Strategic Insight Specialist

• Closing date: 12^th March 0:01am
• Hours: Full time (36.5 hours)
• Contract type: Continuing

Specific Duties and Responsibilities of the post

The Strategic Insight Specialist plays a vital role in delivering high-quality research and insight that supports strategic and operational decision-making across the university. The role combines expertise in primary and secondary research, evaluation, with strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills.

They design research materials (e.g. questionnaires, topic guides), conduct research using a range of qualitative and quantitative methods (e.g. scripting and monitoring surveys, moderating interviews, and focus groups) and analyse results as appropriate (with responsibility for qualitative research analysis). They also conduct secondary research, including market analysis and literature reviews to contextualise insight and support recommendations.

They work closely with the Strategic Insight Manager to translate and prioritise stakeholder requirements into suitable research design, to produce actionable insight and align projects with institutional planning cycles.

They manage research project timelines and resources to ensure timely, efficient and effective outputs are delivered. This includes scheduling fieldwork, managing sampling, advising on methodology selection, coordinating costs and briefing suppliers. They work closely with internal communications teams to ensure the effective promotion, distribution, and communication of surveys and their results to relevant audiences (i.e. staff, current students).

The Strategic Insight Specialist ensures that high standards are upheld, in accordance with market research best practice, to deliver projects which are robust, ethical and relevant. They work collaboratively to design best practice strategies and frameworks around insight and evaluation practice (i.e. evaluation standards, advanced research design, use of AI, coding). They work collaboratively with colleagues in Analytics to understand data output requirements for effective analysis and ensure consideration of these in research design to generate data which is relevant and actionable.

They communicate findings clearly and effectively to a broad range of stakeholders, including academic leaders, professional services, and senior management. This includes producing well-structured reports, executive summaries, and visualisations, as well as delivering presentations that translate complex data into accessible insights. The Strategic Insight Specialist tailors their communication style to suit different audiences, ensuring that insights are understood, relevant, and used to inform decisions.

In addition to their core responsibilities, the Strategic Insight Specialist actively engages in continuing professional development (CPD), staying informed about emerging research methods, sector trends, and best practices. They contribute to the development of the university’s insight capability by promoting best practice in research design, participating in internal and external networks, and sharing and learning from peers across the higher education and research communities. The role also includes mentoring and supporting colleagues within the team and across the university, helping to build confidence and capability in the use of insight to inform strategic and operational decisions.

This role requires strong research project management skills, expertise in research design, insight generation and evaluation methodologies and the ability to communicate and collaborate with colleagues. The Strategic Insight Specialist plays a vital role in ensuring that insight activities are strategically aligned, well-executed, and impactful.

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