Principal Analyst - Technology Resilience

Phase2 Technology; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 141,000 - 229,000; Full time

Job summary

Forrester Research, Inc. is seeking a Principal Analyst to lead technology resilience and data storage research. You will develop a comprehensive research portfolio, collaborating with multiple Forrester teams to deliver insights that guide executive decisions and client outcomes.

You will conduct primary research, analyze major platforms, and create high-quality reports and IP throughout the year. The role emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and client-facing advisory excellence.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years in director-level or above roles in technology.
• Demonstrated ability to advise senior management and C-level clients.
• Superior client-facing communication, listening, critical thinking, and collaboration skills.
• Strong technical experience across major enterprise platforms: cloud, storage, resilience, backup, infrastructure, security.
• Deep understanding of SRE, NIMS, NRF, ISO 22301, NIST SP 800-34, blameless retrospectives, CAST, fault injection, testing, business impact analysis, immutability, tabletop exercises.
• Ability to distill complex ideas into simple, provocative concepts; capable of taking a stand with clients, vendors, press, and competition.
• Strong academic record.
• Willingness to travel 30% or more.

Responsibilities

• Lead technology and data resilience coverage across Forrester research teams to develop a complete research portfolio.
• Develop deep understanding of what technology executives require to be successful.
• Conduct primary research (interviews, surveys, briefings) into resilience domains and how leaders deliver services to clients.
• Analyze resilience across cloud platforms, SaaS, enterprise apps, AI systems, etc.
• Create high-quality, actionable research content and IP throughout the year.
• Increase visibility for research and contribute to client communities.
• Drive Forrester Waves and Landscape research in resilience and storage domains.
• Consult with clients to apply research to their business context and engagements.
• Present at events and deliver client webinars; engage with journalists and vendors.
• Support business development and account teams; mentor and foster collaboration.

Skills

Leadership

Executive advisory

Client-facing communication

Research analysis

SRE / availability concepts

Cloud platforms

Backup & storage

Data resilience

Writing & presentation

Public speaking

Job description

At Forrester, we're trusted to work on trailblazing, mission critical problems that business and technology leaders face today. That's why we're always looking to empower talented individuals to perform at their best every single day. We're proud of our community of smart people and vibrant voices who come together to do what's right by our clients and each other. Our success is driven by curiosity, courage and customer obsession. The confidence and drive to be bold at work. Join us and build an extraordinary future.

About This Role

Forrester Research is seeking a Principal Analyst to lead Forrester's technology resilience and data storage research. The Principal Analyst delivers research that encompasses: 1) modern technology resilience practices, skills, and culture; 2) drive research on key platforms, vendors and trends in data resilience, object storage, and recovery related markets; 3) brings the right mix of both strategic and technical delivery experiences; and 4) fosters a culture of collaboration across our research, sales, product, and customer success teams. The Principal Analyst has a strong understanding of technology leaders' concerns and priorities.

Job Description

The Principal Analyst works as part of a high-performing team with a strong emphasis on collaborating with others in all aspects of the job. A Principal Analyst is expected to:

• Lead our technology and data resilience coverage, working across Forrester research teams, including the technology executive, technology strategy, and executive partner teams to develop a complete research portfolio that drives customer delight and revenue.
• Develop a deep understanding of what Forrester clients require to be successful as technology executives and leaders.
• Conduct primary research (interviews, surveys, briefings) into: 1) practices and trends across various technology resilience domains (technology, platforms, practices, and key partners) and 2) how resilience leaders deliver services to internal clients. Use this research to help clients navigate resilience challenges by providing insights on the future of work, cost optimization, investment prioritization, and long-term technology strategy.
• Conduct deep analysis of modern technology resilience across major platform domains including cloud platforms, mission critical SaaS, enterprise applications, AI systems, etc.
• Create high-quality, actionable, analytically deep and fact-based research content throughout the year; i.e., write ~12 highly reports + create additional IP (tools, webinars, videos, etc.) per year.
• Build visibility for his/her research and contribute to Forrester client communities and beyond.
• Drive and lead key Forrester Waves and Landscape research in resilience and storage related domains.
• Consult with clients to apply Forrester's research in the context of their specific business environment and help solve their problems through inquiry, guidance, and advisory and consulting engagements.
• Present at Forrester-sponsored and industry-related events and deliver client webinars.
• Establish an industry presence as an influential speaker and thinker; build relationships with journalists who cover the sector; and participate in vendor briefings and field press inquiries as necessary.
• Support business development and prospect conversations as arranged by Forrester's account leadership teams.
• Fosters a leadership style that drives a culture of cross-team collaboration, mentorship, integrity and relentless, and positive pursuits.

Job Requirements

• At least 10 years of experience in a mix of roles as a director-level and above practitioner, consultant, or research analyst in technology.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as an advisor to senior management and C-level clients.
• Superior client-facing communication, listening, critical thinking, and collaboration skills with researchers, subject-matter experts, and client leaders.
• Solid technical experience across major enterprise platforms, e.g., cloud, storage, resilience, backup, infrastructure, security.
• Deep understanding of the following concepts and industry best practices: site reliability engineering (SRE), National Incident Management System (NIMS), the National Response Framework (NRF), availability zones, ISO 22301, NIST SP 800‑34, blameless retrospectives, CAST, fault injection, proactive and continuous testing, business impact analysis, immutability, and tabletop exercises.
• Ability to understand modern resilience concepts and the skill sets of SREs and senior resilience leaders.
• Ability to take complex, disparate ideas and distill them into simple, provocative concepts; willingness to take a stand on outcomes with clients, vendors, press, and competition.
• A strong record of academic achievement.
• Superior analytical, writing, editing, and presentation skills.
• The ability to travel 30% of the time or more.

Please note that the base salary range indicated here is inclusive of all applicable US geographies listed in this requisition, with the exception of New York City and Georgia. This salary range is based upon the position as described in the job listing. The offered compensation may vary within this range and is dependent upon the successful candidate's primary work location, experience, training, education, and credentials.

Base salary range: $141,000 - $229,000

Base salary range for Georgia: $126,000 - $206,000

Base salary range for New York City, NY: $161,000 - $263,000

For employees based in Washington State, the percentage listed here is an estimated bonus target as a percentage of base salary, in accordance with the Forrester Employee Bonus plan. Individual and company performance, as well as other eligibility criteria, will determine the actual incentive amount.

Bonus target: 15%

For information on benefits, please visit: https://forresterbenefits.com/

FLSA Status: Exempt

Here at Forrester, we welcome people from all backgrounds and perspectives. Our aim is for all candidates to be able to fully participate in Forrester's recruitment process. If you would like to discuss a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to [e-mail].

Forrester Research, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. As a federal contractor, Forrester encourages veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment.

Forrester will consider all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.