Researcher

Walpole Governance

• Be the custodian of Walpole’s Articles of Association, ensuring they are reviewed as appropriate.
• Research best practice from other trade associations or sector bodies and make recommendations to the AD of Govt Relations accordingly.
• Ensure Walpole’s internal policies – e.g., on safe AI usage – are up to date and reflect best practice.

Councils and Roundtables

Walpole’s councils and member roundtables are where members share practical experience, challenge assumptions, and explore the issues shaping British luxury. They provide much of the insight and evidence that inform our advocacy, research, and member programs. This role ensures those discussions are well organized, well supported, and translated into work that has lasting value.

• Coordinate the Corporate Affairs Council and the Legal Affairs Council and support roundtables, convened across the Senior Leadership Team’s areas of responsibility.
• Work with the relevant member of the Senior Leadership Team to shape the agenda for each meeting, and with the Membership team to identify and invite the right mix of members.
• Prepare briefing papers for attendees and the Walpole host ahead of each meeting.
• Capture the discussion, produce minutes for members, and clear, concise summaries that inform Walpole’s research, advocacy, and communications.

Research, Insight, and Project Management

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research on the British luxury sector and the wider luxury market.
• Design, manage, and analyze data from member surveys and information-gathering initiatives, including the quarterly CEO Sentiment Survey, to identify trends, opportunities, and challenges.
• Project manage research delivered by external partners, keeping projects on time, on budget, and to brief, so the Senior Leadership Team and colleagues can be confident that every stage is progressing as planned.
• Support the development of Walpole’s major research outputs, including the five-yearly Economic Impact Study.

International Programme Support

• Support the delivery of Walpole’s annual international program.
• Research target international markets to inform activities and draft country and market insight summaries.
• Help capture and communicate the outcomes of international engagement so it can be communicated to members and stakeholders.

Writing and Content

• Draft clear, well-structured content for reports, white papers, and insight summaries for an informed business audience.
• Develop thought leadership pieces on topics affecting the luxury sector.
• Translate data and research into accessible, compelling narratives, working with Communications on how findings are packaged and amplified for members, media, and wider audiences.
• Draft briefing materials for meetings with political, industry, and international stakeholders.

Member and Stakeholder Engagement

• Work with Walpole members to gather industry insights and case studies.
• Create and maintain a topic-based list of member examples and anecdotes to support policy, advocacy, and communications work, examples of categories, covering trade impacts, customs burdens, regulatory complexity, labor costs, and supply chain disruption.
• Build relationships with counterparts at other trade bodies and member organizations to support research and insight objectives.
• Maintain the CRM public policy engagement database, keeping a diligent record of government stakeholder interactions.

How This Role Works Across the Senior Leadership Team

Reporting directly to the Associate Director of Government Relations & Policy, in practice, this role delivers work for three Associate Directors, in this order of volume: Government Relations & Policy, Member Development & Insights, and Communications & Reputation. Day-to-day priorities are agreed directly with whichever of the three has requested the work; where demands compete, this is resolved by the role’s line manager.

Skills and Experience

• This is a second or early third-role appointment: someone looking to build on the experience gained in an initial role or two, rather than a graduate-entry position.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret both qualitative and quantitative information.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with experience producing clear, well-structured content for a professional audience.
• Experience drafting reports, briefings, consultation responses, or evidence-based insight.
• Experience supporting committees, councils, or working groups would be an advantage.
• Project management experience, including coordinating work delivered by external research or consulting partners, would be an advantage.
• An understanding of public affairs, government, or consultation processes would be beneficial.
• The ability to translate complex information into clear, concise, and engaging written material.
• Strong attention to detail and sound editorial judgment.
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders and industry leaders.

How You Work

• You are curious, thoughtful, and interested in business, policy, and the wider forces shaping the economy.
• You are highly organized, able to manage multiple projects simultaneously, and keep colleagues informed of progress, priorities, and deadlines.
• You are equally comfortable analyzing data and communicating what it means.
• You are collaborative and proactive, with the confidence to work with senior colleagues, keep projects moving, and raise issues early when they need attention.
• You build strong relationships with colleagues, members, and external partners and enjoy working as part of a small, collaborative team.
• You have a genuine interest in the luxury sector and the issues shaping its future.