Principal Adviser – Insights in London

Principal Adviser – Insights in London

London Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Collingwood Advisory Limited

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead impactful market research projects for high-growth B2B media businesses.
  • Company: Join a values-driven team at Collingwood, shaping the future of advisory services.
  • Benefits: Permanent, full-time role with hybrid working and opportunities for career growth.
  • Other info: Contribute to innovative frameworks and tools while mentoring early-career team members.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact while collaborating with founders and CEOs in a dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: Extensive experience in qualitative and/or quantitative market research and strong project management skills.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Our Principal Advisers work directly with founders, CEOs, and Boards of high-growth B2B media businesses. The Principal Adviser – Insights uses deep market research expertise to help clients understand their markets and customers — and turn those findings into action. If you're an experienced researcher ready to do meaningful work in a fast-moving advisory environment, we'd like to hear from you.

Collingwood is growing, and we are looking for a Principal Adviser – Insights to join our UK Advisory team. This is a permanent, full-time role, designed for a senior research practitioner who wants to lead end-to-end Insights engagements, grow their own client portfolio, and contribute to the development of Collingwood’s research IP.

The role

You will lead the planning and delivery of Insights modules within Collingwood client engagements — from research design and fieldwork through to analysis, recommendations, and a final client workshop. You will work across qualitative and quantitative methodologies, covering customer needs research, market assessment and segmentation, brand perception, pricing, UX, persona creation, and more.

You will also play an active role in business development: building your network across the media and research communities, attending discovery meetings, identifying opportunities to expand Insights work within existing accounts, and contributing to the renewal and upsell process. This is not a purely delivery role — we want someone who brings commercial awareness alongside research expertise.

You will contribute actively to Collingwood’s IP, developing templates, tools, and frameworks that raise the quality and consistency of Insights work across the team.

Key responsibilities

  • Design and lead full Insights modules from brief to final workshop, running to time and budget
  • Lead client meetings and act as the primary point of contact for the Insights workstream
  • Carry out and/or oversee fieldwork across relevant methodologies
  • Develop final Observations and Recommendations and deliver them in a closing workshop
  • Keep the wider programme team updated throughout, ensuring the Insights module is fully aligned with the engagement

Business Development

  • Build and maintain networks across the media and research communities, staying current on industry trends
  • Attend industry networking events and actively input into discovery meetings
  • Identify opportunities to expand Insights work within existing Advisory client engagements
  • Contribute to the renewal process and identify upsell or cross-sell opportunities across practices

IP and Product Development

  • Develop and refine Insights templates, survey instruments, interview guides, and analysis frameworks for use across the team
  • Identify new product requirements based on client needs; work with the Chief Customer Officer to build them into the module suite
  • Contribute to thought leadership, content marketing, and firm events

Collaboration and Development

  • Work closely with Strategic Advisers, Client Directors, and Associate Advisers across engagements
  • Coach and develop early-career team members, including mentoring clients on undertaking research independently
  • Take AI Audit responsibility for deliverables, ensuring all outputs meet The Collingwood Way standard

About You

We are looking for a UK-based expert with extensive experience in market research — qualitative, quantitative, or both. You should be comfortable leading research engagements independently, contributing to BD, and developing frameworks and tools that others can use.

Essential

  • Highly experienced in qualitative and/or quantitative market research
  • Strong data analysis, report writing, and client communication skills
  • Proven ability to deliver findings workshops and present recommendations to senior audiences
  • Project management capability: able to run multiple Insights projects concurrently to schedule
  • Commercial awareness: able to identify growth opportunities within accounts and contribute to new business conversations
  • Experience in a senior or leadership research role — agency, in-house, or consulting

Preferred

  • Background in a research agency or in-house insights function
  • Experience in B2B research, particularly within information, media, or events businesses
  • Experience mentoring clients or teams on research methodology
  • Ideally 5+ years in a research delivery, insights leadership, or advisory role

Why Collingwood?

At Collingwood, everyone plays a role in shaping the future of the business. We are a values-driven team that thrives on collaboration — with each other and with our clients.

This role is based out of our Central London office on a hybrid basis. It is a permanent, full-time position offering real impact for ambitious businesses alongside the flexibility to suit your career stage.

Ready to help us scale? Apply now.

Key Information

  • Reports to: Chief Customer Officer
  • Working location: Hybrid (UK) (3+ days in office)
  • Department: Advisory
  • Hours: Full time

Principal Adviser – Insights in London employer: Collingwood Advisory Limited

Collingwood is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and values-driven work culture, where every team member contributes to shaping the future of the business. With a focus on professional growth, this role offers the opportunity to lead impactful research engagements while benefiting from a hybrid working model in Central London, allowing for both flexibility and meaningful contributions to high-growth B2B media businesses.
Collingwood Advisory Limited

Contact Detail:

Collingwood Advisory Limited Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Adviser – Insights in London

Network Like a Pro

Get out there and connect with industry folks! Attend networking events, join relevant online groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to people on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.

Show Off Your Expertise

When you get the chance to chat with potential employers or clients, make sure to showcase your market research skills. Share insights from past projects and how they’ve made an impact. This will help you stand out as a knowledgeable candidate who can add value.

Be Proactive in Business Development

Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you; go out and find them! Identify existing clients where you can expand your insights work and pitch your ideas. This shows initiative and a commercial mindset, which is super attractive to employers.

Apply Through Our Website

If you’re keen on joining us at Collingwood, make sure to apply through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in our company!

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Adviser – Insights in London

Market Research Expertise
Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research
Data Analysis
Report Writing
Client Communication Skills
Project Management
Commercial Awareness
Business Development
Insights Module Design
Workshop Facilitation
Mentoring
Networking
Framework Development
Thought Leadership

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal Adviser – Insights role. Highlight your relevant experience in market research and how it aligns with our needs at Collingwood. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to the table!

Showcase Your Expertise: Don’t hold back on showcasing your deep market research expertise! Share specific examples of past projects where you've led insights engagements or developed frameworks. This is your chance to shine and show us what you can do!

Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon unless it's industry-specific. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the heart of your qualifications.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application reaches us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!

How to prepare for a job interview at Collingwood Advisory Limited

Know Your Research Inside Out

Before the interview, dive deep into your past research projects. Be ready to discuss specific methodologies you’ve used, the insights you’ve uncovered, and how they’ve impacted clients. This will show your expertise and ability to lead Insights engagements.

Showcase Your Commercial Awareness

Prepare examples of how you've identified growth opportunities in previous roles. Think about times when your insights led to new business conversations or upselling opportunities. This will demonstrate that you understand the commercial side of research, which is crucial for this role.

Engage with Industry Trends

Stay updated on the latest trends in B2B media and market research. Bring up recent developments during your interview to show that you’re not just knowledgeable but also passionate about the industry. This can help you connect with the interviewers and position yourself as a thought leader.

Prepare for Client Scenarios

Think through potential client scenarios you might face in the role. Be ready to discuss how you would approach designing an Insights module or leading a client workshop. This practical preparation will highlight your project management skills and readiness to take on the responsibilities of the position.

Principal Adviser – Insights in London
Collingwood Advisory Limited
Location: London

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