Description
You will be working in the newly formed Market Research function, with responsibility for both leading and supporting on the commissioning and managing of research projects, with a particular focus on quantitative research, as well as supporting and advising teams across the ICO on their research. You’ll work closely with qualitative researchers, insight specialists, and research managers within the function to deliver strategically important research programmes, and develop processes and initiatives to raise service standards within the department.
You’ll be collaborating closely with colleagues across the ICO, including in policy, economic analysis and corporate communications to ensure a joined up approach to research, insight and evidence gathering to build a research culture across the ICO. You will also support the team as they scope the needs of the organisation and identify evidence gaps that require research.
Key Responsibilities
1. Leading and supporting on procuring and managing quantitative market and social research, including quality control processes, supplier management and relationship building, oversight of key outputs, keeping colleagues updated and ensuring milestones are met.
2. Disseminating findings internally in compelling and engaging ways, including to senior colleagues.
3. Working with policy professionals across the ICO to champion the value and importance of research, identify priority areas for research, build ongoing relationships and ensuring early understanding of research needs.
4. Working collaboratively with colleagues to understand key policy concerns and the evidence required, and identify the most effective, timely and value for money research approaches to exploring those needs, including advising on the most appropriate methodology, sample etc.
5. Identifying opportunities for bringing together and disseminating research and evidence both internally and, where appropriate externally, including information gathered from external research sources.
6. Inform and educate colleagues on best practice and ensuring that high standards are adhered to.
7. Proactively develop market research expertise, keeping abreast of developments in quantitative research methods.
Essential criteria assessed at application stage
8. Strong track record in leading the design and delivery of quantitative market and social research projects, with relevant research experience (minimum of two years quantitative research experience), gained from a relevant research environment – for example within a research agency, public or private sector research team, think tank or academic institution.
9. Excellent research management skills with the experience of managing quantitative research projects from concept to deliverables, including sample design, questionnaire drafting, analysis of findings, managing supplier relationships, ensuring deadlines are met and outputs are high quality.
10. Experience of interpreting complex questions into clearly scoped research projects, including identifying research objectives, methodologies, samples, managing procurement processes and overseeing engaging and impactful deliverables.
11. Strong MS Excel skills for data analyses of large survey datasets.
12. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including being able to communicate research findings in a persuasive and compelling way to a range of stakeholders and the ability to foster and maintain effective relationships with ICO stakeholders, research agencies and external stakeholders.
13. Ability to draw together research findings into high quality outputs that tell a clear story and bring the issues being explored to life.
14. Knowledge and experience of research techniques beyond quantitative research e.g. qualitative or mixed methods.
15. Experience in using quantitative research software e.g. SPSS, Power BI, Smart Survey, Snap surveys.
Essential criteria assessed at interview
16. Excellent research management skills with the experience of managing quantitative research projects from concept to deliverables, including sample design, questionnaire drafting, analysis of findings, managing supplier relationships, ensuring deadlines are met and outputs are high quality.
17. Experience of interpreting complex questions into clearly scoped research projects, including identifying research objectives, methodologies, samples, managing procurement processes and overseeing engaging and impactful deliverables.
18. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including being able to communicate research findings in a persuasive and compelling way to a range of stakeholders and the ability to foster and maintain effective relationships with ICO stakeholders, research agencies and external stakeholders.
19. Ability to draw together research findings into high quality outputs that tell a clear story and bring the issues being explored to life.
20. Knowledge of a wide range of quantitative research techniques and the ways in which they can be most appropriately and responsibly used.
21. Knowledge and experience of research techniques beyond quantitative research e.g. qualitative or mixed methods.
22. Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.
If you have a disability or impairment and have difficulty using our online application system, please email the HR team at who can arrange for you to submit an application via an alternative method.
Closing Date
Please submit your CV by 23:59, Monday 6th May 2024
We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.