Director, Analyst - Research & Development (US Remote - East Coast/Central)

About the role:

Gartner Analysts are industry thought leaders who create must-have research, market predictions and best practices for a broad range of world-leading organizations. A Director possesses a keen eye for identifying gaps, problems and solutions within the market they serve. They use their knowledge to help clients make better decisions, solve complex issues and execute new practices that propel clients’ businesses toward key objectives. A Director publishes these insights as pragmatic and/or provocative research. Additionally, they reinforce Gartner’s value every day by engaging clients via in-person and virtual meetings, sales support visits, Gartner conferences and industry events.

As a thought leader in new product development, R&D leadership, and digital transformation, you will build insights and advise Heads of R&D on leading trends, use cases and best practices in the field.

Successful candidates will have an expert understanding of the following key areas:

• Concept Design and Prototyping: Methodologies for reducing concept rework late in development, engaging internal and external stakeholders in prototype evaluation and testing; design for manufacturability.    
• Development Cycle Integration:  Specifically, approaches for integrating hardware and software development cycles and teams to efficiently deliver high quality new products to market.
• NPD Process Governance: The most successful methods to boost the productivity of R&D teams developing new products, including but not limited to agile development practices, team governance structures, and discovery driven planning approaches.
• R&D Digital Transformation:  Knowledge of and interest in exploring how to use advanced analytics methods, artificial intelligence, and other technologies to advance R&D’s mission, specific to new product development.

What you will do:

• Engage senior-level Heads of Research & Development by building relationships, establishing credibility, conducting substantive content discussions, diagnosing needs, solving problems, and identifying relevant resources.
• Conduct research and analysis in new product development and technologies used to facilitate and make new product development activities faster and more efficient.
• Write high quality, clear, actionable advisory research documents focused on new product development processes, governance, team structures, and associated technologies.
• Create high quality, clear, actionable, “must-have research” content based on research best practices and methodologies
• Provide high quality and timely research content peer review
• Advise clients on digital transformation of new product development processes, including application of technologies like artificial intelligence into R&D operations.
• Support Research and Sales: Provide sales support serving as voice of the market to help research teams create content and to drive engagement with clients to make progress against their critical priorities to grow their business

What you will need:

• Bachelor's degree; Graduate degree preferred
• 10 years of Research & Development experience
• Direct experience in Product Development within the Research and Development function that produce physical products in manufacturing intensive industries (i.e., industrial manufacturing, chemicals, aerospace & defense, food and beverage).
• Demonstrate executive presence; can immediately establish credibility with executives and additional stakeholders
• Strong organizational skills: ability to work under tight deadlines and produce high quality deliverables
• Demonstrate excellence in research and writing ability
• Strong written and verbal proficiency, analytical and presentation skills; ability to engage clients and respond effectively to questions
• Proficient in analyzing and synthesizing data; can effectively apply patterns and frameworks while drawing and defending conclusions to client challenges
• Strong communicator who is able to explain complex concepts concisely and simply
• Subject matter expert comfortable presenting at large and small-scale speaking engagements
• Strong business and financial acumen
• Deep knowledge of the global and competitive landscape within subject area as well as the interplay in that market
• Ability to work independently, while also being intrinsically motivated to collaborate across teams and support the workflow of others, in a multicultural global team
• Learning agile and adept with navigating highly matrixed environments
• Ability to represent Gartner's research methodology and strategies effectively at all levels
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25%

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