Research & Insights Manager

About the Role

The Research & Insight Manager will help The FA make better, evidence-based decisions by delivering high-quality research and translating evidence into clear, actionable insight. The role leads end-to-end quantitative and qualitative research across strategic and operational priorities, with likely focus on Coaching, Stadium experience and Grassroots. Acting as a trusted insight partner, the postholder ensures research goes beyond describing what is happening to explain why it matters and what should happen next.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method research, selecting robust and proportionate methodologies for different business questions.
• Work with stakeholders to define and challenge research briefs, ensuring activity is focused on genuine organisational and decision-making needs.
• Design high-quality research materials including research briefs, questionnaires and discussion guides.
• Analyse and synthesise research alongside relevant secondary, behavioural and organisational data to develop a clear evidence-based point of view.
• Translate complex evidence into compelling stories and present insight confidently to senior and other audiences, identifying the ‘So What?’ and ‘Now What?’ and providing clear, practical recommendations.
• Build trusted stakeholder relationships, influence decisions through evidence, constructively challenge assumptions, and support stakeholders to activate insight by embedding recommendations into strategies, programmes, products and services and evaluating their impact.
• Manage multiple projects, project budgets and external agencies, ensuring quality, value for money and timely delivery.
• Apply high standards of research ethics, inclusion, participant welfare and data protection, and use AI-enabled research, automation and emerging methodologies responsibly with human judgement and validation.
• Share insight and good practice across The FA, helping reduce duplication and increase the organisational value of research.
• Execute additional tasks as required to meet the FA’s changing priorities and comply with all company policies and procedures to maintain the highest standards of health, safety and well-being.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Substantial experience in research and insight, gained within a client-side organisation and/or research agency or insight consultancy.
• Strong experience independently leading end-to-end quantitative and qualitative research, including tracking studies and ad hoc research.
• Comprehensive methodological knowledge and the judgement to select appropriate approaches, considering sampling, bias, data quality and limitations.
• Ability to be both a hands-on researcher, for example scripting and launching in-house research, and a highly competent consultant for externally commissioned work.
• Excellent analytical and synthesis skills, with the ability to bring together different sources of evidence.
• Proven ability to turn research into clear implications, recommendations and actions that influence decisions.
• Excellent storytelling, written communication, data visualisation and presentation skills.
• Strong stakeholder partnering and influencing skills, including the confidence to constructively challenge senior stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities autonomously within a complex and changing organisation.
• Experience briefing, commissioning and managing research agencies, suppliers and budgets.
• Sound understanding of research ethics, inclusive research and data-protection responsibilities.
• Practical awareness of AI-enabled research and automation, including responsible use, validation and limitations.
• A collaborative, curious and objective approach, with a strong focus on continuous improvement and organisational impact.
• Advanced numeracy and literacy skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.

Preferred Skills

• A passion for football and/or knowledge of Grassroots sport.
• Detailed knowledge of data visualisation dashboards, for example Power BI or Tableau.
• Experience using research and insight related AI tools or platforms.
• Previous experience conducting sports related insight work.
• Advanced analytics skills.

Workplace

• Based at Wembley Stadium.
• Hybrid working model: 2-3 days in the office and 2-3 days working from home.
• Occasional visits to St George’s Park and travel to other stakeholder organisations may be required.
• The expectation is to work from your contractual location for part of the week, and as and when required by the team; remaining days can be worked remotely.
• The hybrid working model may be adjusted in future if deemed necessary.
• The contractual location of this role can be found on the FA Careers page.

Salary

• Competitive salary.

Benefits & Perks

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, to connect and learn with colleagues and support mental health and well-being.
• Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St George’s Park.
• Private medical cover funded by The FA.
• A contributory pension scheme.
• An additional ‘Thank You’ day’s leave, volunteering days, and 25 days of annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract).
• A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.
• Opportunities to develop and grow in the role.

About the Company

The FA is committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles. It offers unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, the home of English Football, and a world-class Elite Performance Centre at St George’s Park in Staffordshire, which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders. The FA is a diverse workplace that aspires to represent football across the country and actively promotes inclusion and diversity.

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