Qualitative Research Manager

Research Manager (Qualitative)
£38–41k
London or Leeds (Hybrid – min. 2 days in office)

I’m working with a well-established independent research agency that’s looking for a strong qualitative researcher to join their team at Research Manager level.
They’re a small but growing agency (~25 people) with offices in London and Leeds, working with major global brands across FMCG, retail, beauty and consumer sectors. The work is varied and fast-paced, spanning innovation, brand strategy, creative development and communications research.
This is a great opportunity for either a strong SRE ready to step up or someone who has recently moved into an RM role and is looking for more responsibility and client exposure.

The role
You’ll be working across a range of ad hoc qualitative projects, often running multiple projects at once and getting involved in the full research lifecycle.

Responsibilities will include:
• Managing projects from brief through to delivery
• Writing proposals and shaping research approaches
• Designing discussion guides and research materials
• Moderating IDIs, focus groups and online communities
• Managing fieldwork and suppliers
• Analysing insights and developing compelling narratives
• Presenting findings to clients (online and face-to-face)

A lot of the work sits within innovation pipelines, including concept testing, product development, creative development and communications.
You’ll be client-facing from early on, often attending briefings with senior team members and taking ownership of key parts of projects.

What they’re looking for:
• ~3–4 years’ experience in qualitative market research
• A confident moderator (IDIs, groups, online communities)
• Experience managing projects and juggling multiple workstreams
• Strong storytelling and presentation skills
• Comfortable working closely with clients
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment

Nice to have:
• Innovation research experience
• FMCG / consumer sector exposure
• Interest in creative outputs (design, video editing etc.)
• Awareness of emerging AI tools in research

The team & culture
This is a close-knit and collaborative team with a deliberately flat structure, with small project teams (usually 2–3 people) where everyone contributes across the research process.
The agency places a big emphasis on training and development, with regular learning sessions and opportunities to develop new skills.
They also have a strong office culture with regular socials, Monday breakfasts and a genuinely friendly team environment.

💬 Salary: £38–41k (flexible depending on experience)

Interview process:
1️⃣ Teams interview
2️⃣ In-person task + team meeting

They’re looking to start interviews end of March / early April.

If this sounds like something you’d like to hear more about, feel free to drop me a message or send your CV over to roshni@elizabethnorman.com

Please note that this role is unable to offer visa sponsorship