Senior Director, Research

Location: New York

Are you an experienced investment industry research leader who wants to shape industry thinking on a global scale?

Do you enjoy developing researchers and analysts, elevating the quality and impact of published work, and serving as a trusted voice on the issues shaping investment management?

Are you looking for an opportunity to combine research excellence, people leadership, and thought leadership within a mission-driven organization that influences the future of the investment profession?

If so, CFA Institute may be the place for you.

The Research & Policy Center (RPC) at CFA Institute is seeking a Senior Director, Research to play a pivotal leadership role in strengthening the quality, oversight, and impact of our global research portfolio. This role combines strategic research leadership, team development, editorial oversight, and external engagement to help advance CFA Institute’s mission of promoting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence across the investment industry.

Reporting to the Senior Head of Research, you will help shape and oversee a diverse portfolio of research initiatives, mentor and develop researchers, contribute original thought leadership, and represent CFA Institute across industry, academic, policy, and media forums. This is a unique opportunity to influence investment practice globally while helping build the next generation of research talent.

What You’ll DoLead, mentor, and develop a team of researchers, providing guidance, coaching, and developmental support to strengthen research capabilities and professional growth.

Oversee research projects from concept through publication, ensuring methodological rigor, analytical quality, and alignment with organizational priorities.

Provide editorial review, quality assurance, and constructive feedback across research outputs to ensure publication readiness and consistency.

Author and contribute to original research, thought leadership, and industry analysis on topics relevant to investment professionals and capital markets.

Develop and refine research proposals that support strategic priorities and emerging industry themes.

Translate complex research findings into accessible, high-quality publications and thought leadership content for external audiences.

Serve as a senior subject matter expert and spokesperson for CFA Institute research.

Represent CFA Institute at conferences, industry events, academic forums, media engagements, and stakeholder meetings.

Build and maintain relationships with academics, practitioners, policymakers, industry experts, and external research partners.

Monitor developments across investment management, capital markets, regulation, and industry practice to inform research priorities.

Help scale and strengthen the research function by expanding senior review capacity, improving research workflows, and reducing publication bottlenecks.

Contribute to the continuous evolution of research standards, editorial excellence, and portfolio-wide quality assurance practices.

What We’re Looking For Extensive experience conducting, leading, publishing, or overseeing research within investment management, asset management, investment banking, financial services, policy, or related fields.

Demonstrated success managing, mentoring, or developing staff and research teams.

Strong track record of producing, reviewing, and supervising high-quality research and thought leadership.

Deep understanding of investment management, capital markets, and industry trends.

Experience presenting research findings to senior stakeholders, industry audiences, media, or conference attendees.

Proven ability to evaluate research methodologies, provide critical review, and improve research quality and impact.

Strong written communication skills with the ability to transform complex analysis into compelling, publishable content.

Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills with confidence representing an organization externally.

Experience operating effectively within complex, global, multi-stakeholder environments.

Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution and delivery.

Bachelor’s degree required;…