Job Description

Job Title:Research Manager

Reports to:Head of Sector Skills Department

Main Purpose of the Job

To develop and lead the implementation of a comprehensive research strategy for the IMI Group

To ensure that IMI provides UK wide authoritative and high quality and robust research, information and data to employers and stakeholders of theautomotive retail sector

Produce top quality actionable analysis of national trends in labour, skills and productivityusing insight to promote new thinking.Build excellent stakeholder relationships with key partners to help inform strategy and policy to address common issues and deliver business plan goals in all the nations.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Develop a research strategy and plan in support of the IMI business plan (including analysis of international data and trends for products) and UK government skills agenda

Plan, manage and deliver sectoral Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) in support of the business plan and government skills agenda, including international analysis for IMI products

To effectively lead the Research function including:

  1. ensuring the development and maintainence of a comprehensive, up to date and high quality suite of research products to meet the needs of the stakeholders(eg Governments, UKCES) and employers across the automotive retail sector, balancing the needs of each strand within the overall resource available
  2. managing the workflow and associated resource of the research function
  3. ensuring the quality of research processes and outputs, ensuring that the outputs meet the internal or external customers’ needs
  4. effectively managing projects to budget and schedule and to meet their objectives and outcomes, and liaising across IMI Departments and with external stakeholders as appropriate
  5. Monitor skills policy, across the 4 Nations, ensuring that the Department Head is kept fully updated; and communicating skills policy developments across the IMI group and with other stakeholders
  6. Supporting and guiding other departments in research of potential product placement recommendations (eg international strategy)

To effectively manage the organisation’s relationships with the key research bodies to represent the IMI and the automotive retail sector within relevant national and UK research forums.

Identify, engage and build excellent working relationships with research agencies and consultants to ensure delivery of exceptional sector LMI.

Work collaboratively with other internal teams in increasing the sector’s use of high quality research products to improve workforce skills.

Employ research to systematically set, update and review skills priorities to drive policy agenda which will influence future product design.

Conduct objective and systematic evaluation of research proposals provided by supplying agencies and consultants – including an assessment of value-for-money and quality of the research proposed.

Respond in a timely manner to the requests for facts, figures, and information both externally and within the organisation, and know where to locate information.

Disseminate research results in conjunction with the Communications team, providing insight and recommendations at all levels to the relevant stakeholders using the most appropriate and cost effective format.

Develop thoughtful and innovative mechanisms, beyond formal reports, tailored to different partners, initiate and maintain on-going dialogue with partners using research and policy to maximise influence over planning, operations and product design.

Achieve high credibility for sector analysis and publish research to promote as the industry standard.

Limits of Authority

Agree projects and funding with Head of Sector Skils Department, subject to final approval by FD and/or COO

Manage budget devolved by the Head of Sector Skills Department for research development.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Excellent communication skills at all levels

Excellent project management skills

Excellent report writing and proof-reading skills

Analytical and self-motivated approach with the ability to work independently

Ability to manage and balance in-house work and identify select, commission and manage external consultants where necessary

A thorough understanding of the best principles and practices of conducting various research products

Ability to investigateresearch, manage, interpret and present LMI information to a range of audiences

Ability to pay close attention to detail with an organised methodical approach

Ability to multitask and work under pressure in order to meet deadlines

Computer literate and experienced in Microsoft packages as well the ability to construct surveys and analyse responses using online market research tools (eg Survey Monkey)

The ability to work confidently and productively on own initiative, and to manage a diverse and demanding workload to set timescales and deadlines

Qualifications

Essential -

Driving licence (to attend UK meetings, as required)

Valid passport (for occasional overseas travel)

Educated to degree level or equivalent

Desirable –

Professional Research accreditation/qualification (eg Market Research Society (MRS) awards; Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA) accreditation)

Working Conditions

Head office based.

Occasional/regular travel required

Occasional requirement for working outside of contractual hours

Approval Signatures

Job Holder:

Director:

This Job Description will be subject to review from time to time. Any amendments will be made in consultation with the job holder(s).

Developed20/05/14

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17/11/18 V1