Research Manager

Research Manager – part-time - 22 hours per week

Salary:
£41,242 to £48,520 pro rata (dependent on experience)

Contract type:
Permanent

Hours:
Part Time

Additional information:
22 hours per week – requirement to work on Tuesdays, with other days to be agreed.

Location:
Poole, Dorset, England

Location description:
Hybrid between home and Poole – with occasional travel to Poole as required by the role (approximately once a month)

Interview date:
Tues 11th or Tues 18th Nov 2025

Closing Date:

Reference:
20533

About us

Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. For 200 years, our incredible lifeboat crews and lifeguards have shown selfless courage to rescue those in peril on the water. They are supported by a dedicated, professional, and talented team behind the scenes. This is your chance to join that team and use your unique skills to help save lives every day.

We're looking for a Research Manager to join our Research Team, part of our wider Data Team. The Research Team supports the RNLI through delivering robust insight and recommendations, generated by ethical research and evaluation, enabling the RNLI to make sound evidence-based decisions.

This Research Manager role leads our Lifesaving Research function, with a focus on supporting our Lifesaving, Water Safety, and Safety teams. Research projects managed by this role are varied and include: overseeing our annual water-sports participation survey of the general public in collaboration with other water-based organisations; leading our water safety research; working with suppliers and undertaking qualitative research with our RNLI lifeguards.

Some of the benefits

• Salary - £41,242 to £48,520 pro rata (dependent on experience)

• Hybrid working - based in Poole.

• 26 days' annual leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata)

• Outstanding pension scheme

• Life assurance.

• Health and dental cashplan option.

Your Role

As a Research Manager, you will be tasked with focusing on the following areas:

• Scoping, undertaking and managing multiple and varied RNLI research projects, ensuring research evidence meets the requirements of the RNLI within the timescales agreed

• Effectively building and managing successful working relationships with research customers and stakeholders at all levels

• Commissioning and working with external research suppliers to deliver high-quality research, negotiating for the best price and ensuring that objectives and deadlines are met

• Providing expert research advice to RNLI colleagues at all levels, promoting the role of research in operational and strategic decision-making

About You

You'll be an experienced researcher, inquisitive and questioning, and comfortable undertaking and managing varied research projects. You will be experienced in translating research findings into actionable recommendations and able to communicate these to all levels. You will have excellent people and project management skills, be comfortable with change, and have a high attention to detail.

To be considered as the Research Manager, you will need:

• A good degree with a demonstrable research component or equivalent experience.

• Proven experience of managing, overseeing and delivering multiple research projects (quantitative and qualitative).

• Experience of producing and translating research and evidence into practical findings to meet customer and stakeholder needs.

• Strong written and verbal communication and negotiation skills.

• Sound understanding of the procurement process for commissioning research.

• Proven experience of people and supplier management.

So, if you want to use your skills and experience as a Research Manager to support our organisation's aim to reduce drowning, this could be the role for you. Please apply via the button shown.

Safeguarding

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person's health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out, dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).

Diversity at the RNLI

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.