Senior Director, Thought Leadership & Research

Grow your career with a growing organization

Whether they’re helping people reach their long-term financial goals or providing personal wealth management strategies, every associate contributes to changing the lives of those we serve for the better. When it comes to job satisfaction, that’s hard to beat. And from a personal satisfaction perspective, you’ll enjoy the freedom to support causes that matter to you and experience a truly inclusive work environment. Your future starts now.

A Senior Director of Thought Leadership & Research is an experienced thought leader, research expert and content creator with responsibility for developing data-driven insights that position our business, win share of voice, and empower people to achieve financial freedom. You will lead a small team of communications professionals and provide expertise and insights on financial topics and matters relevant to U.S. consumers, workplace and personal wealth customers.  You’ll lead the strategy and approach for original research programs and leverages data to craft compelling thought leadership content that resonates with consumers and gains headlines.

What you will do:

• Craft compelling, clear narratives using a combination of internal and market data, and original research that uncovers trends and positions Empower in financial planning, investing, and advice
• Create compelling and innovative thought leadership content, including articles, white papers, and social media posts
• Develop presentation decks for thought leadership events, such as conferences, webinars, and roundtable discussions
• Develop and execute research concepts from survey design, questionnaire and discussion guide development, and preparation of analytic reports
• Mine proprietary Empower data for compelling timely trends and storylines
• Develop financial shorts, digital soundbites, and syndication opportunities for Empower research
• Maintain a deep understanding of news trends, financial behaviors, advanced analytical skills, and the ability to transform complex data into insights that get Empower in the headlines and resonate with our customers
• Deliver competitor scans and analysis; Identify emerging trends in finance and business and regulatory to keep content relevant and ahead of the curve
• Track and report on earned and organic growth that is attributed to content, press and social efforts in line with functional and enterprise KPIs
• Utilize data analytics to understand audience behavior and preferences and adjust content strategy accordingly

What you will bring:

• 10 plus years of work experience in research and thought leadership in financial services or a related field
• Thinker and doer who is passionate about research and thought leadership, building brands, and uncovering unique storylines
• Experience developing survey questionnaires and analytic reports that lead with compelling data and insights to generate press interest and support brand priorities
• Adept at working with research partners/platforms with a deep understanding of quantitative and/or qualitative research processes
• Proven project management and strategic planning skills. Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities

What will set you apart:

• Attention to detail a must. Results oriented. Strong analytic aptitude
• Ability to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment
• Excellent presentation skills
• Demonstrable experience in writing and editing skills
• High competency in Outlook, PowerPoint, Word and Excel

***Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time, including CPT/OPT.***

What we offer you

We offer an array of diverse and inclusive benefits regardless of where you are in your career. We believe that providing our employees with the means to lead healthy balanced lives results in the best possible work performance.

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Retirement savings – 401(k) plan with generous company matching contributions (up to 6%), financial advisory services, potential company discretionary contribution, and a broad investment lineup
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250/year
• Business-casual environment that includes the option to wear jeans
• Generous paid time off upon hire – including a paid time off program plus ten paid company holidays and three floating holidays each calendar year
• Paid volunteer time — 16 hours per calendar year
• Leave of absence programs – including paid parental leave, paid short- and long-term disability, and Family and Medical Leave (FMLA