Research and Competitive Intelligence Manager

Research and Competitive Intelligence Manager

New York, NY

Summary

Operating within the firm’s Business Development function, the Research & Competitive Intelligence team is responsible for a range of services with particular emphasis on establishing and delivering research products to support partners’ strategic and go-to-market activities.

The Research & Competitive Intelligence Manager will support the Global Research Lead in shaping the Research & Competitive Intelligence program and activities, scoping and developing insightful research and competitive analysis which informs decision making and contributes effectively to client and business development efforts.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Global Research Lead to help implement the Business Development research and competitive intelligence strategy and associated products and services.
• Undertake and synthesize client, industry and competitor research into insightful, analytical outputs using a range of internal and external information sources, specialized tools and market data.
• Assist in managing a global research service that is conscious of local requirements and preferences whilst retaining a common and global approach; contribute to critical research projects as needed.
• Manage the day-to-day prioritization and collection of client, industry and competitive insights for use on a request, project or program basis, working with Research & Competitive Intelligence colleagues as needed.
• Assist in optimizing the use of external content and vendor licenses to ensure research output is leveraging the best/most appropriate content and complies with agreements etc., while blending internal and third-party/outsourced solutions to create a best-of-breed approach.
• Act as a point of contact with regard to research and competitive intelligence competencies and operations, keeping abreast of developments in the legal sector and wider business environment and reflecting these trends in research and competitive intelligence deliverables as needed.
• Help set and maintain quality standards for research outputs and deliverables, gathering requester feedback on a regular basis for input into Business Development and wider firm programs.
• Work with Business Development colleagues to help ensure research and competitive intelligence products remain aligned with wider firm strategy and the evolving needs of the firm’s clients.
• Support a culture of continuous improvement to ensure research activities and deliverables continue to adapt and evolve from a ‘reactive’ to a more ‘proactive’ approach, contributing to peer review of deliverables and leading on staff training as needed.
• Supervise 1 x Research Analyst, collaborating on research tasks appropriately and clearly, addressing office-related questions and local operational issues, and overseeing their performance management and skills development.

General Responsibilities

• Participate in regular meetings of the Research & Competitive Intelligence team and the Business Development team, as well as in associated and relevant project meetings.
• Liaise with other business support functions as necessary in course of duties, including the Practice Development and Library & Information Services teams.

Requirements

• Bachelors Degree required. Post graduate qualification in an information, research or business is an advantage (but not essential).
• Proven track record of delivering research and competitive insights in a commercial or professional services organization. Legal background an advantage (but not essential).
• Minimum seven years’ experience in a business research, strategic analysis and/or competitive intelligence role, with a strong understanding of associated sources, techniques and technologies (including industry-standard external information sources covering corporate, mergers & acquisitions, private equity and litigation data, among other topic areas).
• Ability to interpret and translate business requirements into relevant research and competitive intelligence projects, products and services, co-developing these with requesters as needed.
• Confident in scoping and prioritizing complex requests effectively and robustly, demonstrating adaptability and flexibility when faced with evolving and ad hoc requirements and gathering feedback from requesters to ensure continuous improvement.
• Ability to engage and influence relevant stakeholders and collaborate effectively with peers across regions, practice areas and professional staff, proactively building key relationships with departments and subject matter experts throughout the firm.
• Experience of engaging with third-party and/or outsourced research agencies to deliver impactful research programs and deliverables in a cost-effective fashion.
• Understanding of, and ability to use, both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including financial analysis skills and innovative visual techniques to display information and data.
• Comfortable with effective business writing and structured thinking methodologies; able to bring together a variety of perspectives in a concise fashion and deliver a clear message ‘up front’.
• Focused on drawing commercial linkages between the research undertaken and revenue-generating opportunities, developing implications and conclusions in the context of the firm and its markets.
• Excellent understanding of the critical success criteria for a high-quality research and competitive intelligence function, including ensuring that products and services are impactful and actionable.
• Willing to constantly learn new skills and apply those skills in a high-performing environment.