Senior Director, Insights Research

Global Strategy Group (GSG) works at the intersection of business, politics, and causes. Our team is made up of a great group of professionals who come from various backgrounds in strategic communications, research, and public affairs. Our culture and values play an integral role in how we operate, and we work hard to bring passion, energy, and drive to everything we do! Global Strategy Group is the go‑to public affairs, communications, and research partner for brands, causes, and campaigns. We work with our clients to build their reputation, tackle big challenges, and win.

We are seeking a Senior Director to join our Insights research team. This role focuses on public affairs and corporate reputation research — helping clients strengthen their reputation, guide public affairs initiatives, and craft compelling positioning that resonates with key stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will be based in Washington, DC and bring experience in public affairs, political, and/or corporate reputation research. Candidates should understand how political, legislative, regulatory, and media dynamics intersect — and how research can help organizations navigate complex issues. Qualified candidates must have experience leading quantitative (surveys) and qualitative (focus groups and online discussion boards) research projects from beginning to end.

The role requires a proactive and resourceful researcher with superior attention to detail and critical thinking skills, who enjoys doing the work directly — from survey design and instrument writing to analysis and storytelling — in addition to managing teams and clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead qualitative and quantitative research projects from beginning to end, managing junior staff, with ultimate accountability for project success and quality of work product.
• Conceptualize and produce expert level deliverables, including questionnaires, qualitative guides, and research analyses. Hold the pen on questionnaire development and be actively involved in the analysis deliverable.
• Maintain the highest level of quality for all steps of the research process to final deliverable(s), ensuring that work product adheres to established standards. This includes reviewing partials, providing edits, discussing weighting targets with data team, and actively troubleshoot project fielding issues.
• Manage project teams, provide clear direction, oversee work product, and ensure project profitability.
• Moderate qualitative research engagements, including in‑depth interviews, focus groups, and online discussion boards.
• Ability to manage client relationships independently with minimal oversight from account lead.
• Exhibit a strong strategic voice that clients look to for recommendations.
• Lead new business proposal and pitch process, helping produce, edit, and deliver business proposals and presentations. Conceptualize and develop research designs and methodological approaches for new business to meet client research objectives.
• Responsible for training, managing, and overseeing junior staff. Must exhibit strong supervisory skills of any direct reports to manage their work and professional development.
• Proactively identify client growth opportunities and provide recommendations to the team.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience managing and leading public affairs, political, and/or corporate reputation research projects.
• Background in politics, campaigns, or Hill experience preferred, with interest in applying that expertise to corporate reputation and public affairs research.
• Strong understanding of political strategy and dynamics, with the ability to translate that experience into research and insights for corporate and public affairs clients.
• Advanced experience in executing every stage of a research project with comfort owning the day‑to‑day work including drafting questionnaires, analyzing data, synthesizing findings, and developing client‑ready materials.
• Strong strategic and consulting voice.
• Experience with the marketing and new business process, including writing proposals and producing pitch decks, developing methodologies and research programs, and producing thought leadership content.
• Experience with client‑facing responsibilities, including leading client engagements and delivering pitch presentations to prospective clients.
• Experience with moderating focus groups.
• Expert‑level project management and organizational skills and a proven ability to successfully juggle multiple assignments.
• Team player with the ability to collaborate and maintain strong working relationships.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring, training, managing employees, and delegating appropriately.
• Demonstrated experience staying on top of research industry trends and developing new techniques and methodologies in line with them.

Salary and Benefits

The base salary for this position is between $120,000 to $135,000 commensurate with experience plus eligibility for a discretionary bonus. GSG provides a comprehensive benefits package including excellent coverage for medical, vision, and dental insurance; paid parental leave; generous time off and holidays; 401k with employer match; and additional benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Global Strategy Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment on any legally recognized basis including, but not limited to: race, religion or creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran status, uniform service member status, or any other protected class under federal, state or local statute.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation to complete your online application or participate in the interview process, please reach out to or call (212) 260‑8813 and ask to speak to someone in Human Resources – Talent Acquisition.