About you
This is a role for someone who enjoys the pace of agency research and is keen to apply their skills and develop their knowledge on a range of projects with a variety of colleagues and clients. We’re looking for someone who can quickly take ownership of complex projects, delivering high-quality outputs and managing multiple priorities confidently.
You’ll have experience delivering large-scale or high-profile UK surveys for government clients and can demonstrate either operating at a similar level or managing a demanding workload that shows you’re ready for the next step in your career.
You should be someone with integrity, who communicates well and has a calm and constructive approach. You’ll understand commercial implications, have some experience of managing others and be able to manage several projects concurrently, work under pressure and react positively as requirements change.
The role would suit someone who may have more of a quantitative focus with strong technical skills in statistical software (SPSS, R, or similar), with some qualitative exposure. You may have some evaluation experience, certainly a solid foundation and a desire to develop that understanding. It would be desirable to have experience of working on projects delivering Official Statistics, data quality assurance and advanced skills in data handling—e.g., weighting, complex sampling, statistical analysis. Experience of managing research projects with large scale CATI fieldwork would be beneficial.
We value fresh ideas on how to continue delivering to the highest quality. This is an opportunity to join a business that values input from all its staff and as a SRM you’ll apply your skills and build on the success of IFF.
About the role
About the opportunity
This is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Research Manager (SRM) with excellent quantitative skills to join our Education team.
The Education sector accounts for over a third of project work at IFF and delivers research and evaluation to inform policy and practice across the UK. We work with government bodies, notably the Department for Education, sector organisations and employers to provide evidence-based insights through large-scale surveys, qualitative studies, and complex evaluations. Our projects span early years, schools, apprenticeships, further and higher education, as well as a wide range of work on managed and irregular migration for the Home Office. By exploring these issues, we help stakeholders make informed decisions that improve outcomes for learners, educators, and society.
As a SRM you’ll take the lead role on a number of high-profile studies, working on large scale surveys for government clients. You’ll work with and learn from our Associate Directors on other complex projects and you’ll be managing a team of Research Executives (RE) and Senior Research Executives (SRE), overseeing timescales and budgets, as well as leading on research outputs and client liaison, offering valuable advice to clients at various stages of the project.
Working alongside our Directors you’ll attend new business pitches and work with the senior team to develop and build on success within your sectors as well as developing your career and expertise.
As an SRM at IFF part of your role will be to collaborate with our L&D Director and other members of the research team to help design and eventually deliver training to the wider research team.
Responsibilities
- Design complex questionnaires and topic guides.
- Overall responsibility for signing off specifications and data outputs.
- Analyse quantitative & qualitative data to produce insightful, in-depth and publishable reports.
- Produce thoughtful, creative & impactful presentations to deliver to clients.
- Lead efficient running of multiple projects through planning prioritisation and communication.
- Oversee projects with large-scale CATI fieldwork, ensuring quality and timely delivery.
- Apply advanced data manipulation techniques, including weighting and complex sampling.
- Supervise & delegate to project teams confidently, clearly and effectively.
- Review SRE and RE outputs to ensure accuracy and to feedback improvements.
- Be first point of contact for the client.
- Work positively and flexibly within project teams, to get the best out of everyone.
- Identify skill gaps & coordinate required training for team members.
Employee benefits
Competitive remuneration
- Competitive salary
- Pension – we’ll match contributions you make up to 5% of your basic salary
- Holiday – 28 days per year, in addition to bank holidays, with an additional day at 3 years and then 5 years service
Health & wellbeing
- Paycare healthcare and employee assistance scheme
- Flexible working policy, with part-time and remote options available. As well as the ability to work around our core hours (11-3), allowing you start earlier or finish later so it works for you
- Enhanced family leave policies – maternity and paternity
A sociable & supportive culture
- Quarterly team days and lunches
- Dedicated social and wellbeing committees who organise events throughout the year
- Multiple sports and interest groups to join
- 2 paid volunteering days
About IFF
IFF is an award-winning social and market research agency, which sits at the summit of UK public policy and social research, conducting many of the largest and highest profile studies in the sector. Because no two projects are the same, our experienced team provide tailor-made research solutions, adapting our approach to issues and audiences. Meaning the research we deliver is tailored to each client’s specific needs.
As a full-service agency, we offer a full suite of research and evaluation services, including data collection, data analysis and reporting, covering quantitative and qualitative methodologies. We have a range of expertise across our key sectors which are: Business & Enterprise; Education; Energy & Environment; Financial Services; Higher Education; Housing; Learning & Skills; Regulation; and Work, Welfare & Wellbeing
We’re really proud that time and time again we hear that the best thing about working here is our people. We attract and retain some of the most talented, friendly and interesting people within the industry. People with different ways of thinking and working, but with a shared goal of delivering impactful insight that makes a difference.
Now is an exciting time to join us, we’re embracing innovative ways of working and piloting progressive schemes to support our team and ensure they have a work life balance that really works for them.
