Market Research and Insight Officer

Overview

Department Marketing & Communications Department
Location Joseph Priestley Building
Salary £38,050 to £44,131 per annum
Permanent
Post Type Full Time
Release Date 25 June 2026
Closing Date 23.59 hours BST on Wednesday 15 July 2026
Reference M126021

About Birmingham City University

At Birmingham City University, we are a diverse and inclusive learning community of over 31,400 students from more than 120 countries. We aim to become an exemplar anchor institution, creating and sharing knowledge for a better and more inclusive society. We are committed to providing a transformational educational experience, supporting world-class research, and fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment for our staff.

Recognised as one of the UK’s Top 250 employers (Financial Times & Statista), we pride ourselves on being a place where colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to grow their careers while contributing to the success of our students and communities.

Our student demographic reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Birmingham itself, with a significant proportion of students from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and the majority of our home students coming from the West Midlands. This diversity is a strength, and it calls for a workforce that is equipped to challenge deficit narratives and thinking — those assumptions that position students from underrepresented groups as lacking rather than recognising their assets, strengths and potential.

By embracing this perspective, we aim to create an environment where all students and colleagues can thrive, and where our work contributes positively to the social, cultural and economic life of Birmingham and beyond.

We are seeking a Market Research and Insight Officer to join our Marketing, Recruitment & Communications Department (Market Insight team), playing a key role in shaping how the University understands and responds to its markets, audiences and competitive landscape.

In this role, you will deliver insight that directly influences student recruitment, marketing strategy and academic planning. You’ll design and deliver research projects, work with a range of quantitative and qualitative data sources, and turn findings into clear, actionable recommendations. Working closely with marketing, recruitment and academic colleagues, you’ll help ensure decisions are driven by a deep understanding of student behaviour, market demand and emerging opportunities.

• Design and deliver qualitative and quantitative research projects to support student recruitment, marketing activity and academic planning
• Analyse and interpret a range of data sources, including application trends, audience insight and market intelligence, providing clear recommendations
• Produce high-quality reports and presentations that communicate complex findings through engaging insight storytelling
• Conduct primary research activities including surveys, focus groups and interviews, and manage external research agencies where required

• Experience delivering end-to-end qualitative and quantitative research using appropriate methodologies
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and synthesise complex data into actionable insight
• Proven ability to communicate research findings clearly through reports, presentations and data visualisation
• Ability to influence decision-making through evidence-based recommendations and stakeholder engagement
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities to deadlines
• Strong understanding of market research methodologies and audience insight
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Awareness of the UK higher education landscape and student decision-making factors

• Experience applying research within higher education, public or regulated sectors
• Familiarity with statistical or quantitative analysis tools
• Experience using survey platforms (e.g. Qualtrics, Smart Survey, Snap Surveys)
• Experience developing audience segmentation, personas or journey insight
• Experience managing or coordinating research projects with…