Director, Research and Market Intelligence

Zelis•St. Louis, MO

2d•$169,000 - $213,750•Hybrid

About The Position

At Zelis, we Get Stuff Done. So, let’s get to it! A Little About Us Zelis is modernizing the healthcare financial experience across payers, providers, and healthcare consumers. We serve more than 750 payers, including the top five national health plans, regional health plans, TPAs and millions of healthcare providers and consumers across our platform of solutions. Zelis sees across the system to identify, optimize, and solve problems holistically with technology built by healthcare experts – driving real, measurable results for clients. A Little About You You bring a unique blend of personality and professional expertise to your work, inspiring others with your passion and dedication. Your career is a testament to your diverse experiences, community involvement, and the valuable lessons you've learned along the way. You are more than just your resume; you are a reflection of your achievements, the knowledge you've gained, and the personal interests that shape who you are. Position Overview The Director of Marketing Research is a senior leader responsible for setting the vision, strategy, and execution of all primary and secondary marketing research initiatives across the organization. This role ensures that insights drive business growth, inform strategic decisions, and strengthen competitive positioning. The Director oversees multiple teams, manages large budgets, and serves as a key advisor to executive leadership. What You’ll Do: Leadership - Lead quantitative and qualitative research across business units and within marketing to deliver actionable business insights and intelligence. Lead an international team of analysts, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture with responsibility for recruiting, mentoring, and leading a team. Analytics – Provide key frameworks and be the subject matter expert on research methodologies, interpreting survey results, nurture and define best practice statistical techniques, and where necessary reform and refine methods and survey questions while keeping business needs and realities top of mind. Competitive Intelligence – Lead efforts in competitive analysis, delivering actionable intelligence that informs the Zelis marketing, sales, and product strategies. Innovation – Ensure a culture of openness and willingness to pursue experimentation while establishing efficient processes within the Research & Insights team, including testing and utilizing AI and synthetic research techniques. Embrace the art and science of customer and consumer insight generation. What You’ll Bring to Zelis: Be a proven insight leader within a complex organization and industry. While a PhD in organizational psychology, psychology, economics, statistics or other related field and 8+ years in a research role is highly desired; PhD ABD will be considered or a combination of the following: MS in statistics, economics, math, or other quantitative field and 10+ years of experience in a research role, with a minimum of 3 years in a leadership role. Passion for bringing process and structure to support research, insight and data driven decisions. Strong experience understanding complex buying groups within payers and health systems. Strong understanding of market adoption dynamics where purchasing decisions and usage decisions are made by different stakeholders. Past experience designing and leading multi-stakeholder quantitative and qualitative research across varied functions such as marketing, product planning, and sales. Expertise in segmentation insights and frameworks across B2B and B2B2C audiences and the ability to translate into actionable buyer/user personas. Experience measuring and optimizing brand perception, trust and adoption across B2B and B2C markets. Experience conducting research across long sales cycles. Experience in competitive intelligence tools, processes and development of sell- against sales enablement. Ability to synthesize research into clear narratives for executive, commercial and stakeholder audiences with varying levels of data fluency. Experience translating research into go-to-market strategy across multiple audiences with distinct value propositions. Proven leadership skills with a team of global, highly analytical individuals. Ability to manage relationships and projects with third party vendors, contractors, and outside consultants as well as internal clients. Growth-oriented and adaptable; able to excel in fast-paced environments with complex data needs. Strong track record of mentoring individuals and growing teams in the U.S. and India. Must be a self-starter and quick learner. Healthcare industry experience preferred but not required. Please note at this time we are unable to proceed with candidates who require visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Requirements

Be a proven insight leader within a complex organization and industry.
While a PhD in organizational psychology, psychology, economics, statistics or other related field and 8+ years in a research role is highly desired; PhD ABD will be considered or a combination of the following: MS in statistics, economics, math, or other quantitative field and 10+ years of experience in a research role, with a minimum of 3 years in a leadership role.
Passion for bringing process and structure to support research, insight and data driven decisions.
Strong experience understanding complex buying groups within payers and health systems.
Strong understanding of market adoption dynamics where purchasing decisions and usage decisions are made by different stakeholders.
Past experience designing and leading multi-stakeholder quantitative and qualitative research across varied functions such as marketing, product planning, and sales.
Expertise in segmentation insights and frameworks across B2B and B2B2C audiences and the ability to translate into actionable buyer/user personas.
Experience measuring and optimizing brand perception, trust and adoption across B2B and B2C markets.
Experience conducting research across long sales cycles.
Experience in competitive intelligence tools, processes and development of sell- against sales enablement.
Ability to synthesize research into clear narratives for executive, commercial and stakeholder audiences with varying levels of data fluency.
Experience translating research into go-to-market strategy across multiple audiences with distinct value propositions.
Proven leadership skills with a team of global, highly analytical individuals.
Ability to manage relationships and projects with third party vendors, contractors, and outside consultants as well as internal clients.
Growth-oriented and adaptable; able to excel in fast-paced environments with complex data needs.
Strong track record of mentoring individuals and growing teams in the U.S. and India.
Must be a self-starter and quick learner.

Nice To Haves

Healthcare industry experience preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Lead quantitative and qualitative research across business units and within marketing to deliver actionable business insights and intelligence.
Lead an international team of analysts, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture with responsibility for recruiting, mentoring, and leading a team.
Provide key frameworks and be the subject matter expert on research methodologies, interpreting survey results, nurture and define best practice statistical techniques, and where necessary reform and refine methods and survey questions while keeping business needs and realities top of mind.
Lead efforts in competitive analysis, delivering actionable intelligence that informs the Zelis marketing, sales, and product strategies.
Ensure a culture of openness and willingness to pursue experimentation while establishing efficient processes within the Research & Insights team, including testing and utilizing AI and synthetic research techniques.
Embrace the art and science of customer and consumer insight generation.

Benefits

Zelis’ full-time associates are eligible for a highly competitive benefits package as well, which demonstrates our commitment to our employees’ health, well-being, and financial protection.
The US-based benefits include a 401k plan with employer match, flexible paid time off, holidays, parental leaves, life and disability insurance, and health benefits including medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.

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