Director, Research & Innovation

The Director of Research & Innovation will lead the Society Program efforts in researching industry trends, analyzing market conditions, and leveraging internal data to drive innovation. This individual directly manages 5 contract and FTE resources. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining innovation governance frameworks, overseeing pilot programs, and ensuring that insights are translated into actionable strategies that align with business objectives. The incumbent will collaborate closely with colleagues within the IT, Digital Products and peers in the information services divisions to establish complimentary services.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a passion for data-driven decision-making and the ability to collaborate and strategize with peers and partners to ensure innovation execution.

Research & Market Analysis

• Lead research initiatives to evaluate industry best practices, market trends, customer behaviors, and emerging technologies.
• Analyze internal data to identify opportunities for innovation and operational improvements.
• Synthesize research findings into reports and presentations to support strategic decision-making.

Innovation Governance & Strategy

• Develop, implement, and/or enhance frameworks to assess, prioritize, and manage innovation initiatives.
• Establish governance processes to ensure alignment between innovation efforts and organizational goals.
• Foster a culture of continuous innovation by identifying and promoting high-impact opportunities.

Innovation Execution & Piloting

• Oversee the development, launch, and evaluation of pilot programs to test new products, services, and processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to collect customer feedback and refine initiatives before scaling.
• Ensure pilots are effectively designed to generate meaningful insights and drive business value.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership

• Work closely with internal teams-including Product Management, Strategy, and Operations-to integrate research findings into actionable strategies.
• Act as a thought leader and advisor to executive leadership on innovation trends and opportunities.
• Lead a team of 5 researchers, analysts, and innovation specialists, providing mentorship and professional development.

Financial & Performance Oversight

• Manage the budget for research and innovation initiatives, ensuring cost-effective resource allocation.
• Track and report on key performance indicators to measure the success of innovation projects.
• Ensure alignment between financial investments in innovation and long-term strategic priorities.

This role is based in our Washington D.C. office. A reasonable rate of compensation for this position is between $200,000-$220,000 per year.

Thought Provoking - Capable of making others think deeply on a subject
Innovative - Consistently introduces new ideas and demonstrates original thinking
Leader - Inspires teammates to follow them

Entrepreneurial Spirit - Inspired to perform well by an ability to drive new ventures within the business

Bachelors of Data Analytics (preferred)
Bachelor of Arts of Social Science (preferred)
Bachelor of Science of Economics (preferred)
Bachelor of Science of Business Management (preferred)
Bachelors of Behavioral Science (preferred)

Financial oversight of projects and managing budgets. (required)
Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills. (required)
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive strategic initiatives. (required)
Strong experience in market research, data analysis, and business intelligence. (required)
Proven ability to develop and implement innovation governance frameworks. (required)
8 - 10 years: Experience in research, innovation, strategy, or a related field, with at least 3-5 years in a leadership role. (required)

MIT Exc Strat Innov (preferred)