Research & Insights Manager

The Research & Insight Manager will help The FA make better, evidence-based decisions by delivering high-quality research and translating evidence into clear, actionable insight. The role leads end-to-end quantitative and qualitative research across strategic and operational priorities, with likely focus on Coaching, Stadium experience and Grassroots. Acting as a trusted insight partner, the postholder ensures research goes beyond describing what is happening to explain why it matters and what should happen next.

• Lead end-to-end quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method research, selecting robust and proportionate methodologies for different business questions.
• Work with stakeholders to define and challenge research briefs, ensuring activity is focused on genuine organisational and decision-making needs.
• Design high-quality research materials including research briefs, questionnaires and discussion guides.
• Analyse and synthesise research alongside relevant secondary, behavioural and organisational data to develop a clear evidence-based point of view.
• Translate complex evidence into compelling stories and present insight confidently to senior and other audiences, identifying the 'So What?' and 'Now What?' and providing clear, practical recommendations.
• Build trusted stakeholder relationships, influence decisions through evidence, constructively challenge assumptions, and support stakeholders to activate insight by embedding recommendations into strategies, programmes, products and services and evaluating their impact.
• Manage multiple projects, project budgets and external agencies, ensuring quality, value for money and timely delivery.
• Apply high standards of research ethics, inclusion, participant welfare and data protection, and use AI-enabled research, automation and emerging methodologies responsibly with human judgement and validation.
• Share insight and good practice across The FA, helping reduce duplication and increase the organisational value of research.
• Execute additional tasks as required to meet the FA's changing priorities and comply with all company policies and procedures to maintain the highest standards of health, safety and well-being.

• Substantial experience in research and insight, gained within a client-side organisation and/or research agency or insight consultancy.
• Strong experience independently leading end-to-end quantitative and qualitative research, including tracking studies and ad hoc research.
• Comprehensive methodological knowledge and the judgement to select appropriate approaches, considering sampling, bias, data quality and limitations.
• Ability to be both a hands-on researcher, for example scripting and launching in-house research, and a highly competent consultant for externally commissioned work.
• Excellent analytical and synthesis skills, with the ability to bring together different sources of evidence.
• Proven ability to turn research into clear implications, recommendations and actions that influence decisions.
• Excellent storytelling, written communication, data visualisation and presentation skills.
• Strong stakeholder partnering and influencing skills, including the confidence to constructively challenge senior stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities autonomously within a complex and changing organisation.
• Experience briefing, commissioning and managing research agencies, suppliers and budgets.
• Sound understanding of research ethics, inclusive research and data-protection responsibilities.
• Practical awareness of AI-enabled research and automation, including responsible use, validation and limitations.
• A collaborative, curious and objective approach, with a strong focus on continuous…