Research Manager: AI-Driven Social Insights (SaaS) in London

Research Manager: AI-Driven Social Insights (SaaS) in London

London Full-Time 50000 - 65000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Ipsos

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead insight-driven projects using AI tools on a cutting-edge SaaS platform.
  • Company: Join Synthesio at Ipsos, a leader in social intelligence.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days leave, pension contributions, and flexible working options.
  • Other info: Collaborative team culture with opportunities for professional growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact with innovative research and client relationships.
  • Qualifications: Experience in social listening, digital analytics, and project management.

The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.

Are you a strategic research manager skilled in social listening and digital analytics? Do you want to lead insight-driven projects on a cutting-edge SaaS social intelligence platform, manage client relationships, grow revenue, and embed AI tools into research workflows? Join Synthesio at Ipsos and make an impact!

As Research Manager at Synthesio (Ipsos' social intelligence business) you'll lead end-to-end insight projects using our proprietary SaaS platform that ingests social, news, blogs, forums, reviews and search from 800M+ sources. You'll be the client-facing lead for insight projects and platform accounts - designing approaches, overseeing project teams, ensuring quality control of questionnaires, discussion guides and reports, and driving profitable delivery on time and to brief. You'll write proposals and develop client relationships to contribute to revenue growth, manage project finances and mentor junior colleagues. This is a high-impact role on a collaborative, people-first team where you'll combine methodological rigour, commercial acumen and practical AI adoption to deliver actionable brand, product and trend intelligence for global clients.

About you

  • Proven track record in social listening / digital analytics and managing research projects and SaaS accounts
  • Strong client management and stakeholder communication skills; confident as the main client contact
  • Excellent project leadership: organisation, prioritisation and delivery to budget and deadline
  • Commercial mindset: experience costing projects, monitoring budgets and contributing to growth
  • Practical experience evaluating and implementing AI-powered tools and automation for research tasks
  • Solid understanding of mixed-method digital research (social, search, ratings & reviews; quantitative & qualitative)
  • Curious, collaborative, detail-oriented and resilient with a drive for continuous learning

Essential skills

  • Direct experience with social listening / digital analytics platforms and search/review analysis tools
  • Proven ability to lead end-to-end research projects and manage multi-disciplinary teams
  • Strong numeracy and analytical skills for interpreting complex datasets and presenting insights
  • Excellent written and verbal communication; experience preparing proposals and client deliverables
  • Project financial management: accurate costing, budget monitoring and profitability focus
  • Practical use of AI-enabled research tools for data analysis, synthesis and workflow automation

Desirable skills

  • Knowledge of AI / machine learning concepts relevant to research (predictive modelling, sentiment analysis)
  • Experience producing high-impact reports, presentations and strategic recommendations for senior clients
  • Prior experience in talent development, mentoring or people management
  • Background working with global or multi-market clients and cross-functional teams
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite at an advanced level and additional analytics tools

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.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.

Research Manager: AI-Driven Social Insights (SaaS) in London employer: Ipsos

At Synthesio, part of Ipsos, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and people-first culture. As a Research Manager, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including 25 days of annual leave and professional development opportunities, all while working in a hybrid environment that values flexibility. Join us to lead impactful projects in a dynamic setting where your contributions will drive meaningful insights for global clients.

Ipsos

Contact Details:

Ipsos Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Research Manager: AI-Driven Social Insights (SaaS) in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or case studies showcasing your past projects, especially those involving social listening and AI tools. This will help you stand out during interviews.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for the interview by researching the company and its clients. Understand their needs and think about how your experience can help them grow. We want to see your enthusiasm!

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget 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 take that extra step.

We think you need these skills to ace Research Manager: AI-Driven Social Insights (SaaS) in London

Social Listening
Digital Analytics
Client Management
Stakeholder Communication
Project Leadership
Budget Monitoring
AI-Powered Tools Implementation

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Research Manager role. Highlight your experience in social listening and digital analytics, and show us how your skills align with our needs at Synthesio.

Showcase Your Projects:When detailing your past projects, focus on your leadership and client management skills. We want to see how you've successfully managed research projects and delivered insights that made an impact.

Be Clear and Concise:In your written application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and structure your thoughts logically. This will help us understand your ideas and how you approach problem-solving.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you're keen to join our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Ipsos

Know Your Tools

Familiarise yourself with the social listening and digital analytics platforms that Synthesio uses. Be ready to discuss how you've used similar tools in past projects, especially any AI-powered solutions you've implemented.

Showcase Your Client Management Skills

Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed client relationships in previous roles. Highlight your communication skills and how you’ve ensured client satisfaction while delivering projects on time and within budget.

Demonstrate Project Leadership

Be ready to talk about your experience leading end-to-end research projects. Discuss your approach to organisation, prioritisation, and how you ensure quality control throughout the project lifecycle.

Emphasise Your Commercial Acumen

Think about how you've contributed to revenue growth in past roles. Prepare to discuss your experience with project costing, budget monitoring, and how you’ve driven profitability in your projects.