Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Health Cash plan
• Retail discounts
• Discounted breakdown cover and many more.

We will pay fees and expenses on relevant training courses.

We are flexible with the working hours of this role and will discuss this openly if you are invited to interview.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Sunday 8 November 2026.

Interviews are expected to take place 2nd and 3rd December 2026 (in person at our Bristol office), though this is subject to change.

If invited to interview, we will ask you to provide evidence of eligibility to work in the UK.

Candidates with the relevant experience or job titles of: Research Manager, Research Project Manager, Research Project Leader, Project Team Manager, Funding Project Manager, Social Research Manager may also be considered for this role.