Research Lead, Customer Insights

Salesforce•Atlanta, GA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Salesforce is seeking a Research Lead for its Customer Insights team, a key part of the marketing organization. This role is responsible for delivering objective, actionable insights to inform marketing strategy, positioning, and messaging. The Research Lead will own primary research projects from start to finish, directly influencing how Salesforce positions its products and communicates with the market. The role requires strong research instincts, curiosity about markets and buyers, and the ability to translate findings into clear recommendations that drive decisions. A significant upcoming project involves keynote message testing for Dreamforce in summer 2026.

Requirements

Solid grounding in both quantitative and qualitative primary research.
Ability to design credible studies, interpret results honestly, and recognize data limitations.
Understanding of when to bring in outside expertise.
Understanding of how research functions within a fast-moving organization.
Ability to navigate ambiguous briefs, competing stakeholder priorities, and audiences who did not commission the research.
Client-side experience or equivalent experience operating in that environment.
Genuine curiosity about buyers, business, technology, and the world.
Ability to bring outside context into research findings.
Ability to scope studies with a clear business purpose and communicate their value to non-research audiences.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to present findings clearly to senior audiences and hold a room.
Comfort with ambiguity and ability to make progress when things are unclear.
Willingness to escalate issues rather than push through alone.
Curiosity about how AI can make research faster and sharper.
Aptitude and desire to learn AI in research workflows.

Nice To Haves

Background in enterprise software, B2B technology, or CRM.
Familiarity with Salesforce products or the broader ecosystem.
Prior experience building AI-assisted workflows in research.

Responsibilities

Lead and execute primary research projects end-to-end for marketing stakeholders.
Translate business questions into well-designed studies with a clear point of view.
Maintain full accountability for research quality from brief to final delivery.
Apply appropriate quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including survey design, message testing, audience segmentation, and qualitative interviews.
Work with both supplier-led and in-house research execution.
Synthesize findings into clear, credible recommendations, focusing on the 'so what' for senior marketing stakeholders.
Develop deliverables that communicate insights effectively through strong data storytelling, visualization, and narrative framing.
Drive stakeholder alignment by collaboratively scoping studies and connecting research to business decisions.
Communicate the value of proposed studies and manage expectations throughout projects.
Surface findings proactively to stakeholders.
Leverage AI tools across the research lifecycle (design, analysis, synthesis, delivery).
Manage project load, track progress, and ensure timely delivery without compromising quality.
Flag capacity issues early.
Manage day-to-day relationships with external research agencies and vendors, ensuring high-quality standards and escalating issues when necessary.