Research & Evaluation Director - Trade, Innovation & Enterprise

Make your mark at Ipsos!

Research & Evaluation Director – Trade, Innovation & Enterprise

Do you have expertise in leading, delivering and directing large scale, complex quantitative and mixed-method research projects including large-scale surveys and evaluations for public sector clients with the trade, innovation and enterprise policy areas?

If you have this essential experience and expertise then Ipsos Public Affairs has a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded Research & Evaluation Director for our Trade, Innovation & Enterprise (TIE) team.

What is in it for you?

This is a unique career proposition where you will get the opportunity to:

• Work with prestigious clients - Department for Business, Innovation, Science & Trade, HM Revenue & Customs, Innovate UK and British Business Bank.
• Grow an area of our TIE business - Lead complex research and evaluation proposals and major bids.
• Lead on business strategy, financial performance and growth
• Lead and direct large complex projects
• Develop future talent
• Innovate – champion use and adoption of AI tools
• Build your profile through thought leadership, publications and external engagement

• Make an impact - Our work has a direct bearing on the decisions made by our clients. We research and evaluate some of the key policy challenges affecting businesses and economic growth

The Role:

• These are the types of things you can expect to be doing:

• Responsibility for growing an area of our TIE business, including developing strategic client relationships and securing new opportunities.
• Leading complex research and evaluation proposals and major bids.
• Directing large and complex quantitative and mixed-method research projects, including standalone surveys and surveys conducted as part of wider evaluation programmes, covering the full project lifecycle from design through to analysis, reporting and recommendations.
• Acting as a trusted adviser to senior clients and partners, developing long-term relationships and identifying emerging opportunities.
• Signing off deliverables (questionnaires, topic guides, stimulus materials, analysis frameworks, presentations and reports) which meet clients’ and stakeholders’ objectives.
• Leading business strategy, financial performance and growth across an area of the TIE business.
• Contributing to the successful running of our team through adding to our positive, supportive, enthusiastic environment where people are encouraged to challenge themselves to develop their skills.
• Developing future talent through training and mentoring, helping others build research and leadership capability.
• Building Ipsos' profile through thought leadership, publications and external engagement.
• Championing the use of AI tools and agents, and innovative methods, to improve quality and efficiency.
• Working across Ipsos teams and client sectors to develop innovative research and evaluation approaches and create new growth opportunities.

Essential Experience:

• Excellent quantitative research skills, with experience designing and delivering complex quantitative research programmes for public sector clients, including large-scale surveys with businesses and other audiences.
• Experience of qualitative and mixed-method research approaches and how they can be applied alongside quantitative evidence to address policy questions.
• Ability to interpret complex evidence and draw out clear narrative, insight and recommendations to inform client decision-making.

• Proven track record of winning and leading major public sector research and evaluation proposals and developing research solutions to address complex strategic policy challenges.

• Experience leading business growth through developing client relationships, identifying opportunities and securing new work.
• Proven ability to lead and grow a team, client account or business area, with responsibility for commercial performance and delivery.

• Strong understanding of one or more TIE policy areas and the ability to provide strategic advice to clients and stakeholders.

• Proven ability to develop talent through training, mentoring and leadership of high-performing teams.

Desirable skills:

• An understanding of evaluation approaches and their application within policy research, including experience of working within mixed-method evaluation programmes.
• Strong network of partners to support bidding and delivery.
• Experience championing methodological innovation, AI or new approaches that improve quality, efficiency or client impact.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you as an individual. Our standard benefits include 25 days annual leave, pension contribution, income protection and life assurance. In addition, there are a range health & wellbeing, financial benefits and professional development opportunities.

We have a hybrid approach to work and ask people to be in the office or with clients for 3 days per week. We appreciate you may have commitments outside of work and will consider flexible working applications - please highlight what you are looking for when you make your application.

We are committed to equality, treating people fairly, promoting a positive and inclusive working environment and ensuring we have diversity of people and views. We recognise that this is important for our business success - a more diverse workforce will enable us to better reflect and understand the world we research and ultimately deliver better research and insight to our clients. We are proud to be a member of the Disability Confident scheme, certified as a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. We provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Your application will be reviewed by someone from our Talent Team who will be in touch either way to let you know the outcome.

Ready to have an impact? Apply now!