Research Manager, Investor Services

WA Communications is hiring a Research Manager to join its industry-leading Investor Services practice. The team works with private equity investors and financial institutions to assess the impact of political trends and regulatory changes on investment decisions. 

This role presents an exciting opportunity for an experienced public affairs, research or policy professional with keen commercial instincts looking for a new challenge. 

WA Communications has a proud history of addressing policy, legislative, regulatory, and reputational issues affecting businesses across the UK and beyond. Working across five practices – Investor Services, Strategic Communications, Health, Research and Creative – we focus on outstanding results for our clients and creating a dynamic, collaborative team that enjoys working together. 

The successful candidate will work for a range of clients, including global, pan European and UK-focused private equity and institutional investors to support their M&A transactions.  

The role offers exposure to a wide range of high-profile policy and political issues, including healthcare, energy, infrastructure, financial services and education. You will manage the delivery of due diligence projects providing high quality analysis, deep insight and detailed advice to senior investors. You will be supported by an outstanding team and be able to draw on the knowledge, skills and expertise of specialist consultants from across WA. 

What we are looking for 

• A strong understanding of policy and politics and the ability to communicate policy impact in a neutral, accurate manner.   
• Excellent research and problem-solving skills – the ability to draw out the implications of complex evidence to present clear analysis and recommendations. 
• Outstanding written communication skills, with proven ability to write concise analysis within tight deadlines to audiences with varying degrees of expert knowledge. 
• Strong oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex issues to non-specialists. 
• Excellent organisational skills including the ability to prioritise effectively and be comfortable working under pressure and to tight deadlines.  
• Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to work within a team and across the company to deliver results for clients.  

Rewards and benefits: 

• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays, and your birthday day off 
• Competitive salary 
• Hybrid working plus core working hours, to allow for greater flexibility and work life balance 
• Discretionary bonus: up to 10% of salary paid quarterly annually based on performance 
• Wellbeing benefits including private healthcare, heavily subsidised gym membership, cycle to work scheme and all office social events 
• Competitive pension plan 
• Focus on your personal development, including external training and professional coaching 
• Opportunities to connect, network and work with pioneers in our industry 
• Become part of a growing and award-winning people focused agency 
• Feel confident you are making a strategic impact on the biggest challenges for our clients and supporting the WA vision and growth 

To apply 

Please send a CV and cover letter to contact@wacomms.co.uk. Your cover letter should not be longer than one page, setting out your interest in the role and why you believe you are a good choice for it. 

The deadline for applications is Friday 1st July 2022. We will start interviewing strong candidates who apply early, so you are encouraged to apply soon. Start date immediate subject to notice periods. 

We are WA 

We look for people who share our intellectual curiosity and who love to work on interesting, knotty challenges. We are consistently driven by a desire to deliver outstanding results for our clients and attract people who truly care about providing an excellent standard of work. 

Our diverse, high quality client base will allow you to get your teeth into exciting and important business, communications and policy issues. What you do will have true, real world impact. There is enormous job satisfaction to be gained from that. 

We think the best client service is one tailored carefully to the client’s individual needs. A service that can draw on the skills and expertise of specialist consultants. We actively encourage teamwork across our practices and place real value on collaboration to deliver on our clients’ communication objectives. 

We are committed to professional development at all levels and want everyone to feel their career is consistently moving forward. This is underpinned by a culture of honest, constructive feedback and investment in coaching and training. 

We think it’s important to enjoy your work environment too, and we all genuinely enjoy working together! We support flexible working, provide a generous holiday package and we are committed to wellbeing. 

Equal opportunities statement 

WA Communications is an equal opportunities employer ensuring that all applicants are treated equally and fairly throughout our recruitment process. We are determined that no applicant experiences discrimination on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, disability, age, gender identity, ancestry, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. At WA, we welcome all to apply for roles with us, as we appreciate the great value of diversity. We continue to build our consciously inclusive culture as part of our people centred approach and welcome all applications from diverse backgrounds.