Head of Research & Insights

Valley Bank • Morristown, NJ

1d

About The Position

This role is responsible for leading the research and insights function, translating customer, market, and competitive intelligence into strategic recommendations that drive business impact. The Head of Research & Insights will establish and own a centralized insights function, acting as the single source of truth and trusted voice of the customer. This position requires synthesizing diverse data sources into actionable narratives, identifying unmet customer needs, and embedding insights into product development, marketing, and customer experience to foster differentiation and growth. The role also involves managing external research partners, leveraging AI and advanced analytics, and delivering compelling executive-level storytelling while building high-performing teams.

Requirements

• Proven track record of translating customer and market insights into strategic recommendations that drive measurable business impact.
• Deep expertise across qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including segmentation, value proposition, brand tracking, journey mapping, and voice-of-customer.
• Ability to manage research vendors, agencies, and third-party data providers.
• Skilled in selecting, briefing, and optimizing partners to deliver high-quality, actionable insights.
• Familiarity with leading research platforms, syndicated data sources, and emerging insight tools.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and lead a centralized insights function as the trusted, authoritative voice of the customer.
• Ability to synthesizing disparate data sources (research, behavioral, competitive, market) into clear, cohesive narratives.
• Strong capability in uncovering unmet needs, customer motivations, and competitive whitespace.
• Track record of embedding insights into product, marketing, and experience design.
• AI & Future-Forward Mindset and experience leveraging AI and advanced analytics tools to accelerate insight generation, synthesis, and activation.
• Highly curious, hands-on adopter of emerging technologies and new research methodologies.
• Proven ability to experiment with and scale innovative tools to create competitive advantage in customer understanding.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to distill complexity into clear, compelling recommendations.
• Exceptional storytelling and executive communication skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership.
• Comfortable influencing senior stakeholders without formal authority.
• Bachelor's degree in business, data science, psychology or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years in consumer insights, market research & insights or customer strategy in financial services or a multi-product environment.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in business, psychology, data science.
• Experience building or scaling an insights function.

Responsibilities

• Translate customer, market, and competitive insights into strategic recommendations that drive measurable business impact.
• Lead end-to-end qualitative and quantitative research (e.g., segmentation, value proposition, brand tracking, journey mapping, voice of customer).
• Establish and own a centralized insights function as the single source of truth and trusted voice of the customer.
• Synthesize diverse data sources (research, behavioral, competitive, and market intelligence) into clear, actionable narratives.
• Identify unmet customer needs, key motivations, and competitive whitespace to inform strategy and innovation.
• Embed insights into product development, marketing, and customer experience to drive differentiation and growth.
• Manage and optimize external research partners, agencies, and data providers to deliver high-quality insights.
• Leverage AI, advanced analytics, and emerging tools to accelerate insight generation and create competitive advantage.
• Deliver compelling executive-level storytelling and build high-performing teams focused on strategic impact and innovation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior