Research Lead

Job Title: Research Lead - Public Opinion Italy

Location: Italy (flexible)

Reports to: Chief Campaigns Officer

Schedule: 3–4 days per week

Our Common Home (OCH) is an organisation dedicated to protecting the places we love—our land, families, and communities. We promote civic participation to develop solutions for our changing natural environment, particularly engaging people with traditional values who feel a deep attachment to their land, traditions, family, and nation—those often left out of the conversation.

We are establishing a new organisation in Italy to support locally led efforts that safeguard natural heritage and uphold the traditions that give communities their strength and identity. Rooted in responsibility, tradition, and respect for what has been handed down through generations, we work with local leaders and organisations to strengthen stewardship, promote good governance, and ensure Italy’s rural and small-town communities remain vibrant and self-reliant.

We support communities in sustaining livelihoods for the future, helping natural heritage continue to benefit local life for generations. At the crossroads of stewardship, community, and leadership, we translate enduring values—work, responsibility, and tradition—into lasting results, keeping economies resilient, traditions alive, and freedoms safeguarded.

The Role

Research is central to OCH’s work. It shapes strategy, campaigns, and impact, helping us understand audiences, challenge assumptions, spark creativity, and design interventions that are effective and actionable. Our research spans complex, mixed-methods, multi-phase studies—including audience segmentation and public opinion research.

The Strategic Research Lead will lead local research projects including a flagship audience segmentation study. This research will directly inform the launch of OCH’s new entity in Italy. Alongside research, the role will support the entity’s establishment - guiding branding, legal set-up, and stakeholder engagement. This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic public opinion researcher who can bridge rigorous methodology with deep contextual insight, and who is eager to help shape a new organisation from the ground up. The ideal candidate will combine strong research expertise with strategic insight and local knowledge, ensuring research activities are relevant, actionable, and aligned.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of an audience segmentation study, using mixed methods to map values across Italian audiences - including questionnaire design, sampling design and data analysis
• Design complex and culture-sensitive questionnaires and discussion guides
• Analyse data, translate findings into actionable insights and develop locally grounded segment archetypes and personas.
• Synthesise findings into clear, actionable insights and reports.
• Adapt methods, frameworks, and tools for local relevance, ensuring research is grounded in Italy’s cultural, political and social realities
• Build and manage collaborations with local advisers, consultants, and research agencies.
• Guide the establishment of the new entity, including legal set-up, branding, and narrative positioning.
• Represent OCH in funder and internal meetings as needed.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong experience in applied research (qualitative and quantitative), with emphasis on turning insights into strategy and action.
• Audience segmentation experience preferred; at minimum, ability to design mixed-methods studies that inform campaigns and organisational strategies.
• Experience in audience segmentation (preferred, not required); at minimum, ability to design mixed-methods studies that inform campaigns and organisational strategies.
• Proven ability to lead research projects end-to-end, from study design to stakeholder delivery.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to connect data to narrative, insights to engagement, and research to real-world impact.
• Deep knowledge of Italy’s political, cultural, and societal context (essential).
• 6–8 years of experience in market or social research, political/social psychology, or behavioural studies
• Proficiency in survey and questionnaire design, qualitative research tools, and analysis
• Familiarity with SPSS, R, Excel, and data visualisation.
• Curiosity and solutions-oriented
• Fluent in Italian and English.

Ideal Backgrounds / Roles

• Thinktanks, policy institutes, or research-focused NGOs.
• Strategy, insights, or research teams in NGOs or international organisations.
• Market research, audience insights, or public opinion agencies.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving
• Analytical rigour and attention to detail
• Clear communication and storytelling
• Collaborative and adaptable
• Pragmatic, nimble, and action-oriented

What We Offer

• 12-month contract with the view to renew as the entity grows
• Expected commitment: 3–4 days per week
• Support from the wider network

Originally posted on Himalayas