Research Strategist - Gensler Research Institute

At Gensler, we design for people. We leverage our global perspective and local presence to innovate at every scale. We’re not just designers. We’re tinkerers, craftspeople, visionaries, innovators, and thought leaders. Fueled by passion and entrepreneurial spirit, our people bring new ideas to solve the world’s most challenging problems, like designing a more resilient, inclusive, and equitable future for our communities and cities.

Our people-centered, “People First” culture and “One Firm-Firm” motto promotes integrated teams that unite to shape the future of cities. Gensler’s vision is to “Create a Better World through the Power of Design,” and we do that by our deep commitment to our clients and by fostering a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive environment that enables our people to create impactful solutions together.

­­­Your Role

As a Research Strategist within the Gensler Research Institute, you will work closely with our Global Research Leads and teams of research, data, editorial, and design specialists to deliver research across six diverse areas of focus – workplace, cities, health, lifestyle, equity, and resilience. You will be a key contributor to major global, primary research initiatives that generate meaningful insights and narratives connecting the built environment to business performance and the human experience at multiple scales.

While broad research knowledge is expected, this position will work primarily with surveys. Expertise in survey research methodologies, approaches to sampling, data analysis, and insights generation are essential. You will leverage your expertise to provide actionable recommendations to evolve how the firm gathers, standardizes, organizes, analyzes, and interprets global survey datasets to ensure our work is both rigorous and able to meet evolving business needs. You will also advise and collaborate with design and strategy practitioners across Gensler on their internal research grant and client projects. Qualified candidates should be collaborative, flexible, self-motivated, and have an entrepreneurial spirit.

What You Will Do

• Play a primary role in all aspects of the research project process:

  • Lead background research, research design, instrument development and assessment, programming, and testing.

  • Manage instrument translation, sampling, deployment, data collection, and data auditing in collaboration with respondent panel and participant recruitment providers.

  • Conduct statistical analysis of survey data, using both descriptive and inferential techniques.

  • Conduct analysis of qualitative and observational data, including coding and content analysis, as required.

  • Arrange and display data in meaningful and useful formats, including toplines, cross-tabulations, visualizations, dashboards, and presentations.

  • Write up results and provide clear syntheses of findings.

• Collaborate with Institute communications platform team to develop research insights and messaging, project deliverables, and presentations of findings for internal and external audiences.

• Work with Marketing and Public Relations teams to incorporate findings into marketing collateral and media briefings.

• Help troubleshoot practitioner and respondent survey issues in Qualtrics as part of a team of survey support specialists.

• Respond to data and findings requests from Gensler Executive Leadership, Global Research Leads and Practitioners, as required.

Your Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional research experience in a business, enterprise, government, or non-profit environment. Experience working with or for research services providers or firms, a plus.

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in a social science or human-centric research field (e.g., Sociology, Psychology, Education, Statistics, etc.). Master’s degree or PhD in an applied research field (e.g., Social Research, Market Research, Consumer Behavior, Environmental Psychology, Applied Statistics, etc.) preferred.

• End-to-end primary research experience (quantitative and qualitative), including research design, sampling, instrument development and testing, fielding or facilitation, data collection and quality control, data analysis, reporting, and presentation.

• Knowledge of and experience with a range of statistical techniques, both descriptive and inferential. Experience with instrument validation, research tool development, and mixed-methods research, a plus.

• Experience with non-US data and/or global, large-scale data collections, a plus.

• Fluency in statistical software and tools (e.g., R, SPSS, Stata, Python, etc.) and survey programming platforms, with Qualtrics preferred.

• Experience with data management systems (e.g., SQL), and exploration & visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, a plus.

• Ability to translate business questions into research questions and easily shift from details to the big picture. Excellent editorial judgement, interpretive, and critical thinking skills with the ability to tell engaging, business-oriented stories from data.

• Demonstrated experience and comfort with managing stakeholder expectations and presenting research and translating implications to diverse, non-technical audiences.

• Ability to communicate clearly and interact effectively with global colleagues who have diverse interests in and experience with research, as well as come from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds.

• Have a strong portfolio of quality and rigorous research project work.

• Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, written communication, and organizational skills.

• Detail-oriented, collaborative, flexible, and able to thrive in a nonhierarchical team environment.

Life at Gensler

At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to “Well-being Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice-annual bonus opportunities.  Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.

As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.

The anticipated compensation range is estimated between $80k-$85k plus bonuses and benefits and contingent on relevant experience.

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