Research Manager in Manchester

Dentsu is an integrated growth and transformation partner to the world’s leading organizations. Founded in 1901 in Tokyo, Japan, and now present in over 145 countries and regions, it has a proven track record of nurturing and developing innovations, combining the talents of its global network of leadership brands to develop impactful and integrated growth solutions for clients. Dentsu delivers end-to-end experience transformation (EX) by integrating its services across Media, CXM and Creative, while its business transformation (BX) mindset pushes the boundaries of transformation and sustainable growth for brands, people and society.

B2B International, a dentsu company, is a global B2B market research specialist dedicated to helping organisations unlock growth through evidence-based insight. For over 25 years, the company has partnered with leading brands to design and deliver bespoke research programmes that uncover the needs, behaviours, and decision-making processes of complex buying groups. As part of dentsu’s integrated B2B offering, B2B International combines deep research expertise with data, technology, and strategic consulting to deliver actionable insights that drive smarter decisions and measurable business outcomes.

Purpose of the Role

As a Research Manager at B2B International, you will lead the delivery of insight-led projects for global B2B clients, helping them make better business decisions. You will work across a range of B2B research projects including brand, customer experience, proposition, and market opportunity studies. You will manage projects end-to-end from research design through to delivery ensuring outputs are clear, actionable, and grounded in strong analysis. You will work closely with clients, taking ownership of day-to-day relationships and contributing to the development of long-term partnerships. Alongside project delivery, you will play a key role in developing junior team members and improving how we deliver work, including the use of new tools, technologies, and approaches.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day delivery of research projects, coordinating internal and external teams to ensure projects run smoothly and are delivered to timeline and quality standards.
• Analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative data, developing clear insights and conclusions that support client objectives.
• Apply appropriate analytical techniques, including statistical methods where relevant, to ensure robust and reliable outputs.
• Comfortable using AI and digital tools to support analysis, synthesis, and reporting.
• Design research materials (e.g. questionnaires and discussion guides) in line with project objectives, with input from project leads where required.
• Contribute to client presentations, delivering insights in a structured and engaging way.
• Support business development activity through participation in enquiry calls and contributing to proposal development.
• Ensure outputs are accurate, clearly communicated, and aligned to client expectations, supported by strong internal and client feedback.

Qualifications + Skills

• Strong analytical capability across quantitative and qualitative data.
• Ability to synthesise complex data into clear, structured insight and recommendations.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with confidence presenting to clients.
• Experience managing projects and working across multiple timelines and priorities.
• Strong organisational and team management skills.
• Experience with research and analysis tools (e.g. Q, R, Excel, statistical techniques).

What we offer

This is a permanent role. The team is based in our Manchester office but operates under flexible working arrangements. As well as a competitive salary, you’ll enjoy a benefits package that you can tailor to your needs.

Inclusion and Diversity

At Dentsu, we embrace diversity and inclusion, valuing the unique perspectives and contributions of every individual. We believe that diversity fuels creativity and innovation, benefiting our employees, partners, and communities. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic. Beyond recruitment, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. We recognise the importance of work-life balance and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements for all roles. If you need reasonable adjustments due to a disability or medical condition during our recruitment process, please contact us, quoting the reference number of the role that you are applying for. Your needs will be handled with respect and confidentiality to ensure an inclusive and accessible experience.