Research Director Jobs in Chicago, IL

Huron helps its clients drive growth, enhance performance and sustain leadership in the markets they serve. We collaborate with education organizations to develop strategies and implement solutions that enable the transformative change our clients need to own their future. Together, we empower clients to drive innovation, create sustainable funding streams and deliver better student outcomes.

Today, leaders of higher education institutions and academic medical centers are spending too much time reacting to market forces, rather than focusing on the essential priorities that help students, faculty and staff thrive. The most productive path forward requires an intentional approach and innovative thinking, whereby stakeholders across the entire institution rally around a shared vision and embrace the hard work of effecting change.

You’ll help our clients to achieve organizational effectiveness, improve student outcomes, implement new technologies and align resources and investments to ensure long-term sustainability.

Join our team as the expert you are now and create your future.

The Strategic Sales Programs & Innovation Director within the Growth Enablement Team (GET) will architect and run scalable sales outreach programs, elevate competitive intelligence, and partner with BU leaders, senior sales, marketing, and EDR strategy (ESPM) leaders to drive strategic, data-informed growth initiatives. This role focuses on building repeatable/innovative programs, tools, and insights that expand executive relationships, drive sales programs, raise win rates and position the business for growth.
This role serves as a strategic partner to executive sales leaders, providing direct support on pipeline strategy, pursuit prioritization, and deal progression. The Director will help translate enterprise growth priorities into actionable account-level strategies, bring structure and insight to pipeline reviews, and enable more effective executive engagement across key pursuits. This includes synthesizing data, identifying risks and opportunities, and driving alignment on where to focus time and investment to maximize revenue outcomes.

Core Responsibilities

Lead the Innovation agenda (in partnership with ESPM)

• Lead the Sales, Marketing & Innovation priorities and programs. (Examples include, but not exhaustive: leveraging competitive/whitespace analysis to inform strategies, new solution ideas, market expansion hypotheses, pilot plans, and execution through account program.)
• Pilot emerging technologies and tools that improve selling efficiency and precision (signal detection, intel capture, AI enablement for outreach and proposals).
• Coordinate with Marketing, Sales, ESPM and BU leadership on positioning, differentiators, and activation plans for new offerings; feed learnings back into sales programs and pursuit playbooks.

Build and oversee execution of sales programs

• Leveraging the broader GET team, design and execute coordinated, multi-touch outreach programs aligned with EDR business and innovation priorities (examples include: board/C-suite mapping, “sell the stack” solution campaigns, account management) to expand top-of-funnel and accelerate pipeline progression; embed automation and AI where applicable (e.g., ZoomInfo workflows, CRM signals, prospecting cadences).
• Partner with Marketing, Sales and GET on campaign activation around cornerstone research, events, and thought leadership to generate senior-level leads and improve event ROI.
• Partner with leaders to develop and execute seller and EDR growth programs like director/senior director sales mentorship and capability building programs and the EDR Advisory Board.

Direct Executive Sales Leader Support

• Partner directly with Managing Directors and senior sales leaders to shape pipeline strategy, focus accounts, and pursuit prioritization, ensuring alignment to EDR growth objectives
• Provide structured deal and pipeline support (e.g., whitespace analysis, competitive positioning, win strategy framing) to increase conversion rates on top pursuits
• Prepare leaders for executive client interactions by synthesizing account intelligence, relationship maps, and strategic narratives
• Support and facilitate pipeline reviews and deal strategy sessions, bringing insights, rigor, and follow-through to drive accountability and action
• Identify pipeline risk and opportunity signals (stalled deals, competitive threats, expansion whitespace) and recommend targeted actions
• Act as a thought partner on complex, cross-BU pursuits, helping coordinate stakeholders and align messaging, pricing considerations, and solution positioning

Leverage data-driven insights

• Define KPIs and dashboards that connect programs to outcomes (influenced pipeline, advancement rates, win rates, TCV), and lead monthly/quarterly business reviews with Growth and BU leaders.
• Provide strategic direction for the EDR competitive intelligence and win/loss program: workflow, analysis, dashboards, and narrative readouts that inform pursuit strategy, positioning, and pricing.

Align stakeholders & scale execution

• Collaborate with Growth Enablement leaders, Sales Leaders/MDs, BU leaders, Marketing to help drive a regular cadence (monthly, quarterly, annual) for pipeline reviews, strategy sessions, and resource prioritization.
• Manage external partners (intel providers, research, martech/AI) and coordinate with Enterprise GET to ensure tooling and content are discoverable and adopted in seller workflows.

Qualifications

• 8–12+ years in Program management, Sales Programs/Enablement, Strategic Sales Operations, Consulting or adjacent GTM leadership in complex B2B or consulting environments; proven track record improving seller productivity and conversion through programmatic outreach and insight-led selling.
• Demonstrated success leading complex programs and turning insights into strategies and programs, and market activation.
• Strong ability to lead cross-functional team; ability to translate strategy into repeatable programs and dashboards that inform executive decisions.
• Fluency with CRM and enablement tech (e.g., Salesforce, Seismic), sales intelligence (e.g., ZoomInfo), and modern AI tools; adept at process and governance design.
• Fluency with leveraging AI to support initiatives and team; aptitude to learn and train team on how to best use AI, build projects, agents, etc.
• Analytical communicator who can connect program activity to revenue outcomes and present concise recommendations to senior leadership.
• Consulting background and/or industry market or program management experience preferred

Position based in the United States

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The estimated base salary range for this job is $165,000-$230,000. The range represents a good faith estimate of the range that Huron reasonably expects to pay for this job at the time of the job posting. The actual salary paid to an individual will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to specific skills or certifications, years of experience, market changes, and required travel. This job is also eligible to participate in Huron’s annual incentive compensation program, which reflects Huron’s pay for performance philosophy. Inclusive of annual incentive compensation opportunity, the total estimated compensation range for this job is $214,500-$299,000. The job is also eligible to participate in Huron’s benefit plans which include medical, dental and vision coverage and other wellness programs. The salary range information provided is in accordance with applicable state and local laws regarding salary transparency that are currently in effect and may be implemented in the future.

Position Level

Director

Country

United States of America