Research Manager - Applied Social in London

Allset conducts applied research in climate‑exacerbated disaster areas. The team will start with pilots in Indonesia, Brazil, and Germany, with a longer‑term ambition to work across 6–7 countries.

Vision
A world where extreme weather events are well understood by the communities who experience them and people have agency over the solutions that address them.

Mission
To conduct research focused on the lived experience of extreme weather events and draw upon these lessons to improve preparedness and adaptation efforts, as well as broader education and advocacy opportunities for climate change mitigation.

What we aim to do
We aim to work in communities deeply affected by climate‑related disasters to understand how lived experiences shape perceptions of climate change, grounded in the values and priorities people already hold. We need to go the full distance with these communities, give them agency to remake the places they live and become advocates for the wider transition. By understanding the underlying values—whether they relate to freedom, safety, community, or identity—we explore how climate action can be framed as a means of protecting what people already care about, rather than something imposed from the outside.

Our focus is not on messaging alone, but on learning from each event—what resonates, what alienates, and what helps people make sense of climate change in their own terms. From these lessons, we develop research‑backed recommendations and resources that can support more effective public engagement.

ONE
Our research uses value‑based segmentation which we have now tested in 17 countries to examine how different societal groups understand and respond to climate issues—an approach rarely applied to environmental communication. This methodology provides new insights into the diverse motivations that drive people’s connection to nature and their openness to climate action.

TWO
We work collaboratively with researchers, local authorities, media, and community leaders to reflect on how public communication around extreme weather can be more constructive, inclusive, and aligned with local values.

THREE
Through convenings and workshops, we create spaces for dialogue across different sectors of society, with the goal of fostering mutual understanding and shared learning.

Allset is seeking an experienced and driven Research Manager to lead human‑centered research in the context of extreme weather events. The Research Manager will lead the design, execution, and delivery of complex research projects across multiple geographies, often involving sensitive topics and close engagement with affected communities. The role requires someone who can translate real‑world practitioner needs into robust and ethically grounded research designs, manage research implementation end‑to‑end, and ensure findings are communicated responsibly and clearly.

The successful candidate will be comfortable operating in dynamic environments, building fit‑for‑purpose processes and methodological approaches where needed, and embedding ethical considerations throughout the full research lifecycle.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and delivery of mixed‑methods research projects from inception to dissemination.
• Translate practitioner and organisational needs into clear, feasible, and ethically robust research questions and designs.
• Ensure methodological rigour while adapting approaches to diverse contexts and evolving constraints.
• Oversee qualitative and quantitative analysis to generate clear, relevant, and actionable insights.
• Synthesise complex evidence into concise narratives tailored to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Take ownership of multiple research projects, managing priorities, timelines, and resources effectively.
• Manage relationships with field agencies, enumerators, and partners, ensuring quality, ethics, and timelines.
• Embed ethical considerations throughout the research lifecycle.
• Identify, brief, and manage external research partners and agencies across geographies and projects.
• Establish and continuously improve research processes, standards, and ethical protocols across projects.
• Contribute to shaping Allset’s overall research strategy and positioning.

Profile we are looking for

• 6–8+ years of experience conducting applied social or market research.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, mixed‑methods and multi‑country research projects.
• Hands‑on experience with both field‑based data collection and online research approaches, including surveys and panels.
• Strong grounding in both qualitative and quantitative research design, analysis, and interpretation.
• Experience managing and working with external research agencies or partners for data collection.
• Ability to operate confidently in evolving, ambiguous environments and make sound judgements where clear precedents do not exist.
• Strong ethical awareness and a demonstrated commitment to responsible research practice.
• Ability to bridge the gap between practitioners and research, translating practical needs into research that can be implemented and managed.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex research clearly to diverse audiences.
• Interest in new and emerging research methodologies and approaches.
• Fluency in English.
• Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field.