Research Manager; FTE

Salary: £46000-£50000

Hours: 37.5 hours per week 18 Month FTC

Reports to: Senior Insight Manager

Direct reports: There is potential for line management responsibility for an Insight Officer, supporting their development, overseeing elements of their work, and helping ensure high standards of research quality and delivery.

Location: Harlow, Essex. Easily commutable from London Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale Station. We offer a free minibus service to/from Harlow Town Train Station as well as free parking and EV charging on site.

Extra Information: Open to conversation on hybrid, flexible and compressed working arrangements.

We offer flexible and blended working within this role. The team works a minimum of two days a week from the office.

At the Motability Foundation we fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. We oversee the Motability Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year. We award grants to other charities and organisations who provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible.

We also carry out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all.

As Research Manager you will support the Senior Insight Manager, managing commissioned research and insight as part of the new insight function. You’ll play a key role in planning, commissioning and delivering high-quality research that supports the Foundation’s insight, policy and operational priorities.

You’ll work closely with colleagues across the organisation to translate evidence needs into well-designed research projects, manage external suppliers to deliver relevant and high‑quality work, and ensure findings are clearly communicated and used internally.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Working with internal stakeholders to scope research needs and develop clear research plans and briefs
• Commissioning and managing qualitative and quantitative research, ensuring quality, rigour, relevance and value for money
• Coordinating procurement activity for research services, including leading tender processes and supplier selection
• Managing relationships with external research agencies and consultants, overseeing delivery and quality assurance
• Synthesising findings from commissioned research and wider evidence to produce clear, accessible insight
• Facilitating the dissemination of research through reports, briefings, presentations and other outputs
• Ensuring research activity aligns with good practice, ethical standards and data protection requirements
• Contributing to shared insight resources and supporting collaboration across the insight function

This role will provide continuity and capacity during a defined period, requiring strong organisation, sound judgement and a collaborative approach.

You’re a dependable and experienced researcher who enjoys working collaboratively and getting things done well. You’re comfortable managing multiple projects, working with external suppliers, and supporting colleagues to make sense of evidence.

You bring a calm, practical approach to research delivery and are confident balancing quality, pace and stakeholder needs.

You’re likely to thrive in this role if you:

• Are a “safe pair of hands” who can take ownership of research delivery with minimal oversight
• Enjoy working with others to shape research questions and priorities
• Are confident managing suppliers and coordinating processes
• Communicate clearly and adapt insight for different audiences
• Value rigour, clarity and good research practice

We’re looking for someone with solid, hands‑on experience of commissioning and managing research who can add value quickly.

Must haves:

• Proven experience commissioning and managing qualitative and quantitative research
• Experience developing research plans, briefs and scopes in collaboration with stakeholders
• Experience procuring research services and managing external suppliers
• Strong ability to synthesise research…