Research Manager

Research Manager

Salary: £37,578 + Excellent Civil Service Benefits

Location:

Birmingham (Hybrid working - Non-contractual policy currently in operation with a minimum of 8 days per month office attendance)

Permanent | Full Time | 37 hours per week

Gi Group is delighted to be partnering with CCW (Consumer Council for Water) to support them in their recruitment of a Research Manager.

CCW is the passionate, independent voice representing water consumers in England & Wales. We support thousands of people each year, providing free advice and helping people to resolve their complaints with their water company in an easy, caring way. We champion everyone's needs and interests, completing and showcasing research that influences water companies, government, and regulators to make change happen. We are a government Arm's Length Body sponsored by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

CCW values:
We expect and support all CCW colleagues to embody and celebrate CCW's values through Positive Energy, Respect for all, Innovative Spirit, Delivery of our Promises and being Engaged as One (PRIDE).

The Research Manager is responsible for delivering CCW's research programme, ensuring that all research is robust, credible and aligned with organisational priorities. The role manages externally delivered research projects, and ensures findings are translated into actionable insight that strengthens CCW's evidence base and informs policy, engagement and consumer advocacy.

• Manage CCW's research portfolio from proposal through procurement, delivery
• Identifying and developing research solutions and opportunities for research innovation
• Translate research briefs into procurement specifications in line with the Procurement Act
• Represent CCW on externally led research working groups and workshops
• Ensure all research complies with the Market Research Society (MRS) Code of Conduct and maintain up‑to‑date research skills

• Identify key issues within research findings and shape the narrative for insight reports
• Join up evidence across projects, including consumer panels, identifying contradictions, gaps or new questions and proposing further testing
• Produce specific insight reports throughout the year, grounded in robust research

• Identify comparative engagement approaches used by water companies during business planning, highlighting gaps, inconsistencies and good practice
• Provide evidence‑based recommendations to strengthen consumer engagement across the sector

• Project management experience
• Recent experience in customer research and a range of research techniques
• Educated to degree level (or equivalent)
• Member of the Market Research Society, or willingness to obtain membership within six months
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret qualitative and quantitative findings
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Research development skills and strong IT capability

• Hybrid working policy - non contractual policy of minimum of 8 days per month office‑based
• 25 days annual leave plus 10½ days public and privilege holidays
• Flexi time is available, with the ability to accrue and take time off in lieu
• Generous Civil Service Pension
• Health & Fitness allowance
• Paid allowance days for voluntary work
• Wellbeing Hour once a month
• Onsite coffee shop
• Free eye test every 2 years and annual flu jab

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