Research Director - Industry (Professional & Technology Services)

Info-Tech Research Group; Canada; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Research Director to drive impactful research and advisory services in the Professional and Technology Services sectors. This role involves conducting in-depth industry research, leading advisory calls, and facilitating workshops to help IT leaders tackle challenges in digital transformation and service management. The ideal candidate will possess a blend of industry knowledge and strong communication skills, enabling them to provide strategic insights and foster collaboration. Join a rapidly growing firm that prioritizes inclusiveness and professional development, offering a dynamic environment where your expertise can truly make a difference.

Qualifications

• 5-10+ years in IT leadership or consulting roles in relevant sectors.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct industry research and provide actionable insights.
• Lead advisory calls and facilitate workshops with clients.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Problem-solving

Clear communication

Project management

Facilitation skills

Dynamic learning mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Science, Information Systems, or Law

Professional certifications in IT strategy or project management

Tools

ITIL

PMP

COBIT

Job description

Research Director - Industry (Professional & Technology Services)

Job Category: Research & Advisory

Requisition Number: RESEA004305

Posted: March 21, 2025

Location: London, Ontario
Info Tech Research Group Head Office
345 Ridout Street North
London, ON N6A2N8, CAN

The Research Director – Professional & Technology Services is responsible for delivering Info-Tech’s research projects and advisory services to clients in the Consulting, Legal, and Technology Services / Managed Services Providers (MSPs) sectors.

This role requires deep industry knowledge and a practical, research-driven approach to help IT leaders navigate the challenges of digital transformation, service management, and technology modernization. The ideal candidate will provide actionable insights and guidance to IT decision-makers in professional and technology service firms.

A successful candidate will stay actively engaged with industry trends, client needs, and evolving best practices, ensuring our research remains highly relevant and impactful. This position involves a mix of research development, advisory services, and workshop facilitation, working collaboratively with colleagues across Info-Tech to deliver high-value industry research.

Our Promise to You

You will work for a rapidly growing company that understands the importance of supporting employees through flexibility, inclusiveness, learning and development, internal career mobility, measurement of the Employee Experience and actioning on employee feedback, and building strong relationships.

What You Will Do

Research & Industry Insights

• Conduct industry research through expert interviews, market analysis, and literature reviews to generate actionable insights.
• Stay ahead of emerging trends, regulatory developments, and evolving business models that impact technology leaders in professional services.
• Develop structured frameworks, methodologies, and tools tailored to the unique needs of Consulting, Legal, and Technology Services / MSPs.
• Contribute to the industry research agenda, ensuring we address high-impact challenges faced by IT leaders in this space.

Advisory Calls with Clients

• Lead one-on-one advisory calls, providing expert guidance and strategic recommendations on IT and business challenges.
• Help members apply Info-Tech’s published research to their unique organizational challenges.
• Scope member concerns, identify gaps in existing research, and escalate new research opportunities.

Facilitate Workshops

• Use Info-Tech’s frameworks and best practices to guide members through strategic discussions and decision-making exercises.
• Ensure workshops focus on practical, results-driven implementation for IT leaders in professional and technology services.
• Collect key insights from client teams and deliver actionable takeaways that drive real business impact.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration & Thought Leadership

• Collaborate with Advisory, Workshops, and Global Services teams to train peers on published research and enhance internal knowledge-sharing.
• Provide subject matter expertise to Sales, Marketing, Public Relations, and other teams.
• Deliver keynote presentations and thought leadership sessions at industry events and client engagements.

To Be Successful, You Will Need:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business, Computer Science, Information Systems, Law, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Professional certifications in IT strategy, service management, governance, risk, or project management (e.g., PMP, ITIL, COBIT) are an asset.
• 5-10+ years of experience in IT leadership, consulting, or industry analysis within Consulting, Legal, or Technology Services / MSPs.

Domain Expertise (must have experience in some combination of the following):

• IT & Digital Business Strategy
• Service Management & IT Operations
• IT Budget & Financial Planning
• Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
• People and Leadership
• Cybersecurity & Data Protection in Professional Services
• AI & Automation in Managed Services

Skills & Attributes

• Committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative research and advisory environment.
• Dynamic learning mindset, able to adapt research to rapidly changing industry conditions.
• Analytical mindset, capable of translating research into actionable strategies.
• Problem-solving and decision-making expertise, especially in navigating industry-specific IT challenges.
• Strong facilitation and advisory skills to work with senior IT and business leaders.
• Clear and persuasive communicator, both written and verbal, with experience presenting to executive audiences.
• Experience building trusted advisor relationships with C-suite and senior IT leaders.
• Strong project management skills to oversee research initiatives, workshop planning, and client engagements.
• Ability to guide clients through industry disruptions and regulatory shifts, ensuring resilience and adaptability.
• Ability to identify and support business development opportunities through research insights and client engagement.

Travel Requirement: Must be flexible and able to travel periodically for onsite client workshops across North America and globally.
Visa Requirement: Must be eligible to obtain appropriate work visas for cross-border work.
Work Hours: Must be available periodically for after-hours work to support APAC clients.

Info-Tech Research Group of companies is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion and does not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected status or characteristic including Minority/Female/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Disability/Veteran and are pleased to consider all qualified applicants. To that end, upon request, ITRG will ensure, to the extent possible, that accommodation be made available to applicants throughout the recruitment and hiring process.