Market Research Manager

Job Description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

This is an opportunity to shape how New Zealand’s leading university makes strategic decisions. We are establishing a new market research and insights capability to help the University anticipate change, identify growth opportunities, and respond to evolving student, industry, and research markets.

Reporting within the Planning and Information Office, the Market Research Manager will lead the development of a strategic market research function that supports student recruitment, retention, brand positioning, academic portfolio development, and research and innovation opportunities.

This role combines strategic leadership, advanced market research, analytics, and stakeholder engagement. You will provide insights directly to executive leaders responsible for enrolment growth, academic portfolio development, international strategy, research and innovation, and institutional planning. You will partner with senior leaders across Marketing and Recruitment, Planning, Academic Divisions, and Research and Innovation to embed insights into decision-making and planning processes. As the function evolves, you will have the opportunity to shape the team's structure, establish new ways of working, recommend tools and platforms, and create a best-practice market research capability that supports the University’s long-term success.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Translating insight into action
• Influencing decision-making
• Strategic foresight
• Identifying opportunities and risks
• Leading organisational change

This is a full-time, permanent opportunity (37.5 hours per week). The full salary range for this role is $114,400 - $154,800 (Band I).

We have a structured salary framework with three zones for those developing into the role (developing), fully effective in the role (target), and contributing beyond what is expected of the role (upper).

Appointments are typically made within the target range of $115,000 - $135,000, depending on skills, experience, and internal equity. We welcome conversations about your expectations and what matters to you in your overall package.

A full description of your duties and the role is provided in the position description linked HERE.

He kōrero mōu | About you

You are an experienced insights or market research leader who enjoys turning data into meaningful stories that influence decision-making. You are excited by the opportunity to build something new, establish best practice, and create a market research function that delivers real value across a large and complex organisation.

If you have experience working in customer insights, consumer intelligence, commercial strategy, consulting, public sector insights, higher education strategy, or research agencies, we want to hear from you.

You bring a strong blend of strategic thinking, technical expertise, and stakeholder engagement. You are comfortable discussing research methodologies and predictive modelling one minute, and presenting recommendations to senior leaders the next. You enjoy challenging assumptions, identifying emerging opportunities, and helping organisations make evidence-based decisions.

You are naturally curious, commercially minded, and proactive. You understand that great insights are only valuable when they lead to action, and you have a track record of translating complex analysis into practical recommendations that drive organisational outcomes.

E rapua ana mātou | We are seeking

• Significant experience leading market research, insights, or customer intelligence functions within a large and complex organisation
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, forecasting, segmentation, and advanced analytics
• Experience establishing research frameworks, governance processes, tools, or platforms that support strategic decision-making
• Proven people leadership experience, including building capability, leading teams, and developing high-performing functions
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and translate complex analysis into clear recommendations
• Relevant tertiary qualification in marketing, data science, business, social sciences, or a related discipline, with postgraduate qualifications advantageous

This role would particularly suit someone who enjoys creating new capabilities, driving organisational change, and building an insights function that helps shape the future direction of a large and influential institution.

Additional Information

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

This is a rare opportunity to define a new operating model, research agenda, governance frameworks, and future capability for an entirely new function. This will give you access to internal expertise and resources commensurate with our complexity and commitments, including an in-house design studio and media production teams, audience specialist teams, web and digital teams, AI and automation expertise, and Māori and Pacific specialists across brand, media, communications, and engagement.

The University is one of New Zealand's largest and most complex organisations, serving more than 50,000 students and engaging with local and global markets. Whether your interests lie in education, research, innovation, reputation building, community engagement, or student growth, you'll have the chance to contribute across a wide range of portfolios, projects, and strategic priorities while continuing to grow your own career.

Beyond the work itself, you'll be joining a vibrant and inclusive community. From staff networks and cultural communities to social clubs, volunteering opportunities, wellbeing initiatives, and campus events, there are countless ways to connect, contribute, and build meaningful relationships across the University.

We also offer:

• A commitment to work/life balance with a 37.5-hour working week, flexible hours, and hybrid/remote working patterns, as well as discounted public transport for permanent and long-term fixed-term staff
• A competitive remuneration package with up to 6.75% superannuation and annual salary increases with a performance-based multiplier
• Time to recharge and disconnect with five weeks' annual leave and an additional leave buy/sell scheme
• Support for parents and carers with subsidised on-site childcare (including Kōhanga Reo), gender-neutral parental leave of up to nine weeks’ full pay, and on-site parenting and feeding spaces
• A commitment to the wellbeing of our people, with confidential access to a range of EAP services, including mental health counselling, financial guidance, neurodiversity coaching, and rongoā services, a world-class on-site fitness centre, access to student specialists across our supervised training clinics, and discounted health insurance
• The opportunity to grow through access to an extensive programme of professional, leadership, and cultural development, including digital capability coaching, specialised leadership development programmes, and Te Ao Māori and Te Reo Māori learning programmes for staff
• The opportunity to build your career with one of Aotearoa’s most diverse and complex organisations

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Please submit an application online by the closing date of Friday, 16 October 2026. Please include your cover letter and CV, highlighting your interest in the role, your capabilities, and relevant experience.

Please reach out to Neil Gardner, Senior Recruitment Consultant, on [email protected] with any questions.

Reasonable accommodations - We are committed to building a more equitable and inclusive workforce and workplace, so we encourage applicants to reach out to discuss any reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process, including alternative ways to submit applications.

Whānau and support people - Should you be invited to an interview for this role, your whānau members and/or support people will be welcome to join you. The recruiter or hiring manager will provide more information about this as part of the interview arrangements.

Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment.  For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQIATakatāpuiMVPFAFF+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz