Head of Strategic Research

Location: Remote; must be based in the United States or Canada, preferably on East Coast hours. Occasional travel to offices in the US, UK, and other locations, plus regular travel to conferences and industry events.

Salary: $170,000+ USD or $190,000+ CAD annually; bonus scheme also offered.

Company

hirify.global, Explorer, and Plinc are connected research and insight businesses within the Next 15 Communications Group, combining quantitative and qualitative research, proprietary technology, and consulting.

What you will do

• Own research design, governance, methodological quality, and credibility across hirify.global, Explorer, and Plinc.
• Act as the methodological authority and final point of judgment on research quality across the group.
• Shape the group’s research agenda and raise standards across research, commercial, marketing, and product divisions.
• Represent the group externally through published writing, industry speaking, media engagement, and discussions with clients and academics.
• Identify responsible uses of AI, technology, and automation to strengthen research design, improve consistency, reduce manual effort, and increase efficiency.
• Collaborate across three businesses while influencing through collegiality, practical judgment, and strong communication rather than direct authority.

Requirements

• Extensive experience conducting primary research, with deep expertise across a variety of methodologies, including quantitative, qualitative, or both.
• Background spanning agency, consultancy, client-side, academic, or think-tank environments.
• Strong track record as a methodological authority, internally and/or externally, with credibility to make final judgments on research quality.
• Senior-level experience shaping research practice beyond an individual team.
• Evidence of public-facing work, including writing, speaking, or media engagement on research topics.
• Intellectual curiosity, current knowledge of developments in research methods and technology, and high standards for accuracy and intellectual honesty.
• Familiarity with sectors such as FMCG, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, technology, financial services, or retail.
• Experience using secondary research data.

Culture & Benefits

• Remote role with flexible working practices and occasional travel requirements.
• Generous paid time off allowance, health package, and retirement plan.
• Bonus scheme and team and company social events.
• Committees focused on health and wellbeing, charities and volunteering, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Inclusive culture with mentoring, coaching, and extensive training programs.
• Visa sponsorship is not available.