Senior Research Manager

Job Description: Senior Research Manager

Salary: 55,0000 – 60,000 € annually

Geographic scope: United Kingdom, Spain, Germany

Starting date: ASAP

Location: Remote, with an expectation of travel up to 30 days per year

Type: Full-time

Role Summary

The Senior Research Manager in the Patient Evidence and Research Unit (PERU) at Patvocates leads the design, execution, and translation of patient-centered research using mixed-methods approaches, including quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The role requires strong experience in Patient Experience Data generation and interpretation, as well as applying research to Evidence-Based Advocacy and decision-making.

The role is responsible for delivering robust, multi-method research programmes, combining quantitative research (e.g. surveys, measurements/instruments), qualitative inquiry (e.g., interviews, focus groups), and secondary evidence to generate high-quality, actionable insights grounded in patient experience. This includes applying descriptive, exploratory, and inferential quantitative analytical approaches, alongside qualitative synthesis, to ensure a holistic understanding of patient needs, outcomes, and priorities.

This individual plays a key role in shaping PERU’s analytical and methodological approach, including establishing tools, workflows, and reproducible analytical frameworks (e.g., in R) to improve efficiency and consistency across projects. They bridge data, evidence, and context, ensuring outputs are scientifically robust while remaining relevant to patient communities, healthcare stakeholders, and advocacy objectives.

Working closely with cross-functional teams, the Senior Research Manager ensures that research outputs are methodologically sound, strategically relevant, and clearly communicated—contributing directly to the generation of patient evidence that informs policy, practice, and advocacy impact

Why Patvocates?

Joining Patvocates offers a unique opportunity to work within a mission-driven, patient-led organisation operating at the “patient engagement sweet spot”, where research, advocacy, policy, and stakeholder engagement intersect. As a think-and-do tank and social consultancy, Patvocates not only generates Patient Experience Data but actively translates it into Evidence-Based Advocacy and real-world change, supporting patient communities, industry, and institutions to make more informed and impactful decisions. You will be part of a highly experienced, international team with deep roots in patient advocacy, working across diverse projects from evidence generation and community mapping to advisory boards and strategic consultancy while engaging directly with patient communities and key healthcare stakeholders. This role offers the opportunity to combine methodological expertise with purpose, contributing to a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment built on trust, co-creation, and tangible impact for patients

Key Responsibilities

1)     Research Strategy, Methodological Leadership & Analytical Approach

  • Lead the design of patient-centered research approaches across PERU projects, ensuring scientific rigor and fit-for-purpose study designs.
  • Translate research questions into clear study plans (objectives, endpoints, sampling approach, instruments, analysis plan, timelines, and resourcing).
  • Help define and maintain PERU quality standards for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research (including survey, interview, and secondary data approaches) (documentation, reproducibility, data checks, reporting templates, peer review).
  • Integrate Patient Experience Data (PED) and ensure alignment with Evidence-Based Advocacy (EBA) frameworks where relevant
  • Ensure research outputs build on existing evidence and are defensible, relevant, and actionable.

2)     Study Design, Execution & Analysis

  • Lead end-to-end delivery of mixed-methods research, including quantitative (e.g., surveys, datasets) and qualitative (e.g., interviews, focus groups) components, from scoping and instrument design through fielding oversight, data cleaning, analysis, and reporting.
  • Apply a combination of descriptive, exploratory, and (where relevant) inferential quantitative analysis, alongside qualitative analysis and synthesis that create clear insight for decision-making, without over-claiming beyond what the data supports.
  • Develop clear narratives and evidence-backed recommendations tailored to client and stakeholder needs.
  • Coordinate internal team members and, where relevant, external consultants, vendors, and partners associated with each project.

3)     Analytical Tooling, Workflows & Reproducibility

  • Establish and maintain a reusable analytical code base (e.g., in R) and shared tools to improve consistency, quality, and efficiency across projects.
  • Create and continuously improve internal workflows for:

o   data intake and validation

o   version control and documentation

o   reproducible reporting (scripts, templates, standard outputs)

o   quality assurance checks and peer review

  • Promote good analytical governance, including clarity on assumptions, definitions, and traceability from data to outputs.

