Executive (12 Month FTC) | Research, Insight and Consulting | London, UK

We're hiring three Executives to join Savanta on a 12-month fixed-term contract, and we're most interested in your curiosity, reasoning and potential.

We are looking for candidates with a deep curiosity about people and a desire to make a difference. We value talent and are dedicated to supporting your personal and professional goals.

About Us:

Savanta is a market research and data business. We help organisations make better decisions by telling them what people actually think, through surveys, interviews, our own tracking platforms and increasingly through AI and automation. Our clients range from household-name consumer brands to government departments, broadcasters and charities.

With over 500 people across offices in multiple countries, we combine deep research expertise, proprietary technology and high-impact consulting to give our clients a complete view of their markets, their customers and their competitors.

We're part of the Next 15 group, and we work to the standards of the MRS Code of Conduct and ISO 27001, which is a formal way of saying that doing research properly, and handling people's data properly, genuinely matters here.

About the Role:

Market research is changing, so we are changing our entry-level role. You do not need a research background, a specific degree or prior knowledge of Savanta.

What you do need is to show us why you are the best person for this role.  We are looking for candidates who are passionate about their work, curious about the why, and want to provide excellent research and insight to our clients.

Over twelve months, you'll rotate through different parts of Savanta and work on live client projects, learning how market research is made from the first client conversation through to the final debrief across sectors such as consumer brands, public sector and media.

This role will be based in our London office, with the expectation to be in the office 1-3 days a week.

What the Year Looks Like:

This is a structured rotational role. You'll spend around three months in each of our three main research divisions, followed by three months across Commercial, Clariti and Operations, with exposure to specialist platforms including BrandVue and Plinc.

We're building the detailed plan and training programme with our Learning & Development team, so the exact sequence will be confirmed before you start.

Nine months across the research divisions:

• Brands - brand health, tracking and innovation research for consumer and B2B clients


• Public - research for government, public sector and not-for-profit clients


• Media & Tech - research for broadcasters, media owners and advertising and marketing clients
  

Then three months across the wider business:

• Commercial - the commercial engine of the business: pricing, proposals and new business support


• Clariti - our 'agency for agencies', covering audience access, survey programming, dashboard solutions and advanced analytics


• Operations - how projects are resourced, scripted, delivered and quality-checked behind the scenes

Most people specialise early in this industry and never see the rest of it. You'll see very different client sectors, and the machinery behind them, before you choose.

What you'll actually be doing:

Supporting project teams, and getting properly involved rather than watching from the side:

• Keeping projects moving - knowing where every project is up to and making sure nothing falls through the cracks.


• Monitoring surveys while they're live, checking scripts, and updating clients on progress.


• Checking data and tables closely enough to spot when something looks wrong.


• Summarising interview recordings and transcripts, using AI-assisted tools where they help.


• Building charts, checking them against the source, and adding context that makes a finding land.


• Contributing to analysis sessions and sitting in on client debriefs.


• Using automation and generative AI - from Excel and PowerPoint automation through to an introduction to Python or R - to take the grind out of the repetitive parts, always within our AI governance and client confidentiality rules.


• Helping cost projects, source supplier quotes and pull together context for new business proposals.

We're looking for people who are:

• Curious - you ask why, notice when a number looks odd and want to understand what is behind the answer, not just what the answer was.


• Resilient - research runs to deadlines, plans change, and sometimes the data doesn't say what everyone hoped. You stay steady and keep going.


• Hard-working - you take pride in getting the detail right, and you'd rather check something twice than let an error reach a client.


• Genuinely interested in people - what they do, what they buy, what they believe, and why.


• Open to technology - you do not need to code, but you should be interested in using AI, automation and new tools responsibly to improve how research is delivered.


• A good teammate - you'll be supporting a lot of different people this year, and you'll get back what you put in.

What we are not looking for: a specific degree, a specific university, prior research experience, or a perfectly linear career so far. If you've been working in hospitality, retail, admin, teaching, the arts or anything else and you recognise yourself in the list above, we'd like to hear from you.

Why Join Us:

You'll join an entrepreneurial, inclusive business that values its people and supports career development through mentoring, coaching and structured training.

Savanta is investing in technology and AI-led innovation, giving you early exposure to how modern research is evolving while working within clear governance and confidentiality standards.

And in return, Savanta offers:

• Salary: £28,000


• Unlimited annual leave


• Hybrid working


• Flexible working practices


• Ongoing Training & Development


• Health & Wellbeing package


• Financial Health (pension, life assurance, etc.)


• Employee Assistance Programme


• Team & Company Socials


• Committees for Health & Well Being, Charities & Volunteering and DE&I

How to apply:

To be considered, please submit your CV and a short cover letter by 9am on Monday 24th August 2026. Your cover letter should tell us why you are interested in Savanta and why this role is right for you.

We encourage authentic responses that reflect your own experience and approach. Candidates should avoid relying on Generative AI to write cover letters or application responses, as this may be considered during the review process.

The process:

• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to one-to-one telephone interviews in late August or early September 2026.


• A group assessment day is expected to take place at our Great Portland Street office on Friday 25th September 2026, subject to confirmation.

Please note:

• Estimated start date for successful candidates will be Monday 2nd November 2026.

• Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.

• The application window may close early due to high volumes of applications; therefore, we recommend you apply soon.

Should you need a reasonable adjustment or support in submitting your application owing to a disability or neurodivergence, please contact [email protected] referencing “Executive Application Support” in the subject field.

Savanta is committed to being an equal opportunities employer and continuously strives to be an employer of choice. Our people are our greatest asset - we value workplace diversity and inclusion, oppose all forms of unlawful discrimination, and welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates of all backgrounds.

All candidates will be considered equally, however, unfortunately we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

For information on how Savanta uses your data, please see https://savanta.com/about/careers/job-opportunities