Director of Research

Williamblair; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 350,000 - 450,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and vision coverage

Short & long‑term disability

Life insurance

401(k)

Profit sharing

Paid time off

Maven family & fertility benefit

Parental leave

Job summary

William Blair in Chicago seeks a Director of Research to set strategic direction, oversee performance, and drive growth of the research franchise. You will lead a large team, uphold high standards in valuation, and ensure investor relevance across SMID and large-cap coverage.

The role focuses on leadership, talent development, budget decisions, and leveraging technology to advance research capabilities, while representing the franchise to institutional investors and strengthening client

Qualifications

• Experience leading institutional equity research of meaningful scale with strategic, talent and resource- allocation responsibilities.
• Proven ability to build high-performing teams and establish clear performance expectations.
• Credibility with investors and analysts to represent William Blair’s research franchise and engage clients.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction of William Blair’s research franchise, ensuring quality and differentiation.
• Lead a research organization of 120+ professionals with clear leadership and accountability structures.
• Oversee research product and coverage strategy, balancing SMID-focused and large-cap coverage.
• Uphold research integrity and valuation discipline while prioritizing investor value.
• Represent the franchise to institutional investors and industry participants to strengthen market positioning.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

People management

Communication

Execution

Influence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, or related field

MBA

Job description

Solutions for Today’s Challenges. Vision for Tomorrow’s Opportunities.

Join William Blair, the Premier Global Partnership.

The Director of Research is responsible for setting the strategic direction, overseeing the performance, and driving the continued growth of William Blair’s research franchise. This role leads a large, complex research organization by developing a strong leadership team, establishing clear performance expectations, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The Director provides strategic oversight of research quality, product differentiation, coverage priorities, talent management, compensation, and resource allocation to ensure alignment with the firm’s business objectives. A key priority is maintaining and strengthening the franchise’s differentiated SMID-focused research offering, complemented by coverage of leading large-cap companies, while evolving the research product to meet changing investor needs and market dynamics. Working closely with Institutional Sales & Trading and other senior business leaders, the Director drives the franchise’s competitive positioning, strengthens institutional client engagement, and supports its long-term growth and success.

Responsibilities include but may not be limited to:

• Set the strategic direction of William Blair’s research franchise, ensuring research quality, differentiation, investor relevance, and alignment with the firm’s business objectives.
• Lead a research organization of more than 120 professionals, including ~40 publishing analysts, by establishing an effective leadership structure with clear accountability, decision-making authority, and performance expectations.
• Oversee the research product and coverage strategy, maintaining a differentiated SMID-focused offering complemented by coverage of leading large-cap companies. Establish standards for rigorous, high-quality investment research and continuously evaluate the relevance and effectiveness of the research offering.
• Uphold research integrity and valuation discipline by emphasizing analytical rigor, differentiated insights, and investor value over publication volume.
• Represent William Blair’s research franchise externally, building and maintaining relationships with institutional investors and industry participants to strengthen market positioning, client engagement, and research relevance.
• Attract, develop, and retain high-performing research professionals and leaders across key sectors. Strengthen leadership capabilities, build a pipeline of emerging talent, and foster independent thinking, sound judgment, and collaboration.
• Establish clear performance expectations, evaluate individual and team contributions, and make informed compensation decisions using a balanced assessment of research quality, client feedback, commercial engagement, and other relevant performance measures.
• Oversee resource allocation and departmental priorities, translating strategic objectives into actionable initiatives with clear ownership, accountability, and measurable outcomes.
• Drive innovation through the responsible adoption of technology, data, and artificial intelligence to enhance research capabilities, improve delivery, and respond to evolving investor needs and market opportunities.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Model sound judgment, transparency, and effective decision-making while building strong partnerships across the firm.
• Perform additional responsibilities as requested.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience leading an institutional equity research organization of meaningful scale, with direct accountability for strategic direction, research coverage, talent management, compensation, and resource allocation.
• Extensive experience leading complex, multi-sector institutional equity research organizations, including managing senior leaders and overseeing departmental strategy, operations, and performance.
• Demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams, develop and retain talent, establish clear performance expectations, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Established credibility with investors, research leaders and analysts across the institutional equity research community, with the standing to represent William Blair’s research franchise, attract talent and strengthen client engagement.
• Deep understanding of SMID-focused equity research and large-cap sector coverage, with demonstrated ability to assess research differentiation, investment relevance, and evolving investor needs.
• Proven ability to establish and execute research strategies, evaluate coverage priorities, and make sound business decisions that support the long‑term success of the franchise.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders, navigate complex decisions, challenge established practices, and lead organizational change.
• Strong strategic thinking, communication, and execution skills, with the ability to translate business objectives into actionable priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, or a related field required; MBA preferred.

A reasonable estimate of the current base salary range at time of posting is below. Base salary does not include other forms of compensation or benefits. Actual base salary within the specified range is based on several factors, including but not limited to applicant's skills, prior relevant experience, specific degrees and certifications, job responsibilities, market considerations and, if applicable, the location of the position.

This role is eligible for either a discretionary annual bonus (based on company, business unit and individual performance) and/or commission‑based incentives.

Our featured benefit offerings include medical, dental and vision coverage, employer paid short & long‑term disability and life insurance, 401(k), profit sharing, paid time off, Maven family & fertility benefit, parental leave (including adoption, surrogacy, and foster placement), as well as other voluntary benefits.

Salary Range: $350,000 — $450,000 USD

About Our Firm

William Blair strives to attract qualified candidates who specialize in investment banking, investment management, private wealth management, and other strategic resource groups. We are committed to empowering our colleagues to deliver client success and engage in our communities. Our firm has delivered trusted advice for nine decades, continuing to deepen our expertise and relationships across asset classes and markets throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. We provide advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet clients’ evolving needs amid dynamic market conditions and varying industries. What sets us apart is that we are an independent partnership, with colleagues who have unique experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. We empower our people to bring their best thinking so we can deliver the tailored, thoughtful work and problem‑solving abilities that our clients expect. We invite you to learn more about us by visiting williamblair.com.

William Blair is an equal opportunity employer. It complies with all laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in employment practice because of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, marital status, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, unfavorable discharge from the military service or on the basis of a physical or mental disability that is unrelated to the employee's ability to perform the duties of the job applied for. EOE m/f/d/v