VP of Research and Insights

About this role

Weekly office requirement: 3 days per week
Seniority level: mid-senior/director level
Salary Range:$120,000 to $130,000k DOE and commission plan

At GWI we’re always looking for extraordinary people who thrive on making an extraordinary impact. Right now we’re looking for a VP of Research and Insights to play a key role on our team in New York. If that’s you, and making a difference gets you out of bed in the morning, keep reading. It could be the start of something, well, extraordinary.

Sounds great, what will I be doing? 🤔

As our VP of Research and Insights, you’ll:

Own the strategy and direction of GWI's research and insight offerings — shaping our syndicated and custom products, championing research innovation, and acting as the face of Research & Insight for both clients and internally. Our ideal candidate will excel at translating research expertise into commercial outcomes, have proven experience leading research/insight teams and partnering with revenue functions to close strategic deals, and bring deep methodological credibility along with a strong presence on stage and with senior client stakeholders.

A few things you’ll be responsible for:

Shape and develop the strategy for GWI’s research and insight offerings:

• Own the strategy for GWI’s research and insight products across its syndicated and custom offerings - working closely with adjacent teams to ensure we have the right products and capabilities, that they are evolving as the market expects, and that they are packaged/positioned competitively.

• Be the ultimate decision-maker on the themes/questions we’re covering in our syndicated products - ensuring it remains fresh and relevant to client needs, balances demand against what’s practically possible, and naturally enables/complements custom approaches. Become an expert on the best ways to combine syndicated and custom data to deliver against client needs.

• Develop original research / thought leadership that showcases GWI’s capabilities and drives new biz or expansion opportunities (e.g. one-off initiatives, themed research studies or proofs of concept).

• Support, champion, and help to develop research innovations that the company is pursuing, ensuring that their implementation within research and insight products will be successful.

Act as the face of Research & Insight:

• Be the expert in the room (internal and external) when it comes to research, ensuring that client workflows and priorities are understood and reflected in our solutions and deliverables.

• Instill confidence in GWI’s research credentials and capabilities, supporting GTM in order to drive new biz and expansion deals over the line.

• Develop relationships with key client stakeholders, spotting/developing opportunities and providing reassurance where needed

• Take the stage and present to clients / undertake relevant speaking opps (e.g. CES, SXSW, TMRE, Cannes Lions etc)

• Represent the department at company-wide meetings (e.g. Town Halls).

• Assume a key leadership role within the New York office, working with Revenue leadership to ensure the team there is clear on our strategy, capabilities and USPs.

Partner with GTM to achieve targets:

• Partner closely with Revenue leadership to ensure we hit our targets, being willing to join pitches/calls as required, spending time consulting with clients, and proactively recommending flexible approaches to pricing/packaging to ensure success (e.g., being willing to discount on bespoke work if it drives the best overall deal, or running proofs of concept where there’s a strong chance of later ROI).

• Ensure a competitive pricing framework is in place - with agreed rules of engagement for discounting (while maintaining the minimum profit margin required by the business).

• Oversee the pitch process for large, strategic deals - being the key partner / point-of-contact for senior stakeholders & decision-makers on the client side, giving them confidence that we can meet their commercial objectives.

Line manage the Directors of the Research Services and Insight Services teams

• Line manage the Research and Insight Services Directors, as well as being an aspirational figurehead for the rest of the teams.

• Ensure all members possess the necessary skills and industry knowledge, and are designing excellent research/insight solutions for clients - identifying training or development needs where they exist.

• Ensure the department is clear on, and aligned to, the company strategy.

Ensure best practice and quality in all outputs produced:

• Oversee the quality of all deliverables:

• Ensure all research is meeting quality thresholds and reflects the workflows/priorities/needs of relevant clients/prospects in our target verticals

• Ensure all insight deliverables are genuinely insightful and understand their target audiences.

• Ensure processes are in place for remedial or reactive measures, and take the lead where necessary in comms/solutions to clients where issues have been experienced.

Partner Closely with GWI leadership:

• Work hand-in-hand with the Exec and SLT to ensure the best commercial outcomes for GWI. Make decisions that are company-first, not department-first.

• Be a close collaborator with the SVP Research (overseeing the Research & Discovery and Research Operations teams), ensuring the two halves of the department are aligned and in sync, driving towards the same outcomes.

• Be a present, focused collaborator for the Product and Tech teams as we continue to evolve our offerings and look to design the best solutions and tech stack. Challenge these functions, but work with them to find pragmatic, achievable solutions - including compromises where needed.

What do I need to bring with me? 🧳

You’ll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you’re willing to learn. Here’s what the team will be looking for in you:

Technical

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