Head of Research

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

Are you ready to lead the charge in automotive research and innovation? As the Head of Research, you’ll spearhead our efforts to understand emerging vehicle technologies and their impact on insurance risk. You’ll drive our research agenda, mentor a team of subject matter experts, and position Thatcham Research as a thought leader in the industry.

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.
• Oversee the execution of research projects to continually evolve the Thatcham Research vehicle risk model.

Team Leadership & 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.

Ready to make an impact? Apply now and lead the future of automotive research with Thatcham Research!

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 research expertise is driving some of the very latest automotive developments in technology, materials and standards in this fast moving and highly technical industry. Our active safety track at Gamston Airport is one of the leading accredited Euro NCAP testing facilities, trialling and assessing the very latest developments in vehicle safety and assistance technologies.

Our Values

As an organisation that believes a strong set of Values are key to our organisational success and a sense of belonging for all colleagues, we ask that you understand, represent and apply our Values of Fearless, Inquisitive, Resourceful, Supportive and Trusted and demonstrate these Values throughout the recruitment process.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace which values diversity and embraces each individual's authentic self. We are proud to champion a culture where colleagues freely share their diverse perspectives, recognising that these contribute to our innovative spirit. Our journey of growth and understanding is continuous as we actively invest in diversity training, workshops, and partnerships to ensure positive change.

Beyond our membership in the Automotive 30% Club, we collaborate with various organisations to advance equity not only in gender but also across ethnicity, age, disability, social mobility, LGBTQ+ identities, experiences, and thinking. Our aspiration is to create an environment where everyone thrives, achieves, and experiences a genuine sense of belonging.

Recruitment process

We’re proud to manage our recruitment in-house and believe this direct approach enables us to give you the best possible Employee Experience we can – which starts right here, your application! We’re continuously striving to improve the candidate journey, and transparency (or communication) is a key area of focus – yes, even with salary & benefits.

What can you expect from our recruitment process?

• Regular updates on the progress / outcome of your application
• An initial telephone screening call with our Recruitment Business Partner
• First interview with the hiring manager, usually via Teams
• Second/Final interview, in-person at our office (we may give you a role specific task to present on!)
• Personalised feedback following your interview – because everyone deserves that!
• An opportunity to give us your honest feedback in a short survey on all of the above

We’re committed to removing invisible barriers. If there are any adjustments we can make to better support you, please let us know when you apply.

All applicants must have Right to Work in the UK.