Director, Research Advisory Services

The Role in Brief

EAB is the leading global provider of research and advice to higher education and K-12 institutions. Our research programs help executives at client organizations educate stakeholders, make research-informed decisions, and speed implementation of industry best practices.

Primary Responsibilities

• Terrain Mastery: Build and maintain issue expertise across research terrains, with a special focus on those most important to members across the university executive cabinet at educational institutions and the teams they lead each day: including the delivery of dynamic strategy to guide transformation; advancement and fundraising strategy; campaign readiness and execution; and donor and alumni engagement.
• Content Delivery and Facilitation: Work directly with partners to diagnose their problems, challenge their assumptions, guide decisions, and suggest solutions. Deliver EAB’s point of view and advice through phone consultations, virtual meetings, conferences, and on campus presentations to:
• Made EAB insights and data accessible and impactful for our partners, bringing clarity and context to their understanding of their challenges;
• Present partners with new ideas and potential solutions to those challenges and advocate for adoption;
• Act as an expert outside voice, building consensus and educating committees and staff.
• Customer Success and Commercial Support: Collaborate with the research customer success team to execute on a scalable and impactful partner delivery model and deliver high-impact client interactions. Support sales in new partner development.
• Research Collaboration: Leverage terrain expertise to generate original insight and content in assigned areas (e.g., blog posts, social media posts, briefings, presentations, etc.). Actively participate in ongoing research processes and share market insights with research colleagues to inform future EAB insights and deliverables.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with an excellent academic record and 6 - 8+ years of post-graduate professional experience
• Experience working with client executives, either at a college, university, district, or school or as a consultant or advisor
• Superior verbal, written, facilitation, and presentation skills
• Ability to create a compelling narrative through data visualization, graphics, and slides
• Excellent relationship building and collaboration skills; ability to build relationships with and engage and challenge senior-level executives

Ideal Qualifications

• Advanced degree
• In-depth understanding of education industry and the specific role that senior institutional leadership has in setting strategy and decision making
• Demonstrated ability to distill market and terrain insights, drawing on client interactions
• Experience producing written content and deliverables for an executive-level audience (e.g., blogs, social media feeds, reports, briefings)
• Commitment to embracing a continual learning environment and contributing to a dynamic and welcoming culture of fairness, authenticity, and belonging in support of EAB’s mission, values, and aspiration

Compensation

The anticipated starting salary (base) range for this role is $76,500 - $115,000 per year. Actual salary varies due to factors that may include but not be limited to relevant experience, skills, and location. At EAB, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the starting salary range for their role.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans; dependents and domestic partners eligible
• 20+ days of PTO annually, in addition to paid firm and floating holidays
• Daytime leave policy for community service and flextime for fitness activities (up to 10 hours per month each)
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with annual discretionary company matching contribution
• Health savings account, healthcare and dependent care flexible spending account, and pre-tax commuter plans
• Employee assistance program with counseling services and resources available to all employees and immediate family
• Wellness programs including gym discounts, incentives to promote healthy living, and family access to the leading app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation
• Fertility treatment coverage and adoption or surrogacy assistance
• Paid parental leave with phase back to work program for birthing and non-birthing parents
• Access to milk shipping service to support nursing employees during business travel
• Discounted pet health insurance coverage for dog and cat family members
• Company-provided life, AD&D, and disability insurance
• Financial wellness resources and membership in a robust employee discount program
• Access to employee resource groups, merit-based advancement, and dynamic professional growth opportunities