Research manager

Job Description

Company Description Pi Insight is a specialist travel retail data and insight consultancy working with global brands, retailers and trade associations across airports, border stores and cruise channels.

Our work spans shopper research, data processing, dashboard development and strategic insight reporting. We operate in a fast-moving, data-driven environment where structure, precision and reliability are critical to delivering high-quality insight to our clients.

As we continue to grow, we are looking for a Research Manager to support our rapidly increasing consumer research function. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about understanding consumer behaviour and transforming research findings into actionable business recommendations. The successful candidate will manage a range of quantitative and qualitative research projects from proposal through to final delivery, working closely with clients to answer strategic business questions and drive better decision making.

Role Description The Research Manager will lead end-to-end research projects, from initial brief and proposal through to delivery of findings and recommendations. In this full-time role based in York, the Research Manager will design research methodologies, develop questionnaires and discussion guides, and oversee data collection and analysis. The role includes managing project timelines, budgets, and resources, while coordinating with internal teams and external suppliers as needed. The Research Manager will synthesize quantitative and qualitative data into clear, actionable insights and prepare client-ready reports and presentations. This role will also involve direct client communication to understand objectives, present results, and support strategic decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end quantitative and qualitative research projects.
• Design questionnaires, discussion guides and research methodologies.
• Lead project delivery, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Analyse research findings and identify commercially relevant insights.
• Produce high-quality reports, presentations and client deliverables.
• Present findings and recommendations to clients and stakeholders.
• Support proposal writing and methodology development.
• Work closely with clients to understand research objectives and business challenges.
• Manage relationships with fieldwork agencies and research suppliers.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of research products, tracking programmes and thought leadership initiatives.
• Support junior team members where appropriate.

Skills & Experience

• Minimum 3-5 years' experience within a market research agency
• Strong understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Experience designing questionnaires and discussion guides.
• Strong analytical and interpretation skills.
• Experience writing insight-led reports and presentations.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong project management capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Commercially aware with the ability to connect research findings to business outcomes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel.

Desirable Experience

• FMCG, retail, shopper or consumer insights experience.
• Experience managing international research projects.
• Travel Retail or Duty Free sector experience.
• Familiarity with segmentation, brand tracking, shopper research and innovation studies.
• Experience working with online research platforms and survey programming tools.

What We Offer

• Flexible hybrid and remote working.
• Opportunity to work with leading global brands.
• Varied and interesting international research projects.
• High levels of client exposure and responsibility.
• Supportive and collaborative team culture.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.