Research Team Leader

Due to business growth we have a brand new opportunity as a Team Leader, to take responsibility for the people management and performance oversight of a team of 20 Research Analysts within our Mergers & Acquisitions Research Department. This role is not a technical research position, but a leadership role focused on driving team performance, development and engagement.

The ideal candidate will have strong emotional intelligence and a supportive leadership style, fostering a culture of trust, support and autonomy, while also being firm and direct when managing performance issues. They will play a pivotal role in ensuring the team operates efficiently, meets high standards and continuously develops within a fast-paced, results-driven environment.

The role requires in office presence four days a week, with the core anchor days Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, leaving the option of Monday or Friday to work from home.

Key Responsibilities will include:

People & Performance Management:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 20 Research Analysts, ensuring high engagement and motivation.
• Conduct regular one-to-ones, performance reviews, and coaching sessions to support team members’ growth.
• Set clear expectations and KPIs, ensuring the team meets research quality, efficiency, and output standards.
• Proactively identify and address performance concerns, using a firm but supportive approach to improvement plans.
  
  
  

Team Development & Culture:

• Maintain and reinforce a culture of trust, accountability, and autonomy while ensuring team alignment with business objectives.
• Support career progression within the team, identifying training needs and growth opportunities.
• Champion open communication and act as a key point of escalation for challenges within the team.
• Drive a continuous improvement mindset, encouraging the team to think beyond black-and-white research methodologies.
  
  
  

Operational Leadership:

• Work closely with two Technical Leads to ensure research quality and best practices are upheld.
• Support the Head of Research in resource planning, workload allocation, and departmental initiatives.
• Provide data-driven insights on team performance and suggest improvements to enhance output and efficiency.
  
  
  

Key Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience in people management and performance leadership, ideally within research, data analysis, or a professional services environment.
• Strong emotional intelligence, with the ability to motivate, support, and challenge team members effectively.
• Ability to balance autonomy and accountability, empowering team members while ensuring high performance.
• Experience in coaching and mentoring individuals at different stages of their careers.
• Confidence in handling performance management, feedback conversations, and development plans.
• Ability to analyse team performance metrics and make informed decisions to drive improvement.