Director

Director, Research Discovery & Design

Directors on our Strategic Advisory Services team (within the Research Discovery & Design division) develop the ideas, products, and services that help higher education executives navigate the major strategic, management, and operational issues facing the industry today. Our researchers conduct in-depth interviews with campus executives at diverse institutions and perform data and root-cause analyses to identify market-leading strategies and best practices in our pursuit to make education smarter.

As a member of our team, you will play an important role in innovating and producing syndicated research and high-value advisory services for partner organizations, including on-site workshops, executive roundtable events, diagnostic tools, and strategy briefs. You will also be a valued expert to EAB partner organizations, advising them on strategy and best practice implementation.

We currently have two openings that sit within our Dynamic Strategy pillar, which focuses on the most complex and urgent challenges facing college and university presidents, boards of trustees, and chief strategy officers. The Dynamic Strategy team is responsible for EAB's annual State of the Sector research, which scans the higher education landscape for the biggest issues and opportunities worthy of our partners' attention, as well as our support of institutional strategic planning and change management efforts.

A successful candidate for this position will :

• Bring exceptional judgment and professionalism, with the ability to communicate complex ideas succinctly and confidently in executive conversations
• Be energized by intellectual challenge and motivated by results, showing initiative, adaptability, and follow-through in fast-moving settings
• Bring the mindset of a strategic advisor, not just a researcher, combining analytical rigor with a deep understanding of institutional strategy, governance, and market dynamics
• Possess a business- and product-oriented mindset, contributing to EAB's product strategy and identifying opportunities to strengthen our market position
• Be eager to shape EAB's thought leadership, getting smart on a wide variety of topics quickly (e.g., demographic and enrollment trends, economic and labor force dynamics), developing distinct points of view on key issues (e.g., university governance, strategic differentiation), and contributing to strategic and intellectual debates with peers and senior leaders
• Have experience beyond academic research and publications to include consulting, client-responsive projects, or advisory work that translates insights into strategy and action

This role can be based in Washington D.C. and is also open to remote candidates in the continental U.S. The position may require occasional travel (up to approximately 10%) for presenting research findings to our partners as well as facilitating strategy sessions.

Primary Responsibilities :

Basic Qualifications :

Ideal Qualifications :

If you've reached this section of the job description and are unsure of whether to apply, please do! At EAB, we welcome new perspectives and learn from each other's unique experiences. We would encourage you to submit an application if this is a role you would be passionate about doing every day.

Compensation : The anticipated starting salary (base) range for this role is $100,000 - $125,000 per year. Actual salary varies due to factors that may include but not be limited to relevant experience, skills, and location. At EAB, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the starting salary range for their role.

This hire will additionally be eligible for discretionary bonus or incentive compensation. Variable compensation may depend on various factors, such as individual and organizational performance.

Benefits : Consistent with our belief that our employees are our most valuable resource, EAB offers a competitive and inclusive benefits package. Our benefits currently include : medical, dental, and vision insurance plans; 20+ days of PTO annually, in addition to paid firm and floating holidays; daytime leave policy for community service and flextime for fitness activities (up to 10 hours per month each); 401(k) retirement savings plan with annual discretionary company matching contribution; health savings account, healthcare and dependent care flexible spending account, and pre-tax commuter plans; employee assistance program with counseling services and resources available to all employees and immediate family; wellness programs including gym discounts, incentives to promote healthy living, and family access to the leading app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation; fertility treatment coverage and adoption or surrogacy assistance; paid parental leave with phase back to work program for birthing and non-birthing parents; access to milk shipping service to support nursing employees during business travel; discounted pet health insurance coverage for dog and cat family members; company-provided life, AD&D, and disability insurance; financial wellness resources and membership in a robust employee discount program; access to employee resource groups, merit-based advancement, and dynamic professional growth opportunities. Benefits kick in day one; learn more at eab.com / careers / benefits.

This opening is not eligible for visa sponsorship at this time; EAB will thus consider candidates who possess U.S. work authorization that does not require employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. At EAB, we believe that to fulfill our mission to "make education smarter and our communities stronger" we need team members who bring a diversity of perspectives to the table and are committed to fostering a workplace where each team member is valued, respected and heard.

To that end, EAB is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we make employment decisions on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. We don't discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law.