Market Insight Manager

Role

Market Insight Manager

Grade 7: £37,694 - £47,389 per annum

Full‑time (35 hours per week) open‑ended.

33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday).

Reporting to the Head of Market Research & Analysis, this role involves planning and carrying out market insight activities including focus groups and surveys, making the most of the data these produce, in addition to conducting desk‑based research into student trends across subjects and countries which will inform growth in student recruitment in line with our Strategy 2035 ambitions.

• Lead market research and insight generation for various projects such as programme development, demand analysis (student, industry, market), student journey.
• Manage the end‑to‑end programme development lifecycle, from initial proposal through PMB governance to launch, delivering clear reporting for senior stakeholders.
• Drive portfolio performance through significant contributions to the annual Portfolio Review, synthesising data into actionable insights and KPIs.
• Design and deliver qualitative and quantitative research (including student and stakeholder engagement), leading initiatives such as the Student Insight Community.
• Produce high‑quality insight reports and analysis to support recruitment, marketing, and strategic decision‑making, including global surveys and school‑ or discipline‑level reports.
• Lead and coordinate market insight projects and data resources across the institution, ensuring high standards, effective use of subscriptions, and alignment with strategic priorities.

• Educated to at least SCQF level 7 or similar or equivalent practical experience in the workplace.
• Significant research experience; from designing research projects, including methodologies to gathering, analysing and presenting large amounts of information from multiple sources.
• Experience or familiarity with various qualitative research methods.
• Competent in the use of relevant IT packages.
• Analytical problem solving and report writing skills.
• Experience presenting research findings to stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately in a dynamic, changing and pressured environment.
• Demonstrates a professional proactive approach.

• Experience of conducting qualitative research.
• Experience of Higher Education sector.
• Data analysis capabilities.
• Experience of relationship building with senior stakeholders.

Heriot‑Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all. Heriot‑Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from under‑represented groups.