Head: Research

4 months ago


Johannesburg, South Africa Absa Bank Limited Full time

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together one story at a time.
- With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group. Job Summary

Job Purpose:
The Head of Group Market Research and Insights at Absa will be responsible for designing and executing research and insights initiatives that provide the bank with a deep understanding of its target audiences, market trends, competitive landscape, digital business and brand performance. This role oversees the analysis of data to provide strategic guidance to a company. Responsibilities include managing a team, building a research & insight strategy, interpreting data to support decision-making, identifying opportunities for growth, and ensuring that insights align with business goals across all Absa markets.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:
1. Strategy Development:

- Lead the research strategy for both traditional and digital channels to support the company’s growth objectives.
- Align research insights with overall business strategies, helping inform decisions across marketing, product development, and operations.

2. Research Execution:

- Oversee qualitative and quantitative research projects, including surveys, focus groups, market assessments, competitive analysis, and trend forecasting.
- Leverage digital tools (Google Analytics, social listening platforms, CRM data, etc.) to monitor online consumer behavior, digital marketing performance, and trends.
- Conduct both primary and secondary research to identify consumer insights and emerging trends in digital markets.

3. Digital Insight Generation:

- Develop and manage digital analytics programs to track customer journeys, digital engagement, website traffic, and social media performance.
- Implement advanced tools such as SEO/SEM analytics, social media analytics, and content performance metrics to offer insights that optimise digital presence.

4. Team Leadership:

- Build and manage a high-performing research and insights team, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
- Collaborate with other departments to align research goals with business objectives, ensuring insights are actionable across the organization.

5. Stakeholder Engagement:

- Present findings and insights to senior leadership, creating clear and compelling narratives that guide decision-making.
- Work closely with marketing, product development, and customer experience teams to ensure that insights are translated into impactful strategies.

6. Market and Consumer Trends:

- Identify and monitor key market trends, consumer preferences, and industry shifts, particularly in the digital space, to keep the organisation ahead of the curve.
- Conduct competitive analysis and benchmarking to ensure the business remains innovative and responsive to market dynamics.

7. Innovation and Technology:

- Explore new digital tools and methodologies to enhance research capabilities, such as AI-driven insights, predictive analytics, and machine learning.
- Stay updated on the latest research tools, digital trends, and best practices in consumer and market research.

8. Reporting and Insights Delivery:

- Develop comprehensive reports and dashboards that summarize key insights from research and digital data analytics.
- Offer recommendations for optimizing customer experience, product offerings, and digital strategies based on findings.

Key Accountabilities:

- Translation of business objectives into strategic research plans and methods that create business insights.
- Managing research projects from start to finish, using quantitative and qualitative research methods to provide insights that inform the bank's digital marketing and business strategies.
- Collaborate closely with the Head of Marketing and other departments, analysing complex data sets, identifying key trends, patterns, and insights that inform strategic decision-making
- Ensuring research initiatives are aligned with the bank's overall marketing and business objectives
- Stay up to date with the latest market research trends and technologies and advise the Head of Marketing on how to incorporate them into the bank's research initiatives.
- Research Strategy & Integration between Group Functions, business units and Absa markets
- Collaborate closely with the Head of Media and Digital analysing complex digital and media data sets, identifying key trends, patterns, and insights that inform strategic decision-making
- Develop innovative research tools that can provide budget and time efficient results
- Managing Target setting for all projects and developing the performance matrix for post-performance results
- Managing research and insight partners and ensuring the brand is connected and involved in industry associations

Key Skills and Competenci



  • Johannesburg, South Africa FirstRand Full time

    About us, purpose, experience and qualifications **about us**: - getting those that are not saving to save, - getting those who are saving to save more effectively, and - helping to fund Africa **purpose**: - Ashburton Investments is a new generation investment manager that offers investors access to more sources of return and more ways to manage risk....


  • Johannesburg, South Africa The Recruitment Council Full time

    Our client is looking for an individual to join their company as the Head of Credit Research. Our client provides investors access to a range of specialist funds and investment opportunities in global markets. **Responsibilities**: Management: - Propose and oversee credit research strategy and framework for the company’s business - Management of all...

  • Researcher.2.01

    2 weeks ago


    Johannesburg, South Africa University of the Witwatersrand Full time

    **Purposes of Job**: The successful incumbent will report to the Head of Department of Radiation Oncology in the School of Clinical Medicine and will be responsible for the**Key tasks**: - Delivery of the Department research agenda, in particular to promote the MMED/PhD program for the in the Department-- - Develop and foster relationships with...

  • Research Lead

    2 weeks ago


    Johannesburg, South Africa Resource Solutions Full time

    Do you want a career that offers constant development? With a company that’s growing fast all over the globe. Do you want to work with the biggest clients? The coolest technology? The most innovative projects? Do you want global career moves? A smarter work/life balance? Or maybe you just want to be part of the team transforming the way businesses find...

  • Senior Researcher

    3 days ago


    Johannesburg, South Africa University of the Witwatersrand Full time

    **Purposes of Job**: **The successful incumbent will report to the Head of Department of Anaesthesiology in the School of Clinical Medicine and will be responsible for the **development of a research unit**, initiating, supporting and operationalising of research project(s) within the Department. **Key tasks**: **Development of a functional funded research...


