Research Lead

Metis Strategy is a management and strategy consulting firm focused on the intersection of business and technology. We serve as trusted advisors to Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies, helping them meet critical business objectives through tailored engagements and deep professional relationships. Our work spans industries, addressing business and digital strategy, and navigating organizational change. With offices in the Washington, D.C. area, San Francisco Bay Area, and Dallas, Texas, we support clients across the U.S. and internationally. Over our 20+ year history, we’ve established a track record of driving lasting organizational performance and improving business outcomes for executives.

About the role

We are hiring a Research Lead to build and run the firm's research and insights program. This is a newly created role with the unique advantage of leveraging our existing access to senior technology executives. Metis Strategy hosts Technovation, the leading independent podcast for CIOs and CTOs at Fortune 500 and large enterprises, with 100K+ YouTube subscribers and a ranking in the top 1.5% of podcasts globally. We also host an annual executive summit and standing executive networks, backed by a decade of recorded, unscripted conversations with technology executives that have never been systematically analyzed. Your role is to turn this access—along with original primary research—into published work that earns the attention of senior technology leaders. In short: turn evidence into influence.

Responsibilities

• Owning the flagship study: Design, field, and publish the firm's annual flagship research on the Fortune 500 technology executive agenda. Own the entire process: defining the research question, designing the instrument, sampling, analysis, and the final report. One fielding should support a year of work, generating the flagship report, executive briefs, articles, summit session content, and client-facing materials.
• Co-owning the research agenda: Collaborate with partners to shape the annual research slate, determining what topics to study, their priority, and alignment with client needs, the technology executive agenda, and the firm’s strategic focus areas. Over time, take increasing ownership of this agenda.
• Running the primary research: Design and execute executive surveys and interview programs. Own the methodology end-to-end, including instrument design, sampling, weighting, quantitative analysis, and qualitative coding. Stand behind the findings when challenged.
• Mining our archive: Build a repeatable system to extract cross-cutting themes from our executive interview corpus, summit sessions, and other materials, transforming them into published insights, business development content, and firm intellectual property. This is a unique competitive advantage.
• Publishing: Translate research findings into flagship reports, white papers, executive briefs, and articles tailored to a senior executive audience. Set and uphold editorial standards for clarity, impact, and relevance.
• Presenting the work: Deliver research presentations directly to clients, on stage at our summits, at industry events, and on our podcast. Conduct interviews with senior executives as part of the research process. This role requires someone who can own the delivery of their work.
• Owning reach, not just output: Collaborate with marketing and media teams on launch campaigns, earned media, and ensuring the research reaches its intended audience. Be accountable for the impact and visibility of the work.
• Supporting commercial and client impact: Equip our teams with research-backed insights, benchmarks, and targeted analysis to strengthen proposals, sharpen delivery, and open new conversations with clients.
• Managing vendors and tooling: Oversee survey panels, data providers, and freelance editors and designers. Build and curate AI-enabled research tools to maximize productivity and maintain standards for when and how AI is used.
• Building the standards: Develop research playbooks to ensure rigor, confidentiality, and compliance with privacy and brand requirements.
• Measuring impact: Track and report on the commercial and reputational return of the research, including pipeline influenced, proposals citing proprietary data, earned media placements, and executive engagement.

This is a new function, and the person who builds it will shape its future. Over time, the Research Lead may take fuller ownership of the research agenda, scope and hire a team, and extend the flagship study into a recurring, named research franchise.

Qualifications

• Experience: Six or more years in research, insights, strategy consulting, or technology analysis, including at least two years owning a published research program end-to-end.
• Background: Experience from a management or strategy consulting firm, analyst firm (e.g., Gartner, IDC, Forrester), a consulting firm’s research or eminence team, a B2B research or thought leadership agency, or a research-led media organization.
• Research Methods: Proficiency in both primary research (survey design, executive interviews) and secondary research (market and competitive intelligence), with working fluency in a statistical environment such as R, Python, or SPSS.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree required. An advanced degree in business, technology, economics, or a related field is a plus but not required.
• Location: Washington, D.C. area preferred, with remote work considered. Day-to-day operations are fully remote, with periodic in-person team and firm events.

Skills

• Domain Fluency: Deep understanding of enterprise technology and the CIO, CTO, and CDO agenda, with a strong grasp of where business and technology strategy intersect.
• Methodological Rigor: Ability to discern when a finding is statistically or qualitatively valid and the discipline to communicate limitations transparently.
• Packaging and Storytelling: Skill in transforming research into compelling content for senior executives, including clear arguments, memorable data points, impactful charts, and presentations designed for live delivery.
• Writing: Ability to write in a way that holds the attention of senior executives. Published work will be reviewed as part of the application process.
• Executive Presence: Self-motivated and comfortable presenting to audiences, including clients, industry events, and the press. You will be the face of the research and the primary point of contact for senior executives seeking deeper insights.
• Communication Skills: Ability to communicate complex ideas concisely and adapt messaging for different audiences and media.
• Builder’s Instinct: Entrepreneurial mindset with a willingness to be hands-on. Ability to build durable systems and processes rather than relying on one-off deliverables.
• Curiosity: High intellectual curiosity and a genuine interest in emerging technologies and their business applications.
• Work Status: Eligibility to work in the U.S. without sponsorship is preferred.

Benefits

• Opportunity to define a research program that informs some of the world’s most influential technology executives, with your work published under your own name.
• Direct access to senior technology leaders through Metis Strategy’s owned channels, including a high-profile podcast, annual summit, executive networks, and direct relationships with the executives you study.
• Close collaboration with the firm’s founder and partners.
• Encouragement to identify and pursue new growth opportunities that benefit Metis Strategy and its client and partner ecosystem.
• Bonus compensation eligibility.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Parental leave and family benefits.
• Retirement contributions.
• Stipend for continued learning.
• Paid time off.

Pay

The pay range for this role is $115,000 - $165,000 USD per year, commensurate with qualifications and relevant work experience.