We are seeking an accomplished communications leader to lead Research & Insights within Vanguard Corporate Communications. This role serves as a senior counselor and subject matter expert, using research, data and external intelligence to help Vanguard understand its reputation, anticipate emerging issues, evaluate communications effectiveness and make better communications decisions.
The ideal candidate brings significant direct experience as a media relations, public relations or corporate communications practitioner, paired with a strong command of research, measurement and analytics. This practitioner experience is critical: the role requires someone who understands firsthand how communications strategies are developed and executed, how media narratives take shape, and how leaders use insights to make real-time decisions.
The Senior Manager leads the development of Vanguard's Corporate Communications research and insights capability, translating complex information into clear points of view and actionable recommendations for communications leaders and senior business stakeholders. The role leads a team and helps establish Research & Insights as a strategic intelligence function for Corporate Communications.
That framing builds directly on the stated mission for the function: to be Corporate Communications' "intelligence hub," using data to look around corners, ground communications strategies in evidence, anticipate trends and risks, and connect communications activity to measurable outcomes.
What you'll do
- Hires, evaluates and supervises crew. Provides guidance, coaching and development; sets performance standards, reviews performance and makes informed compensation decisions in accordance with applicable Human Resources policies and procedures.
- Sets the strategic direction for Vanguard's Corporate Communications research, insights and measurement capability, ensuring the function produces actionable intelligence that strengthens communications strategy, protects and advances Vanguard's reputation, and supports enterprise priorities.
- Brings a practitioner's perspective to research and analytics, applying direct experience in media relations, public relations and/or corporate communications to identify the questions that matter, interpret findings in context, and translate data into practical communications recommendations.
- Serves as a senior communications counselor, helping leaders understand what research and external intelligence mean for Vanguard's positioning, narratives and communications choices. Converts complex findings into clear points of view and recommendations appropriate for senior and executive audiences.
- Leads reputation intelligence and analysis, identifying shifts in media narratives, stakeholder perceptions, industry dynamics and emerging issues that could affect Vanguard's reputation. Connects disparate signals to help the organization anticipate opportunities and risks rather than simply report on them.
- Leads the development and evolution of enterprise communications reporting and measurement, including Vanguard's Corporate Reputation Report, communications performance reporting, executive readouts, and other research and intelligence products. The current intake specifically identifies the Corporate Reputation Report, quarterly reporting and executive-level readouts among the role's key deliverables.
- Establishes frameworks to assess communications effectiveness and impact, determining the metrics, benchmarks and methodologies that provide the most meaningful view of communications performance rather than relying solely on activity or volume measures.
- Partners directly with media relations and communications strategy teams, using research before, during and after communications activity to inform strategy, test hypotheses, measure results and identify opportunities to improve future performance.
- Synthesizes quantitative and qualitative research, media intelligence, competitive information and business context to identify the "so what", not simply what the data show.
- Develops scalable research, measurement and intelligence capabilities, including appropriate use of emerging technology and AI, while maintaining strong standards for analytical rigor, judgment and human interpretation.
- Manages external research, measurement and intelligence partners, ensuring their work is closely tied to Vanguard's communications and reputation priorities. The existing requisition similarly assigns responsibility for external research and reporting partnerships.
- Serves as Vanguard's authority on communications research, measurement and emerging reputation-intelligence practices, assessing external innovation and introducing new approaches where they can meaningfully improve Vanguard's communications capabilities.
- Builds strong partnerships across Corporate Communications, Marketing and relevant enterprise functions to connect communications intelligence with broader business context and decision-making.
- Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.
What you bring
- Minimum eight years of related professional experience.
- Significant direct experience in media relations, public relations, corporate communications or a closely related communications discipline strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience applying research, analytics, measurement or audience/reputation intelligence to communications strategy and decision-making.
- Proven experience counseling senior leaders and translating complex research or external dynamics into clear recommendations and points of view.
- Demonstrated people leadership, influence and enterprise impact.
- Experience with communications measurement, media intelligence, reputation research, quantitative and/or qualitative research methodologies preferred.
- Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.
Special Factors
Sponsorship
Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.
