{"id":2145820,"url":"https://alion.io/job/talentengine-projects-and-research-manager","title":"Projects and Research Manager","company":{"id":5630,"name":"Talent Engine","domain":"talentengine.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/talentengine","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workable","truth_index":null},"role":"Science & Research","role_family":"Science & Research","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Gqeberha, South Africa"],"countries":["ZA"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":17500,"max_usd":51000,"period":"year","method":null,"sample_n":3775},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Microsoft Excel","optional":false},{"name":"Microsoft Office","optional":false},{"name":"Power BI","optional":false},{"name":"Tableau","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-05T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-05","last_verified_at":"2026-10-12T00:30:16Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":7,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":7},"description":"About the Projects and Research Department\nThe Projects and Research team at Lightstone delivers high quality market research, customer experience measurement and bespoke project solutions. We manage complex, high value projects across multiple industries, with a particular focus on the automotive sector. Our department includes skilled Project and Research Managers, a dedicated Quality Auditing team and a professional outbound research team.\nWe work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where accuracy, insight and delivery are key. Our focus is on translating data into meaningful stories that support decision making for our clients. The team thrives on curiosity, adaptability and a commitment to continuous improvement, while maintaining a strong connection to Lightstone’s values of participation, responsiveness and winning together.\nAs an Intermediate-level Projects and Research Manager, you will be responsible for managing and delivering research and bespoke projects from start to finish. You will play a key role in ensuring projects are scoped correctly, timelines are met, and outputs meet quality standards.\nYou will work closely with Senior Managers, internal teams and external stakeholders to coordinate delivery, resolve issues, and communicate progress clearly. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys problem-solving, has a passion for data-driven insights, and takes pride in seeing projects through to completion.\nWhile not a formal leadership role, you will guide project contributors, collaborate across departments, and contribute to process improvements. The position demands focus, ownership and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.\nKey Responsibilities\nManage research and bespoke projects from initial scoping through to final delivery, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope and to the required quality standards.\nDevelop project plans, timelines, budgets and deliverables, and monitor progress throughout the project lifecycle.\nWork closely with clients to understand their requirements, provide regular updates and ensure expectations are effectively managed.\nCoordinate internal teams, including Project and Research Managers, Quality Auditors and research teams, to ensure seamless project execution.\nDevelop and maintain strong project documentation, including project briefs, schedules, progress reports and status updates.\nIdentify project risks, issues and dependencies, and proactively implement solutions to minimise impact on delivery.\nOversee data collection and research activities, ensuring accuracy, consistency and adherence to agreed methodologies.\nReview project outputs and ensure that deliverables meet quality, accuracy and client requirements before final submission.\nAnalyse research findings and contribute to translating data into meaningful insights and recommendations for clients.\nManage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritising competing deadlines and maintaining strong attention to detail.\nSupport continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to improve project processes, methodologies and ways of working.\nCollaborate with senior stakeholders and contribute to project planning, problem-solving and decision-making.\nSupport junior team members through guidance, knowledge-sharing and coaching where required.\nMaintain strong awareness of industry and market trends, particularly within the automotive sector, to enhance project outcomes and client value.\nRequirements\nQualifications /Requirements\nMatric/Grade 12 is a minimum requirement\nComputer literate in MS office \nBusiness Administration, Public Relations, Marketing Management Degree or equivalent\nA valid driver’s license and own transport advantageous. \nExperience\n3+ years’ experience in a project or research management role.\nExperience managing multiple client or internal projects simultaneously.\nExposure to customer experience or market research environments preferred.\nTechnical Skills\nProficient in working with, analysing and reporting on data.\nSolid knowledge of Microsoft Excel (including formulas, pivot tables and basic data modelling).\nConfident using Microsoft Office Suite products.\nExposure to BI tools such as Power BI or Tableau advantageous.\nProfessional approach to report writing and documentation.\nAble to communicate findings clearly and confidently to stakeholders.\nSkilled at managing all phases of a research project from scoping to delivery.\nGood understanding of workflow planning and resource coordination.\nKeen interest in customer experience measurement, data quality and insight generation.\nCommitment to process improvement and delivery efficiency.\nBenefits\nBenefits\nProvident Fund, Life and Disability Insurance\nIncentives/Performance Bonuses (based on meeting specific targets)\nProfessional Development/Study Assistance\nTraining and Progression: There is a strong emphasis on skill development, career progression, and \"care and growth\"\nOffice Perks: In-office benefits have included \"wellness days\" and \"Braai month\" celebrations\nLeave: 25-days annual leave entitlement\n2-month paid sabbatical every 5 years of continued service\nEmployee Wellness Programme\nCompany Overview\nLightstone Auto is an intelligent solutions company with strong, automotive industry-specific expertise and core capabilities in Dealer systems (Sales, Stock, Marketing and F&I), market performance and forecasting analytics and data management.\nWe specialise in delivering integrated, online knowledge solutions, batch and real-time data quality solutions, and a broad range of dealership-focused analytical products to a range of automotive manufacturers, dealerships, government and financial services clients.\nWe hire exceptional people and provide them with an environment where they can excel. Our non-corporate culture encourages flexibility, collaboration and innovation.\nWe pride ourselves on our core values to Encourage Participation, Respond to Changing Needs and Win Together, which are reflected in each development, project, product or service we undertake to deliver.","description_format":"text","description_chars":6088,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Annual leave","Professional development"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Professional Services","Human Resources"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-09T04:21:51Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":82,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.822,"p_room":1,"age_days":5,"expected_fill_days":21,"reasons":["conf:2","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-10T05:45:15Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/talentengine-projects-and-research-manager","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/talentengine-projects-and-research-manager.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-12T03:07:21Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":4720,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-13T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":5630},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=5630"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Ftalentengine-projects-and-research-manager"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Ftalentengine-projects-and-research-manager"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Ftalentengine-projects-and-research-manager"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/talentengine-projects-and-research-manager\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Ftalentengine-projects-and-research-manager"}]}