AI Research Lead

Avanade Company•Chicago, IL

About The Position

As the AI Research Lead for the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, you will lead end-to-end research programs that combine industrial-organizational psychology, data science, and real-world insights to uncover how individuals, teams, and organizations adapt and thrive. You will lead end to end research programs that connect individuals, teams, and organizations as we go forward in the Human+ world. You will scope research with executives and clients, design and validate measurement instruments, work with complex datasets, and translate findings into clear narratives, metrics, and decision frameworks. You will develop junior researchers, collaborate with cross functional technical and business teams, and represent Avanade in both internal and external forums. At Avanade, research isn't an ivory tower exercise, it's a client-facing capability that drives business decisions and has measurable outcomes. You'll work at the pace of consulting, balancing rigor with pragmatism, and translating complex analyses into frameworks that clients can act on and learn from. Your work will directly influence client strategy, product roadmaps, and organizational transformation. Come Join us At Avanade, the Research team is focused currently on the future of Human+. For this role you: Are passionate about understanding how AI, digital ecosystems, and organizational systems shape work, performance, and well being. Work out in the open, using transparent, reproducible methods, sharing code, frameworks, and insights, and inviting challenge and collaboration. Are committed to growth, continuously building new skills in data science, organizational research, and AI, and developing the next generation of researchers. Have a bias for evidence backed action, using data, experiments, and people metrics to guide decisions, not hype or assumptions. Are hypothesis driven, grounding each project in clear questions about how technology, people, and organizations interact, and testing them rigorously. The Office of the CTO helps Avanade and its clients understand how AI and emerging technologies reshape work, skills, and organizational design. Through applied research, experimentation, and deep collaboration with product, engineering, and business teams, we generate insights, measurement frameworks, and playbooks that drive smarter workforce and technology decisions. Our team is dedicated to strong scientific rigor and analytics that connect people and technology.

Requirements

Education:
PhD strongly preferred, or Master’s degree, in Industrial Organizational Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Data Science, Quantitative Social Science, or a closely related field that combines people research and advanced analytics.
Experience:
3+ years of applied research experience in industry, technology, consulting, or a similar environment conducting data-intensive, multi-stakeholder studies
Proven ability to design and deliver workforce or organization-focused research using mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative)
Experience working with or alongside technology and product teams, ideally with exposure to AI-enabled tools or digital collaboration environments
Proven ability to work under ambiguity and time pressure while maintaining methodological integrity with comfort presenting to and being challenged by senior executives or clients
Consulting, client-facing, or applied research experience strongly preferred
Research and Communication:
Portfolio of research outputs such as reports, white papers, or analytical articles demonstrating depth and clear storytelling
Ability to present complex findings to non-research audiences, including senior leaders and clients
Strong stakeholder management skills—you build trust and collaborate across disciplines.

Responsibilities

Design and Execute Research Projects:
Design and run research projects from scoping through analysis and insight generation, using mixed methods including surveys, interviews, experiments, and behavioral data analysis
Develop and validate measurement instruments (scales, surveys, indices) with appropriate reliability and validity testing
Apply rigorous quantitative methods—regression, multilevel models, factor analysis, experimental and quasi-experimental designs—to understand how AI and digital tools impact work outcomes
Document methods, assumptions, and limitations transparently using reproducible, open approaches
Investigate AI's Impact on Work:
Explore how AI, automation, and digital ecosystems change jobs, skills, workflows, collaboration patterns, and team dynamics
Analyze datasets including surveys, people analytics, collaboration data, and product usage data to generate evidence-backed insights
Partner with engineering, product, and architecture teams to define what to measure, how to instrument systems, and how to evaluate impact
Separate meaningful effects from hype using robust research design and critical analysis
Translate Data into Action and Thought Leadership:
Build clear, executive-ready data visualizations and dashboards using Power BI or Python/R libraries that enable leaders to monitor workforce and AI-related metrics
Apply best practices in psychometrics, data storytelling, and visual design so insights are interpretable and actionable for non-technical audiences
Develop client-ready deliverables including white papers, executive briefings, and implementation frameworks that balance analytical rigor with clear business recommendations
Develop executive briefs, slide narratives, and client one-pagers tailored to senior stakeholders
Lead project workstreams within client engagements, facilitating workshops, and building client confidence in research-driven recommendations
Develop Talent and Build Assets:
Mentor junior researchers and analysts, coaching them in research design, coding, analytics, visualization, and stakeholder engagement
Contribute to shared research assets such as survey libraries, scale repositories, analysis templates, and visualization standards
Foster a collaborative and growth-oriented culture where strong ideas are debated constructively

Benefits

Opportunity to work for Microsoft’s Global Alliance Partner of the Year (14 years in a row), with exceptional development and training (minimum 80 hours per year for training and paid certifications)
Real-time access to technical and skilled resources globally
Dedicated career advisor to encourage your growth
Engaged and helpful co-workers genuinely interested in you
A great place to work As you bring your skills and abilities to Avanade, you’ll get distinctive experiences, limitless learning, and ambitious growth in return.
As we continue to build our diverse and inclusive culture, we become even more innovative and creative, helping us better serve our clients and communities.
You’ll join a community of smart, supportive collaborators to lift, mentor, and guide you, and to lean on your expertise.
You get a company purpose-built for business-critical, leading-edge technology solutions, committed to improving the way humans work, interact, and live.
We work hard to provide an inclusive, diverse culture with a deep sense of belonging for all our employees.
Avanade offers a competitive suite of market benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability coverage, a 401(k) plan, bonus opportunities, paid holidays, and paid time off.