Senior Manager, Market Research

Xylem•Washington, DC

About The Position

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions. Shape strategy with data-driven insight. We are seeking a Senior Manager, Market Research & Strategic Insights to lead high-impact research initiatives that inform business strategy, strengthen market positioning, and drive growth. This role is ideal for a seasoned insights professional who combines strong analytical expertise with strategic thinking, executive communication, and cross-functional leadership. This senior-level position will play a critical role in translating market intelligence, customer insights, and competitive analysis into actionable recommendations for marketing, product, and business leaders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
5+ years of progressive experience in market research, consumer insights, competitive intelligence, or strategic analytics
Demonstrated expertise in areas such as: Consumer behavior, preferences, and motivations
Competitive analysis and market positioning
Market opportunity assessment and demand analysis
Product and pricing research
Proven experience designing and leading specialized research studies, including surveys, focus groups, interviews, and data analysis
Strong proficiency with quantitative research and statistical analysis tools such as SPSS, R, or Python
Familiarity with qualitative research methods, including interviews, thematic analysis, and content analysis
Ability to synthesize complex information and communicate insights clearly to executive and non-technical audiences
Strong project management skills with experience managing multiple priorities and stakeholders

Nice To Haves

Strategic vision and the ability to anticipate market shifts
Strong executive presence and influential communication style
Experience mentoring and developing talent
Collaborative mindset with the ability to lead through partnership and credibility

Responsibilities

Lead strategic market research initiatives
Design and execute qualitative and quantitative research projects to answer critical business questions
Define research objectives, methodologies, and data collection approaches
Analyze complex datasets and synthesize findings into clear, compelling insights
Deliver strategic recommendations that influence business and marketing decisions
Monitor market dynamics and competitive intelligence
Track industry trends, market shifts, customer behavior, and competitor activity
Identify emerging opportunities, risks, and whitespace in the market
Provide ongoing insight to senior stakeholders on market conditions and business implications
Drive business and marketing strategy
Partner with marketing, product, sales, and leadership teams to inform strategic planning
Apply research insights to support segmentation, targeting, positioning, and go-to-market decisions
Evaluate performance of strategies and recommend adjustments based on data and trends
Manage high-visibility research programs
Oversee end-to-end project execution, including timelines, deliverables, budgets, and resources
Coordinate internal teams, external research vendors, and key stakeholders
Ensure research quality, methodological rigor, and data integrity throughout the process
Advance research capabilities
Leverage modern research platforms, analytics tools, and visualization technologies
Identify opportunities to improve research efficiency, scalability, and impact
Stay current on best practices, tools, and innovations in market research and insights
Communicate with influence
Develop presentations, reports, and executive-ready summaries that clearly communicate findings
Present insights and recommendations to senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders
Serve as a trusted advisor by translating data into business relevance and action
Lead across teams
Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners to align insights with organizational priorities
Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external research partners
Mentor junior team members and help elevate the overall insights function