Head of Research

**Head of Research | **Circa** £80,000** negotiable + up to **17% bonus**, **car **+ excellent benefits **| **Permanent** |** Hybrid

**Why Thatcham Research?**

Join us and be part of a team that’s at the forefront of automotive research and risk intelligence. You’ll have the opportunity to **influence industry standards**, collaborate with **global stakeholders**, and **drive innovation** in vehicle safety and insurance. At Thatcham Research, we **value** curiosity, excellence, and collaboration, and we are committed to supporting your professional and personal growth.

**Your mission**

**Research Strategy & Execution**:

- Define and drive the research agenda, focusing on ACE+ (Automated, Connected, Electrified) and the claims landscape. Find out more here.
- Oversee the execution of research projects to continually evolve the Thatcham Research vehicle risk model.

**Team Le**adership & Development**:

- Lead, mentor, and inspire the research teams to foster a culture of inquisitiveness, excellence, and collaboration.
- Implement training and development programs to enhance team capabilities and support professional and personal growth.

**Stakeholder Engagement**:

- Cultivate strong relationships with key stakeholders, understanding their agendas and aligning them with our objectives.
- Lead engagement with our Members on research-related topics and presentations.
- Position Thatcham Research as a thought leader and expert voice across automotive risk intelligence.

**Business Support**:

- Work closely with peers and other departments to align research processes and outputs with broader business strategies.
- Foster a collaborative environment that encourages input and knowledge sharing across functions.

**Performance Monitoring**:

- Establish KPIs to assess the effectiveness and impact of research execution, including opex and capex budget spend.
- Continuously evaluate and refine research methodologies to enhance quality and impact.

**To make this role a success, we think you'll have**:
**Leadership Experience**:

- Significant experience in people leadership, management, and coaching in multi-disciplinary teams.

**Strategic Thinker**:

- Proven ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives that drive business outcomes.

**Operational Performance**:

- Thorough knowledge and experience developing and implementing processes, as well as deploying KPIs and metrics to monitor and enhance operational health and performance, driving continuous improvement.

**Communication Skills**:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience presenting complex information to diverse audiences.

**Budget Management**:

- Basic knowledge of budgetary management at a departmental level.

**Personal Attributes**:

- A strong tendency towards curiosity and inquisitiveness, particularly in a problem-solving context.
- Demonstrates resilience, maturity, and confidence to manage research activities and decision-making independently.
- Strong relationship management experience and the ability to balance and anticipate the needs of multiple stakeholders.

**Industry Knowledge (Desirable)**:

- Knowledge and understanding of the UK and global automotive and motor insurance markets.
- An understanding of safety, security, and sustainable repair across the insurability spectrum.

**_Did you know..._***

**Perks & Benefits**

Salary** - **Circa £80,000** negotiable, dependent on skills & experience.
- Up to 17% Annual Bonus
- Car allowance of £685 per month **_or_** Company Car
- 10% non-contributory pension
- 29 days holiday (inclusive of Christmas shutdown) + public holidays
- Private Health care for you and your immediate family
- Permanent Health Insurance (after 6 months of service)
- Group Life Assurance (equal to 4 x basic salary)
- Health Cash Plan (cash back on eligible medical treatments)
- Salary Sacrifice schemes (cycle to work, tech & home schemes)
- Moneyhealth’s Financial Coaching & Wellbeing Platform
- Reward & Recognition Programme
- Discounted gym membership
- Sports & Social club
- Payroll charitable giving
- Subsidised on-site restaurant
- Free on-site parking (with EV charging)

**When we work**

Our standard working hours are** 8:30 - 16:30** Monday - Thursday, **8:30 - 15:45** Fridays._ (talk to us about flexible working if this doesn’t quite suit you)_

**How we work**

We understand the benefits of remote and in-person collaboration, and therefore have a hybrid working model - you’ll be expected to work from our office in Thatcham at least two days per week. Up to 10% travel will be expected, mostly UK based, infrequent European and international as required.

**What we do**

At the cutting edge of automotive research in the UK, Thatcham Research has a unique role in shaping the design of new vehicles and influencing ever higher standards of safety, security and repair.

With an on-site Crash Laboratory, Repair Technology Centre and Training Academy, our resea