Senior Research Manager

Job Summary

A research role with responsibility for leading, managing and delivering consumer insight projects across The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) EMEA & UK. 

In this role, you will optimise TWDC’s audience, brand and franchise (Character IP) understanding to generate maximum value for the business and will work across TWDC functions and markets to support the provision of insight to aid strategy implementation on cross company objectives as well as supporting individual lines of business on individual needs to drive growth. 

This role has EMEA responsibilities, meaning being aware of activity across the region, consulting with local and global teams and driving best practices.

This is an office-based role. 4 days working in the Hammersmith, London office with 1 day working from home (Monday or Friday).

The Opportunity & Responsibilities:

Overview: leading the delivery of all Quantitative Consumer Insight projects, supporting the Research Director on qualitative projects and collaborating with TWDC Business functions when required on any quantitative research, analysis and interpretation. 
 

Key functions: 

• Delivery of actionable insights – understand the consumer insight implications of our audience brand and franchise insight. Delivering insight to inform strategic planning and/or commercial growth identifying white space opportunities or potential liabilities   
• Provision of expert quantitative input into all projects regional and global- including weekly meetings with US global Brand and Franchise management team   
• Implementation- Planning, delivery and monitoring of all quantitative research. Recommending and utilizing the most appropriate methods of research and most impactful ways of delivering insight  
• Utilizing the most appropriate and impactful methodologies- keeping up to date with research trends and innovative approaches 
• Stakeholder management – ensure internal clients’ needs are understood and met, with strong communication and articulate presentation skills to disseminate insights into the business. This will include working with the Director and the team on delivering quarterly presentations to key lob and local country leaders and stakeholders    
• Team Management- Directly managing a team of up to 4, including a  manager, an analyst, and apprentices      
• Agency management – Lead the management of our quantitative research agencies, ensuring they are providing TWDC with best-in-class insights, support and ensuring maximum return for our investment  

Operational responsibilities: 

• Research Techniques – leading the ability of the BFM research team to understand and deliver a range of advanced level quantitative techniques. Deep understanding of how to draw insightful conclusions from large volumes of content, identifying trends and patterns, using either a single source of data or multiple sources to create cross-referenced conclusions, drawing on both evidential and creative / intuitive techniques of interpretation. 
• Strategic Direction – Contribute as a leading member of the BFM team offering challenge and direction on audience brand and franchise research and insight across the business 
• Work Collaboratively – Network and work collaboratively with other EMEA lob research and Business Development functions to triangulate consumer insights with other sources e.g. Channel ratings, Social Listening, NPD , 3rd party research, digital engagement metrics, internal proprietary data and studio measurement KPI’s etc) 
• Planning/Project management: Work with the Director on workflow planning to ensure we have the resources to meet business needs, flagging up potential challenges and ensuring projects are delivered on time  
• Support of EMEA TWDC Senior Management by providing the insights and metrics needed for Understanding character, brand and key consumer segment performance 
• Evaluation: Develop strong relationships with the relevant and best-in-field agencies to support TWDC research needs 
• Best Practice  Drive adoption of best practice research methods and processes to maximize efficiency and generate impactful insights  

The Experience We Require From You:

• Extensive successful experience in consumer research and analysis 

Must be an expert in: 

• Preparing and running complex multi-markets quantitative tracking and ad-hoc studies, managing quality and effectiveness across all stages from screener / survey design, analysis and debriefing 
• Presenting to senior and large internal and external teams. 
• Experience in managing and leveraging research within a major international brand 
• Excellent written and oral communication 
• Project management with the ability to manage a large and diverse workload
• Managing and motivating direct reports to deliver consistent high quality work  
• Proven experience of proactively building relationships and influencing peers and senior management  

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave
• Private medical insurance & dental care
• Free Park Entry: You will have the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free
• Disney Discounts: you are entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing
• Excellent parental and guardian leave
• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided the necessary accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive all benefits of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.