Research Manager OR Associate Director

Are you an experienced healthcare market researcher looking for a role where you can take real ownership of projects, build strong client relationships and continue progressing your career? We’re working with a growing healthcare market research consultancy looking to appoint a Research Manager or Associate Director to join its team. The level can be shaped around the successful person’s experience, making this a great opportunity for either an established RM looking for their next move or someone already operating at AD level.

This is a senior, hands-on research role where you’ll have responsibility across the full project lifecycle, working closely with pharmaceutical and healthcare clients to deliver high-quality, commercially meaningful insights.

The role involves:

• Leading healthcare market research projects from initial brief through to final delivery
• Managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
• Developing research approaches and methodologies around client objectives
• Working across qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method research
• Building strong day-to-day relationships with pharmaceutical and healthcare clients
• Interpreting findings and turning research into clear, actionable recommendations
• Producing and delivering engaging client presentations
• Supporting and developing more junior members of the team
• Contributing to proposals, pitches and the development of existing client relationships
• Taking increasing responsibility for accounts and commercial activity at Associate Director level
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the wider business

We’re looking for someone with a strong background in healthcare/pharmaceutical primary market research, ideally gained within an agency or consultancy environment. You’ll ideally bring:

• Strong experience managing end-to-end healthcare market research projects
• Experience working with pharmaceutical, biotech or wider healthcare clients
• A good understanding of qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies
• The ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines and stakeholders
• Strong client management and communication skills
• Confidence interpreting research and identifying the wider commercial implications
• Experience presenting findings and recommendations to clients
• A collaborative approach and an interest in supporting junior colleagues
• Strong commercial awareness, with proposal and business development experience particularly valuable at Associate Director level

You don’t necessarily need to tick every box. The business is open to considering candidates at different stages of the Research Manager to Associate Director level and can tailor responsibilities accordingly.

Why join?

• There’s a genuine focus on creating an environment where people can develop their careers while still having flexibility and autonomy over how they work.
• Fully remote working – The role can be based anywhere in the UK, with travel into Manchester approximately once a month.
• Career development – Training and progression are taken seriously, with support to build a career path around your strengths and ambitions, whether that means developing deeper research expertise or moving further into leadership.
• International opportunities – There can be opportunities for secondments to the US for those interested in gaining international experience.
• Genuine flexibility – The culture is built around trust rather than micromanagement, giving you autonomy to manage your own workload and time. When work allows, the team is even encouraged to finish at 1pm on Fridays.
• Supportive culture – You’ll be joining an open, collaborative and inclusive team where people genuinely support one another and want their colleagues to succeed.

Benefits include:

• 10% annual bonus
• 25 days’ holiday, increasing to 28 days after 5 years’ service
• 5% matched pension contribution
• Fully remote working
• Monthly team time in Manchester
• Training and structured career development
• Potential US secondment opportunities
• Flexible working culture
• Early Friday finishes when workloads allow

If you’re an experienced healthcare market researcher looking for greater ownership, flexibility and a clear route for progression, this could be an excellent next step.