VP of Research and Insights

GWI•New York City, NY

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

At GWI, we are seeking an extraordinary individual to join our team in New York as the VP of Research and Insights. This role is crucial for shaping our syndicated and custom research and insight offerings, driving innovation, and representing Research & Insight both internally and externally. The ideal candidate will translate research expertise into commercial success, lead research teams, partner with revenue functions, and possess strong methodological credibility and executive presence.

Requirements

Technical expert understanding of methodologies including U&A, segmentation, brand tracking, advertising effectiveness, and concept testing/development.
Understanding of the syndicated research landscape, including key competitors.
Ability to build holistic research solutions spanning syndicated and custom approaches.
Ability to articulate the benefits of advanced analytics techniques.
Deep knowledge of program design, quotas, weighting, and standard/GWI-specific research practices.
Expertise in study design, translating business questions into questionnaires that deliver clear insight.
Ability to produce exceptionally well-written and well-designed outputs that address business needs and research objectives.
Knowledge of and willingness to integrate AI within research for efficiency and output enhancement.
Enthusiasm for integrating synthetic research within GWI’s offerings.
Ability to turn data into impactful stories.
Strategic judgment: anticipate challenges, connect insight, and make decisions balancing immediate needs with the bigger picture.
Adaptability: comfortable with change and able to keep pace in a growing environment.
Commercial Fluency: understand value creation for customers and the business, driving smarter decisions and sustainable growth.
Highly organized: manage multiple projects and initiatives with strong process and operational discipline.
Collaborative: comfortable working across teams and time zones.
Transformational leadership: craft a compelling vision, foster innovation, inspire, motivate, and empower people.
Excellent public speaker, confident and able to tell impactful stories on stage.

Nice To Haves

Experience partnering with revenue functions to close strategic deals.
Strong presence on stage and with senior client stakeholders.
Experience in a mid-senior/director level role.

Responsibilities

Shape and develop the strategy for GWI’s research and insight offerings, including syndicated and custom products, ensuring market relevance and competitive positioning.
Determine themes and questions for syndicated products, balancing market demand with practical feasibility and complementing custom approaches.
Develop original research and thought leadership to showcase GWI's capabilities and drive new business opportunities.
Support and champion research innovations, ensuring successful implementation within products.
Act as the primary expert on research for clients and internal teams, understanding client needs and reflecting them in solutions.
Instill confidence in GWI's research credentials and capabilities to support Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies and drive deals.
Develop relationships with key client stakeholders, identifying opportunities and providing support.
Present at client meetings and industry speaking engagements (e.g., CES, SXSW, TMRE, Cannes Lions).
Represent the department at company-wide meetings.
Assume a key leadership role in the New York office, aligning the local team with company strategy, capabilities, and unique selling propositions.
Partner closely with Revenue leadership to achieve targets, participating in pitches, consulting with clients, and recommending flexible pricing and packaging.
Ensure a competitive pricing framework is in place with clear rules of engagement for discounting.
Oversee the pitch process for large, strategic deals, acting as the key point-of-contact for senior client stakeholders.
Line manage the Directors of the Research Services and Insight Services teams, acting as an aspirational figurehead.
Ensure team members possess necessary skills and industry knowledge, identifying training needs.
Ensure the department is aligned with company strategy.
Oversee the quality of all deliverables, ensuring research meets quality thresholds and insight deliverables are genuinely insightful.
Implement processes for remedial or reactive measures and lead communications for client issues.
Collaborate with GWI leadership to achieve optimal commercial outcomes, prioritizing company-first decisions.
Work closely with the SVP Research to ensure alignment between Research & Discovery, Research Operations, and Research & Insight teams.
Collaborate with Product and Tech teams to evolve offerings and design solutions and tech stacks.
Challenge Product and Tech teams while working pragmatically towards achievable solutions.