Vp, Thought Leadership

As the Vice President of Thought Leadership at SHRM, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and driving the organization's strategic vision and positioning within the industry. Reporting directly to the Chief Data and Insights Officer, you will lead a dynamic team of 15 researchers dedicated to generating innovative ideas, research, and insights across three key areas: policy and philanthropically sponsored research, media-worthy research, and research to support the needs of HR executives and large corporate clients. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful policy initiatives, media engagement, and client partnerships, collaborating with key stakeholders across Capitol Hill and the Executive Branch.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Thought Leadership strategy aligned with the organization's goals and objectives, overseeing research efforts in policy and philanthropically-sponsored research, media-worthy research, and client-focused research.
• Lead and mentor a diverse team of researchers, providing guidance and support to drive high-quality research outputs that align with organizational priorities and client needs.
• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, including policy experts, communications professionals, and client relationship managers, to integrate Thought Leadership initiatives into broader advocacy, media, and client engagement strategies.
• Identify emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities within the industry and develop proactive Thought Leadership initiatives to address them, leveraging research insights to drive impact and influence.
• Foster relationships with policymakers, media outlets, industry leaders, and clients to position the organization as a trusted advisor and thought leader, representing our research findings in relevant forums and discussions.
• Serve as a spokesperson for SHRM, representing our Thought Leadership positions in media interviews, conferences, and public events, and engaging with key audiences including policymakers, CHROs, and CEOs.
• Lead transformative thinking initiatives to make SHRM's research dynamically relevant to three new audiences: policymakers, CHROs, and CEOs, identifying innovative approaches to communicate research findings and insights effectively.

• Master's degree or doctorate in Business, Social Sciences, Economics, or a related field required.
• 10 years of experience in a leadership role within a similar organization, think tank, or consulting firm, with a proven track record of developing and executing successful Thought Leadership strategies.

• Comfortable serving as a spokesperson for SHRM, with the ability to represent our organization's positions and insights in media interviews and public engagements.
• Strong understanding of business, social sciences, and economic principles, with the ability to apply them to relevant research and Thought Leadership initiatives.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to distill complex ideas into compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
• Proven track record of collaboration with internal partners like Marketing, Government Affairs, and Operational consulting and sales.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including policymakers, media contacts, industry leaders, and corporate clients.

Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate trends and proactively develop Thought Leadership initiatives to address them, driving impact and influence across various channels.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to perform essential duties satisfactorily with reasonable accommodations.
• Work is generally done sitting, talking, hearing, and typing. Visual acuity to use a keyboard, prepare and analyze data and figures; transcribing, viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.

Work environment

• Work is regularly performed in a combination of office and conference settings and routinely uses standard office equipment.
• Expected travel is 0-10% of the time. 

The hiring range for this position is $200,000 to $250,000 per year. This range is an estimate and the actual salary may vary based on the candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications. SHRM offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package. The benefits for this position include professional growth and development, health, dental, vision, well-being, health savings, flexible spending, retirement, open leave, and annual discretionary bonus and incentives.