Research Manager

YouGov is an international research and data analytics group.

Our mission is to supply a continuous stream of accurate data and insight into what the world thinks, so that companies, governments and institutions can better serve the people and communities that sustain them. 

We have the best data and the best tools. We continuously challenge conventional approaches to research, and we disrupt our industry to ensure that our clients always get the best solutions.

We are driven by a set of shared values. We are fast, fearless and innovative. We work diligently to get it right. We are guided by accuracy, ethics and proven methodologies. We trust each other and bring these values into everything that we do. 

Each day, our highly engaged proprietary global panel of over 8 million people provides us with thousands of data points on consumer opinions, attitudes and behaviour. We combine this continuous stream of data with our research expertise to provide insights that enable intelligent decision-making and informed conversations.

With operations in the UK, North America, Mainland Europe, the Nordics, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, YouGov has one of the world’s largest research networks.

Are you our new Research Manager on the YouGov Research Team?

This key role will draw on a mix of people-management, commercial/product engagement, and quantitative research skills. 

You’ll be responsible for direct management of a small sub-team of Researchers who will in turn be managing the capacity, quality and output of sub-teams. Your skills as a people manager will be crucial in setting those teams up for success.

Your product management & commercial skills will assist you in working alongside product leaders in the creation, maintenance and delivery of research products. You will assist your leaders in selling and training on those products internally – ensuring the sales team are equipped to start conversations and assisting on the detail; and teams of researchers are ready to help service winning projects. 

You will design, run and deliver a range of custom, omnibus, global, B2C and B2B research projects, employing your personal specialisms where present and employing a mix of getting your hands dirty and delegating tasks where appropriate.

Day-to-day you will be working in a dynamic, fast paced environment with like-minded people that like to generate and celebrate success. We encourage and foster a “work hard, play hard” culture and recognize the challenges that come with Market Research, but we are a strong operation that is structured to make you successful in your role.

What will I be doing day to day?

• Research: Designing questionnaires and research/sample designs, often under time-constraints, recommending appropriate methods to meet clients’ research objectives, aiding in the reporting and communication of findings 
• Client communication: Liaising effectively with clients and collaborators whilst being the main day-to-day contact for both projects and particular clients
• Project management: Coordinating and managing different tasks to ensure projects run smoothly and effectively, and delivered accurately and on time
• People management: Ensuring your team is supported, challenged, and continuing to grow.
• Pricing: Costing quantitative projects (with some assistance) across B2B & B2C, domestic and international, and omnibus & targeted research, showing a developing understanding of how different project components are costed
• Stakeholder interaction: Where necessary, working with and managing research suppliers to ensure accurate data collection that is in-line with YouGov’s methods, whilst keeping costs reasonable
• Commercial responsiveness: Dealing with speculative enquiries, interpreting requirements of a research specification effectively, and being able to write proposals with minimal guidance in order to win projects
• Analysis and reporting: Accurately interpreting clients’ final data, employing attention to detail and knowledge of statistics to recognize when findings are inaccurate or unclear, and guiding them through the results in YouGov’s data analytics software
• Presentations and commercial experience: Visiting, calling and engaging with clients and would-be clients to get them excited about our research solutions

This is a time of change for YouGov – having rapidly grown over the last 20 years, we’re looking to the future and creating the correct structures to support our business to continue this level of growth. This role is an important part of helping manage this this period. We will be looking to you to help ensure stability and support within your team while also offering a fresh perspective as we design new processes and structures to help build a successful future for the company.

The role relies on excellent communication skills; you’ll be working with other YouGov teams, researchers and clients to ensure YouGov’s Research continues to grow on it’s amazing reputation and media presence. 

• 3-5 years of experience in market research
• Experience of simultaneously running multiple market research projects (including client contact, survey design and report writing)
• A strong understanding and experience of primary research across methods and sectors
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to use initiative, negotiate and influence
• Problem solving, analytical and numerical skills
• MS Office skills, IT proficiency and understanding of basic statistics
• Strong written and verbal communication skil

Demonstrated knowledge and experience

• People management experience, with the ability to coach, develop and mentor reports, including experience of managing difficult conversations
• A track record of high-quality quantitative research design and delivery across multiple methods
• Experience balancing priorities for multiple stakeholders
• Commercial/research acumen (including examples of commercial success and project troubleshooting)
• Experience of managing through change (desirable, not essential)
• Strong ability to mentor and coach

Technical skills and qualifications

• 3-5 years market research experience
• Quantitative research design; advanced analytics (e.g.max diff, conjoint etc.) a plus
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills
• Omnibus or fast-turn research experience a plus
• People management experience desired

Behavioral competencies

• Excellent people-management skills, with a passion for developing others 
• Ability to identify and effect change & improvements with those who report to you and on behalf of a whole team

What’s in it for me?

The opportunity to apply your research skills across a broad range of prestigious clients’ needs. YouGov’s Research team works together and with other teams to produce research for organisations from many sectors. Across business, the media and the general public, YouGov’s research is a trusted source of information.

You will work with the best – your teammates - and get to see your own research projects used in key decision making and to gain coverage UK media and beyond.

It’s a busy, fun, hard-working team where the right candidate will see their confidence and research ability grow and grow, leading to great progression in the field of data collection & research.