Research Manager

Job Title: Research Manager
Location: Hybrid (UK) with three days in the office
Contract: Full-time (37.5 hours per week)

Changing Markets is looking for a skilled and driven Research Manager to join our dynamic team. This is a new position and a unique opportunity for a seasoned researcher to help us build evidence base to accelerate climate solutions and hold big corporate polluters accountable. The position is full-time with flexible working environment and at least three days a week in our London office, based close to Liverpool Street Station. Initially, the focus of the work will mostly be on food system transformation, so experience in that field is a plus.

The Role:

We are looking for a Research Manager with at least seven years of professional experience in developing high impact research and a track record of producing high-quality publications. All our campaigns have a strong research focus, whether market research, investigating corporate sustainability claims, supply-chain links or product-testing. Over the years, we have worked with a range of scientists, external consultants, investigators and laboratories to develop our research reports and briefings. We are now in position where we would like to bring elements of this in-house, by expanding our small team to include someone with strong technical research and writing skills, numerical and data analysis experience and someone who is confident with Excel and other more advance data processing platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, implementation, and management of high-impact research projects, including writing the technical parts of our reports and helping to analyse data.
• Collect and process data that will be used to produce authoritative reports and briefings to support campaign goals and policy engagement.
• Conduct in-depth investigations into corporate sustainability and climate reporting practices, identifying greenwashing and gaps in corporate accountability.
• Collaborate with campaigners, communications specialists, and external partners to align research outputs with strategic goals.
• Oversee and quality-assure research from external consultants and collaborators.
• Track emerging trends in corporate climate and ESG disclosures to inform the organisation’s strategy.

Essential Requirements:

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in research, with a proven track record of producing high-quality reports and publications.
• Excellent analytical skills, demonstrable aptitude for numerical work, data collection and processing
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other such programmes, including data analysis, pivot tables, and managing large datasets.
• Demonstrated expertise in corporate climate reporting, sustainability disclosures, and regulatory frameworks (e.g., CSRD, SFDR, TCFD).
• Experience working within or alongside campaigning organisations or NGOs, with an understanding of how research can drive public and policy impact.
• Strong investigative skills and ability to critically assess complex corporate data and narratives.
• Excellent writing skills, with the ability to translate and interpret technical findings into compelling content for a variety of audiences.
• A self-starter with collaborative spirit and good communication skills, with the ability to work independently as well as in multicultural teams across geographies.

Desirable:

• Post-graduate degree in a technical and/or scientific discipline
• Experience in managing cross-border research collaborations or investigative projects.
• Passion for environmental and climate issues, with in-depth knowledge of climate science.
• Familiarity with communications strategies or media engagement related to environmental or social campaigns.
• Experience in managing research projects and outputs within the confines of grant-funded activities.

What We Offer:

• A meaningful role in a fast-paced, mission-driven organisation.
• Flexible working environment.
• A supportive and passionate international team.

ABOUT CHANGING MARKETS FOUNDATION

The Changing Markets Foundation was formed to accelerate and scale up solutions to sustainability challenges by leveraging the power of markets. We create and support campaigns that expose irresponsible corporate practices and shift market share away from unsustainable products and companies towards environmentally and socially beneficial solutions. We work on a range of different topics at the intersection of environmental and social issues and have a strong track record of winning campaigns.

Changing Markets is a Dutch-registered stichting (foundation) and has offices in Utrecht, Brussels and London. This is a London-based role.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

50,000-55,000 £/year depending on experience. We also offer benefits, such as health and life insurance, and an annual sports and wellbeing allowance. Annual leave is 25 days per calendar year (pro-rata) plus Bank Holidays.