Position Overview
Scouting America is seeking a dynamic, innovative, and strategic leader to serve as our Director of Research. This highly impactful role is central to advancing a data-driven culture across the organization by transforming insights into action that drives decision-making, strengthens programs, and enhances member engagement.
Reporting to the SVP, Communications & Marketing, the Director of Research will lead the development and execution of enterprise-wide research strategies aligned with organizational priorities. This individual will oversee a team responsible for delivering high-quality primary and secondary research that supports product design, program evaluation, marketing effectiveness, and member experience. You will also be responsible for managing budgets as well as outside agencies. The ideal candidate is both a strategic thinker and a hands-on leader who can translate complex data into clear, actionable insights that influence senior leadership and organizational direction.
Responsibilities
- Develops long-term research plans that align with business goals with a focus on increasing membership and revenue to the organization.
- Supervises, hires, provides performance management, and mentors research staff, data analysts and scientists. Establishes goals for the research team that are aligned with the organizational strategy and department goals.
- Oversees research projects, data collection, and analysis to ensure accuracy, compliance, and ethical standards.
- Partners across the organization with internal business units, councils, volunteers, and vendors to understand business needs, enhance strategy development, and ensure implementation of research findings.
- Presents complex findings to senior leadership, stakeholders, volunteers, and lay audiences through reports and presentations.
- Allocates resources effectively and efficiently and working with fundraisers to secure additional resources.
- Stays updated with industry trends, technological advancements, market trends in youth development, and competitors
- Partners with outside research vendors to gain accurate data with actionable results. This includes writing RFPs with actionable objectives, overseeing data collection and reporting for accuracy of insights.
- Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Competencies
- Knowledge of: quantitative and qualitative research techniques, data analysis, survey design; product/service lifecycles, user experience, and iterative design processes; consumer behavior, segmentation, and trends.
- Skill in: written and verbal communication and presentation; analyzing data, identifying key insights, and drawing actionable conclusions; translating research findings into actionable strategies for program, product, or service development; using research software, data visualization tools, and statistical analysis programs. Proficiency in data analysis software, statistical methods, online survey systems, data aggregation and visualization tools.
- Ability to: lead and motivate research teams, build relationships with stakeholders, and manage budgets effectively; manage multiple research projects with competing deadlines and resources.
Education
Master’s degree minimum, Doctoral degree preferred, in social science, youth development or a related field from an accredited college or university.
Qualifications
- At least 10 years’ experience in research, with demonstrated leadership of research teams, project management skills, and designing and executing successful research projects that impact business decisions.
- Must pass a criminal history background check.
Any work-related experience resulting in acceptable proficiency levels in the above Minimum Qualifications is an acceptable substitute for the above-specified education and experience requirements.
Preference
Scouting program knowledge a plus but not required.