4)     Project Management, Operational Oversight & Profitability Support

  • Design, lead, and deliver projects within agreed timelines and budgets, proactively managing risks, dependencies, and scope changes.
  • Support contract and finance oversight for research projects (e.g., accurate budgeting inputs, monitoring burn, supporting invoicing workflows in coordination with operations).
  • Track and report project progress, milestones, and delivery KPIs to ensure deadlines, budgets, and deliverables are met.
  • Contribute to delivery planning, forecasting, and capacity planning across PERU’s active portfolio, supporting efficient resourcing and utilisation.

5)     Strategic Execution & Business Enablement (in collaboration with PERU leadership)

  • Support the execution and operationalisation of PERU’s service, business, and client strategy, as defined by the PERU Strategy Team and PERU leadership.
  • Contribute to proposal development for sponsors and clients by shaping methodology, feasibility, timelines, resourcing, and analytical approach.
  • Provide regular updates on delivery progress, key risks, and needs, including selected business-related KPIs relevant to project delivery (e.g., utilisation inputs, proposal feasibility assumptions, delivery risks).

6)     Stakeholder Engagement, External Representation & Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Work closely with internal units (Patient Engagement Services, NGO Services, Digital & Innovation, Operations) to ensure research design and outputs reflect patient reality and stakeholder context.
  • Engage with clients and stakeholders to clarify objectives, communicate progress, and align on interpretation and implications of findings.
  • Represent PERU and Patvocates in external meetings, scientific congresses, and events as needed, supporting the visibility and credibility of Patvocates’ research work.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with relevant partners (e.g., patient community stakeholders, researchers, industry) in support of high-quality research delivery and growth of offerings.

7)     Governance, Ethics, Risk & Compliance

  • Ensure compliance with ethical engagement standards, data protection requirements, and organisational policies in all research activities.
  • Support implementation and continuous improvement of SOPs and operational frameworks.
  • Contribute to PERU’s methodological awareness by staying current on trends in patient evidence (e.g., PROs, PREMs, patient preference methods) and relevant frameworks impacting industry, academia, regulators, and NGOs.
  • Identify methodological, operational, and data-related risks; implement mitigation strategies to protect quality and credibility.
  • Stay current on trends in patient evidence, including Patient Experience Data (PED), PROs, PREMs, patient preference studies, and frameworks supporting Evidence-Based Advocacy.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Significant experience designing and delivering patient-centered, mixed-methods research, including both quantitative (e.g., survey, dataset analysis) and qualitative methodologies (e.g., interviews, focus groups, thematic analysis) in healthcare, life sciences, patient advocacy, or related settings. Quantitative experience will be prioritised.
  • Demonstrated experience working with or generating Patient Experience Data (PED) and translating findings into evidence-based advocacy, strategy, or decision-making outputs.
  • Experience building or improving analytical workflows and reproducible reporting practices (preferably using R;).
  • Strong stakeholder management and communication skills; able to work cross-functionally in an international environment.
  • Strong track record translating research needs into practical study designs and decision-relevant insights.
  • Project delivery experience with accountability for timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
  • Former experience working with or for patient organisations will be valued

Skills & Attributes

  • Methodologically rigorous, detail-oriented, and committed to quality and documentation.
  • Practical and solutions-focused, able to balance rigor with delivery constraints in fast-moving environments.
  • Strong analytical judgment, able to connect data patterns to patient and disease context.
  • Proactive and improvement-driven, motivated to build scalable tools, templates, and ways of working.
  • Collaborative and aligned with Patvocates’ mission to strengthen patient advocacy, patient engagement, and empower patient communities.

How to apply:

Apply for this job offer by sending your CV and your motivation letter to HR@patvocates.net with the subject “Application Senior research manager”.

Please note that only applications sent via email with a CV and motivation letter will be regarded.