Principal Adviser – Insights

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

• Client Delivery
  • 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