Senior Market Researcher

Company Overview

Jonesco (Preston) Ltd is a leading manufacturer of high-quality rotationally moulded plastic products, serving the
vehicle, fire safety, and environmental protection
sectors. As a market leader in several European countries and exporting to over 60 countries worldwide, we have a strong global presence. Our operations are based at a 4-acre manufacturing facility in Preston, Lancashire, supported by a nearby 3.7-acre distribution site. The company employs approximately
152 staff in the UK
, with an additional
17 employees
at our subsidiary in
Seclin, near Lille, France
. The Jonesco Group generates an annual turnover of approximately
£22 million
.

JOB TITLE:
Senior Market Researcher

LOCATION:
Pitman Way, Fulwood

REPORTING LINE:
Research & Development Manager

REMUNERATION:
£45K + Company Car

BENEFITS:
Pension, 25 days holiday plus 8 public holidays, additional leave purchase scheme, tea and coffee, on-site parking, healthcare scheme, death in service scheme.

WORKING PATTERN/HOURS:
39.5 hours, Monday to Friday (8:00am -17:00pm with 16.30pm finish Fri) with working pattern flexibility & hybrid working. Core hours as stated but additional to suit business demand are expected.

Position Overview

Highly motivated and experienced
Market Researcher
who will play a pivotal role in driving innovation and strategic growth. Responsible for identifying opportunities for new product development in both existing and untapped markets, using research insights to guide design, positioning, and go-to-market strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive market research and competitor analysis across relevant sectors – particular emphasis on UK, Europe, North America and Middle East Markets.
• Identify trends, customer needs, and emerging technologies in fire safety, vehicle components, and environmental products.
• Explore and evaluate potential new markets for roto-moulded products.
• Proactively engage with end users through frequent site visits and on-location research.
• Provide actionable insights and strategic recommendations to support product innovation.
• Collaborate closely with the sales and design team to shape new product concepts.
• Develop business cases for new product ideas, including market sizing, pricing, competitor analysis and distribution analysis.
• Monitor the performance of new products and adjust research focus accordingly.
• Stay informed on global industry trends and regulatory developments.

Key Skills

Advanced Market Research:
Extensive experience designing and executing complex market research projects to uncover strategic trends, market shifts, emerging opportunities, and potential risks.

Customer Intelligence & Engagement:
Expertise in gathering and interpreting customer data to develop rich, actionable personas and behavioral insights. Proven ability to lead the development of customer satisfaction programs and facilitate in-depth focus groups and feedback events to influence product and marketing strategies.

Product Development Insight:
Strong understanding of the full product development lifecycle - from market validation and concept ideation through feasibility, prototyping, launch, and post-market performance tracking. Able to align product innovation with market demand and commercial objectives.

Advanced Data Analytics:
Highly proficient in analysing complex and large-scale datasets. Able to connect data to strategy, identifying meaningful patterns and opportunities that support high-impact decisions.

Insightful Reporting & Visualisation:
Skilled in crafting well-structured, insight-driven reports and dashboards for executive stakeholders.

Strategic Influence & Planning:
Demonstrated ability to contribute to and shape strategic initiatives by aligning market intelligence with organisational goals. Brings foresight into emerging markets, product positioning, and competitive advantage.

Cost & Value Analysis:
In-depth knowledge of cost modelling, pricing strategies, and profitability analysis. Supports commercial decision-making by evaluating ROI, margin potential, and cost structures of both new and existing products.

Experience & Knowledge

Strategic Communication:
Advanced verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to distil and present complex market intelligence to senior leadership, cross-functional teams, and external stakeholders. Strong influencing and relationship-building abilities are essential

Analytical Rigor & Attention to Detail:
Demonstrated expertise in conducting and interpreting high-level qualitative and quantitative research, ensuring precision in data interpretation, reporting, and product positioning.

Project Leadership:
Proven track record of leading multiple research initiatives simultaneously, with strong prioritisation, resource planning, and stakeholder coordination across departments and geographies.

Innovation & Continuous Learning:
A forward-thinking mindset with a passion for identifying disruptive trends, new methodologies, and emerging technologies in market research, product development, and data analytics.

Industry Expertise:
Deep understanding of key sectors such as
automotive safety
,
environmental protection
, and
fire safety
.

Regulatory & Commercial Awareness:
Strong grasp of regulatory frameworks, market standards, and commercial viability in both domestic and international markets.

Leadership Experience:
Ability to mentor junior researchers, lead cross-functional focus groups, and represent the company at industry events, customer meetings, and collaborative workshops.

Qualifications & Experience:
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Market Research, Business, Economics, Innovation / Design  or related field. Minimum
5+ years of hands-on market research experience
, preferably within industrial manufacturing or B2B environments.

Language Fluency
: French both written & spoken would be an advantage

Values

Commitment : Being dedicated and engaged

Empowerment: Enabling people to be effective in their work

Enjoyment: Reacting to situations in a way that avoids stress

Integrity: Always doing the right thing, even when no one is looking

Resilience:  Able to adapt and overcome

Wellbeing: Able to be fully present both at work and in our personal life