VP, Data & Intelligence — Insights, AI & Strategy

Zeno Group; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Zeno Group is seeking a Vice President, Data & Intelligence in Washington, DC, to lead the agency’s research strategy and client engagements. You will direct qualitative and quantitative programs, translate findings into strategic storytelling, and mentor a growing team while shaping AI-enabled insights and analytics capabilities.

The role emphasizes senior client counsel, cross-functional collaboration, and a hands-on leadership approach to grow Zeno's research practice with rigorous

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in primary research, market research, insights, analytics, strategy or related fields within an agency, consultancy, client-service or similar environment.
• Deep expertise in qualitative and quantitative primary research, including research design, questionnaire and discussion guide development, sampling, fieldwork, analysis and reporting.
• Experience leading research programs spanning audience segmentation, message and concept testing, reputation, brand perception, thought leadership, stakeholder research or campaign effectiveness.
• Proven ability to translate complex research findings into clear strategic recommendations and compelling narratives.
• Experience advising senior clients and building trusted relationships with executive stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of communications, reputation and brand research and how insights inform business and communications strategy.
• Experience leading complex research engagements, including scopes, budgets, timelines, vendors and multiple workstreams.
• Experience contributing to business development, including research strategy, proposals, scopes of work and client growth opportunities.
• Familiarity with survey platforms, statistical analysis, data processing and reporting or visualization tools.
• Working knowledge of adjacent analytics capabilities, including social listening, audience intelligence, earned media measurement, digital analytics and integrated measurement.
• Experience mentoring and developing research, analytics or insights professionals.
• Strong writing, storytelling and presentation skills with the ability to make complex findings accessible to diverse audiences.
• Collaborative leadership style with curiosity about emerging research methodologies, technologies and AI-enabled approaches.

Responsibilities

• Translate business and communications challenges into research strategies that support audience understanding, reputation, messaging, thought leadership and strategic decision-making.
• Lead qualitative and quantitative research programs from design through delivery, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, online communities, segmentation, message and concept testing, reputation studies and thought leadership research.
• Translate complex research findings into clear narratives, executive-ready recommendations and actionable implications that inform communications and business strategy.
• Advise clients and internal teams on the right combination of primary research, secondary research, syndicated data, audience intelligence, social listening, media measurement and digital analytics to address business questions.
• Lead research discovery and scoping conversations, develop research approaches and budgets, identify opportunities to expand client engagements and contribute to new business efforts.
• Oversee research partners, fieldwork, budgets, timelines and quality-control processes while ensuring methodologies and deliverables are rigorous, accurate and aligned with client objectives.
• Identify opportunities to apply AI, automation, analytics platforms and emerging technologies to improve research workflows, quality control, reporting and insight development while maintaining methodological rigor.
• Mentor and develop team members while strengthening capabilities across research design, analytical thinking, storytelling, presentation and client counsel.
• Partner across strategy, creative, earned media, digital, corporate, consumer, healthcare and technology teams to integrate research and intelligence into broader client programs.

Skills

Research leadership

Qualitative research

Quantitative research

Storytelling

Client counsel

Mentoring

Team development

Cross-functional work

AI-enabled insights

Tools

Survey platforms

Statistical analysis

Data visualization

Analytics platforms

Social listening

Job description

Zeno Group is seeking a Vice President, Data & Intelligence in Washington, DC, to lead the agency’s research strategy and client engagements. You will direct qualitative and quantitative programs, translate findings into strategic storytelling, and mentor a growing team while shaping AI-enabled insights and analytics capabilities.

The role emphasizes senior client counsel, cross-functional collaboration, and a hands-on leadership approach to grow Zeno's research practice with rigorous