  • Johannesburg, South Africa Phanda Personnel CC Full time

    **Purspose of the Job;** The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) is a leading research intensive faculty at the University, producing over 750 ROU (research outputs units) per year. The faculty has a goal of promoting innovationin research with a particular focus on encouraging intellectual property generation by its academic staff. In...


  • Johannesburg, South Africa She Recruits Full time

    This role will suit you if you have a passion for using and collecting data to create databases / knowledge repositories ensuring timeous, accurate and reliable information on a global scale. **Qualifications required**: University degree in accounting, finance, business, or IT - essential Post graduate qualifications - advantageous **Skills and...


  • Johannesburg, South Africa Medecins Sans Frontieres South Africa Full time

    **About MSF** Doctors without Borders (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation committed to two objectives: providing medical assistance to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion, natural and man-made disasters; and speaking out about the plight of the populations assisted. MSF offers assistance...

  • Head of School.1.01

    7 months ago


    Johannesburg, South Africa University of the Witwatersrand Full time

    As Head of the School of Clinical Medicine, you would have the chance to shape the future of healthcare education and research, collaborating with a dynamic team to enhance the school's relevance and effectiveness in the field. **Responsibilities**: The Head of School provides strategic direction, vision, and leadership for the academic unit. They are...

  • Head of School.1.01

    4 months ago


    Johannesburg, South Africa University of the Witwatersrand Full time

    - As Head of the School of Clinical Medicine, you will have the chance to shape the future of healthcare education and research, collaborating with a dynamic team to enhance the school's relevance and effectiveness in the field. **Responsibilities**: The Head of the School will be responsible for providing the academic vision and leadership required to...


  • Johannesburg, South Africa University of Johannesburg Full time

    Advert reference: uj_000695 Advert status: Online - **Position Summary**: **Industry**:Education & Training **Job category**:Education and Training **Campus**:Auckland Park Kingsway Campus **Contract**:Fixed Term Contract **Remuneration**:Market related **EE position**:Open to all **Level**:Senior **Introduction**: The University of Johannesburg (UJ)...


  • Johannesburg, South Africa Vega School Full time

    **Vega School** is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE). The IIE enjoys the reputation of being at the forefront of private higher education in South Africa and is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to provide higher education qualifications accredited by the Council on Higher Education...


  • Johannesburg, South Africa Dynexity Full time

    My client within Financial Services is looking for a Manager Research Analyst to join their dynamic team. Must have completed BCom (Hons) / Business Science Degree in Finance, Economics, Investment Management or similar with at least 2 years manager research experience within multi-manager, funds or asset consulting environment. eVestment and Morningstar...


  • Johannesburg, South Africa On Line Personnel Full time

    Full Time - Johannesburg - Posted 6 hours ago Job Position**:Marketing Research and Customer Insights Manager** Ref: 4460 Location: Johannesburg (Sandton) **Salary**: Commensurate with qualification and experience Qualifications / Requirements: - Recognised 3 year National Diploma / Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce / Business Management / Marketing...

  • Head of Faculty

    2 weeks ago


    Johannesburg, South Africa Educor Full time

    **Head of Faculty - Commerce (JB2895)**: Woodmead, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Education **Head of Faculty - Commerce (JB2895)** **Woodmead** **Market Related** The Head of Faculty is responsible for full programme management for the portfolio of programmes in the faculty. This means accountability for programme development and curriculum reviews, assessment...

  • Head: Data Analytics

    3 weeks ago


    Johannesburg, South Africa Outsource Business Management SA Full time

    Position Title**:HEAD: DATA ANALYTICS** Area**:SANDTON** Role Description and Duties: **INTRODUCTION**: The Head of Data Analytics will lead the organisation’s data analytics strategy, drive data-related business programs in an aggressive effort to transform and revolutionise into a data and analytics **DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES**: **Analytics...


  • Johannesburg, South Africa Six Sense Full time

    Gauteng, JHB - Northern Suburbs - Annually Cost To Company (Market related) A well-established short-term insurer is seeking to appoint a Head of Business Intelligence The Head of Business Intelligence is responsible for all business intelligence activities within company. This would include being responsible for the identification and monitoring of key...


  • Johannesburg, South Africa Latitude Resource Full time

    An African leader in the geo-spatial market research, data and advisory industries that specialises within the retail, property and investment sectors is seeking to employ an Associate or Consumer Insights Research Analyst with Feasibility Study Research and Data Analytics experience on a permanent basis. The Associate is required for their Consumer...

  • Head of Faculty

    2 weeks ago


    Johannesburg, South Africa Kontak Recruitment SA Full time

    Woodmead, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Education **Head of Faculty - Commerce (JB2895)** **Woodmead** **Market Related** The Head of Faculty is responsible for full programme management for the portfolio of programmes in the faculty. This means accountability for programme development and curriculum reviews, assessment alignment and development, module...


  • Johannesburg, South Africa Communicate Recruitment Full time

    Our client is looking for a Head of Finance and Administration. Duties and responsibilities: - Day to day financial administration - Monitor cash flows. - Maintain stakeholder relationships. - Forecasting and budgeting - Assist in achieving company financial goals. **Education**: - CA(SA) - SAP (preferred) For more information, contact: Caitlin...