Research Manager

About Be the Business

Be the Business is an independent charity that exists to help business leaders figure out what greater productivity means to them. It has already added £500m to the productivity of the firms it has worked with. We work with the entire business community to share what works for today’s best businesses with every company that wants to learn and improve

“Boosting productivity is the greatest economic challenge of our generation and is the route to economic growth and improved standards of living.” Sir Charlie Mayfield, Chair of Be the Business.

Job Purpose:

To design, manage, and deliver research programmes that further the understanding of small business productivity.

We have recently signed a new contract that involves executing a variety of exciting research pilots to deepen our understanding of small business productivity, focusing on technology adoption. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing and delivering these pilots with the support of the wider team. 

Key Responsibilities:

Project management

• Lead tendering processes and contract negotiations with suppliers.
• Develop, maintain, and update detailed project plans.
• Manage project budgets to ensure financial efficiency and accountability.

Research design

• Build upon existing research and frameworks in the field.
• Use the theory of change to design comprehensive research projects.
• Accurately identify and allocate necessary resources for project delivery.

Programme management 

• Execute research projects, including the recruitment of participants.
• Commission necessary resources and oversee pilot delivery.
• Ensure rigorous data collection processes are in place.

Stakeholder management

• Provide regular updates to funders regarding project progress.
• Manage expectations and project scope while maintaining stakeholder engagement and enthusiasm.

Evaluation 

• Collaborate with internal teams or external evaluation partners to assess the impact of the research pilots.

Amplification

• Work with the Be the Business team to disseminate findings both internally and externally.
• Contribute to the broader small business knowledge base.

SMB Engagement

• Organise and deliver in-person and online clinics and workshops for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Additional responsibilities

• Be the Business is a small organisation and so employees are expected to get involved in a wide range of activities. These may include marketing, contracting and supplier relations and partnership management in addition to a typical research manager responsibility.
• Please note this is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities and may be revised from time to time as per business needs.

Person specification

• Strong research background 
• Project/programme management experience 

• Good problem-solving and analytical thinker 

• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail 

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and writing skills 

Ideal candidate

• This role is ideal for a research manager with extensive experience in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies and strong program or project management skills.
• Experience in UX design, marketing, or behaviour change research is advantageous.
• The ideal candidate enjoys managing projects from start to finish and is adept at handling complex stakeholder relationships.

The Research Manager will be part of a small but highly respected team, including the Head of Research and Insight and the Senior Insight and Evaluation Manager. Given the team's geographical spread, a preference for remote work is beneficial. 

What we’re offering you 

• We're a mission-driven, entrepreneurial team, and we thrive on leading and driving 

• Projects that will positively impact UK businesses and the economy 

• Competitive salary and benefits 

When does the job start? We're looking for someone to get stuck in right away.  

What working flexibility is there? We're pretty progressive when it comes to working patterns and locations, so don't let that hold you back.  

What is the holiday allowance? We provide 30 days holiday, plus bank holidays (pro-rated for part time).   

What is a working week? This is a full-time role (35 hours a week)   

What is the contract duration? This is a permanent contract.

What is the salary? For this role we're offering a salary of £41,000 to £45,000 per annum   

Application process

Interested candidates should submit a CV and answer these two questions included in the application form: 
Q1. What motivates you to apply for this position? (max. 250 words)

Q2. How does your experience align with the requirements of this role? (max. 250 words)

N.B applicants that do not include answers to the above questions will not be considered.

The closing date for applications is midday on Friday 1st November 2024.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early once a successful candidate is appointed.