Market Research Manager

Aitomic Jobs; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 114,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Auckland is seeking a Market Research Manager to shape strategic decision-making across student recruitment, brand positioning, academic portfolio development, and research opportunities. This role leads the creation of a new market research and insights capability to anticipate change and identify growth in a large, complex organisation.

You will partner with senior leaders across Marketing and Recruitment, Planning, Academic Divisions and Research and Innovation to embed

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading market research, insights, or customer intelligence functions within a large organisation.
• Proven expertise in quantitative and qualitative methodologies, forecasting, segmentation, and analytics.
• Strong ability to influence senior leaders through actionable recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Translate insights into strategic actions for enrolment growth and academic portfolio development.
• Lead development of governance processes, tools, or platforms for market research across the organisation.
• Partner with senior leaders to embed insights into decision-making and planning processes.

Skills

Market research leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in marketing or related field

Job description

Short Summary

Market Research Manager with University of Auckland. Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity This is an opportunity to shape how New Zealand's leading university makes strategic decisions. We are establishing a new market research and insights capability to help the University anticipate change, identify growth opportunities, and respond to evolving student, industry, and research markets. Reporting within the Planning and…

Key Details

• Position / opportunity: Market Research Manager
• Organization: University of Auckland
• Country / coverage: New Zealand
• Location: Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
• Work arrangement: On-site
• Opportunity type: Jobs
• Sector: Education
• Compensation: Not specified
• Duration: Not specified
• Start date: 2026-09-23
• Application deadline: Not specified

Description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity This is an opportunity to shape how New Zealand's leading university makes strategic decisions. We are establishing a new market research and insights capability to help the University anticipate change, identify growth opportunities, and respond to evolving student, industry, and research markets. Reporting within the Planning and Information Office, the Market Research Manager will lead the development of a strategic market research function that supports student recruitment, retention, brand positioning, academic portfolio development, and research and innovation opportunities. The role combines strategic leadership, advanced market research, analytics, and stakeholder engagement. You will provide insights directly to executive leaders responsible for enrolment growth, academic portfolio development, international strategy, research and innovation, and institutional planning. You will partner with senior leaders across Marketing and Recruitment, Planning, Academic Divisions, and Research and Innovation to embed insights into decision-making and planning processes. As the function evolves, you will have the opportunity to shape the team's structure, establish new ways of working, recommend tools and platforms, and create a best-practice market research capability that supports the University’s long-term success. Your responsibilities will include: Translating insight into action Influencing decision-making Strategic foresight Identifying opportunities and risks Leading organisational change This is a full-time, permanent opportunity (37.5 hours per week). The full salary range for this role is $114,400 - $154,800 (Band I). We have a structured salary framework with three zones for those developing into the role (developing), fully effective in the role (target), and contributing beyond what is expected of the role (upper). Appointments are typically made within the target range of $115,000 - $135,000 , depending on skills, experience, and internal equity. We welcome conversations about your expectations and what matters to you in your overall package. A full description of your duties and the role is provided in the position description linked HERE . He kōrero mōu | About you You are an experienced insights or market research leader who enjoys turning data into meaningful stories that influence decision-making. You are excited by the opportunity to build something new, establish best practice, and create a market research function that delivers real value across a large and complex organisation. If you have experience working in customer insights, consumer intelligence, commercial strategy, consulting, public sector insights, higher education strategy, or research agencies, we want to hear from you. You bring a strong blend of strategic thinking, technical expertise, and stakeholder engagement. You are comfortable discussing research methodologies and predictive modelling one minute, and presenting recommendations to senior leaders the next. You enjoy challenging assumptions, identifying emerging opportunities, and helping organisations make evidence-based decisions. You are naturally curious, commercially minded, and proactive. You understand that great insights are only valuable when they lead to action, and you have a track record of translating complex analysis into practical recommendations that drive organisational outcomes. E rapua ana mātou | We are seeking Significant experience leading market research, insights, or customer intelligence functions within a large and complex organisation Demonstrated expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, forecasting, segmentation, and advanced analytics Experience establishing research frameworks, governance processes, tools, or platforms that support strategic decision-making Proven people leadership experience, including building capability, leading teams, and developing high-performing functions Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and translate complex analysis into clear recommendations Relevant tertiary qualification in marketing…

Responsibilities

• Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity This is an opportunity to shape how New Zealand's leading university makes strategic decisions.
• We are establishing a new market research and insights capability to help the University anticipate change, identify growth opportunities, and respond to evolving student, industry, and research markets.
• Reporting within the Planning and Information Office, the Market Research Manager will lead the development of a strategic market research function that supports student recruitment, retention, brand positioning, academic portfolio development, and…
• This role combines strategic leadership, advanced market research, analytics, and stakeholder engagement.
• You will provide insights directly to executive leaders responsible for enrolment growth, academic portfolio development, international strategy, research and innovation, and institutional planning.
• You will partner with senior leaders across Marketing and Recruitment, Planning, Academic Divisions, and Research and Innovation to embed insights into decision‑making and planning processes.

Requirements / Eligibility

• r expectations and what matters to you in your overall package.
• A full description of your duties and the role is provided in the position description linked HERE .
• He kōrero mōu | About you You are an experienced insights or market research leader who enjoys turning data into meaningful stories that influence decision‑making.
• You are excited by the opportunity to build something new, establish best practice, and create a market research function that delivers real value across a large and complex organisation.
• If you have experience working in customer insights, consumer intelligence, commercial strategy, consulting, public sector insights, higher education strategy, or research agencies, we want to hear from you.