Company: Info-Tech

Location: Toronto, ON

Expected salary:

Job date: Fri, 08 Aug 2025 05:23:32 GMT

Job description: Description :Position PurposeThe Research Director – Industry (Financial Services) is responsible for delivering Info-Tech’s research projects and advisory services to clients in banking, insurance, and capital markets. This includes a range of subsectors such as retail and wholesale banking, credit unions, investment banking, private equity, wealth and asset management, and holding companies.This role requires deep financial services knowledge and a practical, research-driven approach to help IT and business leaders navigate evolving customer expectations, digital transformation, regulatory compliance, and technology modernization. The ideal candidate will provide actionable insights and strategic guidance to IT decision-makers in financial institutions.A successful candidate will stay actively engaged with industry trends, client needs, and regulatory developments, ensuring our research remains timely, trusted, and relevant. This position combines research development, advisory calls, and workshop facilitation, working collaboratively with colleagues across Info-Tech to deliver high-impact, industry-specific guidance.Our Promise to YouYou will work for a rapidly growing company that supports employees through flexibility, inclusiveness, learning and development, internal career mobility, employee experience measurement and feedback, and strong relationship-building.What You Will DoResearch & Industry Insights

• Conduct industry research through expert interviews, regulatory analysis, and market scanning to generate actionable insights.
• Stay ahead of emerging trends such as fintech innovation, AI in financial services, open banking, and ESG reporting.
• Develop structured frameworks, methodologies, and tools tailored to the needs of financial institutions.
• Shape and contribute to the research agenda to address the top challenges facing IT leaders in financial services.

Advisory Calls with Clients

• Lead one-on-one calls with financial services members to offer strategic advice and research-backed recommendations.
• Translate published research into tailored guidance for banks, insurers, and investment firms.
• Identify research gaps based on client needs and escalate opportunities for new content development.

Facilitate Workshops

• Guide financial services clients through strategic planning and decision-making using Info-Tech’s research and tools.
• Ensure workshop outcomes are practical, measurable, and aligned with industry-specific challenges.
• Deliver clear, actionable outputs that help clients address business and technology priorities.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration & Thought Leadership

• Partner with colleagues in Advisory, Workshops, and Global Services to deliver integrated support to members.
• Provide subject matter expertise to Sales, Marketing, and Events teams.
• Represent Info-Tech at industry events and deliver thought leadership presentations to executive audiences.

To Be Successful, You Will Need:Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Finance, Business, Information Systems, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Professional certifications such as CFA, FRM, PMP, or certifications in banking or insurance technology are an asset.
• 5–10+ years of experience in IT leadership, consulting, or industry analysis in the financial services sector.

Travel Requirement: Must be flexible and able to travel periodically for onsite client workshops across North America and globally.
Visa Requirement: Must be eligible to obtain appropriate work visas for cross-border work.
Work Hours: Must be available periodically for after-hours work to support APAC clients.Domain Expertise (must have experience in some combination of the following):

• Retail and Wholesale Banking Operations
• Credit Union Technology Strategy
• Investment Banking Platforms and Risk
• Private Equity & Venture Capital Technology Models
• Asset and Wealth Management Digitization
• Core Banking and Holding Company Structures
• Financial Regulation, Compliance, and Audit Readiness
• Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention in Financial Institutions

Skills & Attributes

• Inclusive, collaborative mindset with a strong sense of professional empathy.
• Able to synthesize complex ideas into actionable guidance.
• Proven facilitation and consulting skills with executive-level stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication skills in both written and verbal formats.
• Strong project management capabilities.
• Comfortable advising on sensitive or highly regulated technology topics.
• Proactive in identifying opportunities for growth through member engagement and research insights.

Info-Tech Research Group of companies is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion and does not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected status or characteristic including Minority/Female/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Disability/Veteran and are pleased to consider all qualified applicants. To that end, upon request, ITRG will ensure, to the extent possible, that accommodation be made available to applicants throughout the recruitment and hiring process.#LI-NS2

Position Summary: Research Director – Industry (Financial Services)

Role Overview:
The Research Director oversees Info-Tech’s research and advisory services for clients within the financial services sector, including banking, insurance, and capital markets. This role necessitates extensive knowledge of financial services, focusing on digital transformation, regulatory compliance, and evolving customer expectations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Research Development:

   • Conduct in-depth industry research and analysis to generate actionable insights.
   • Stay updated on trends like fintech, AI, and ESG reporting.
   • Create frameworks and methodologies for financial institutions.

2. Advisory Services:

   • Offer tailored strategic advice through one-on-one client calls.
   • Identify research gaps to inform new content development.

3. Workshop Facilitation:

   • Lead strategic planning workshops for clients, ensuring practical and measurable outcomes.

4. Cross-Departmental Collaboration:

   • Work with various teams to deliver integrated support and represent Info-Tech at industry events.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in relevant fields; professional certifications are a plus.
• Experience: 5-10+ years in IT leadership, consulting, or industry analysis within the financial services sector.
• Travel: Flexibility to travel for client workshops; eligible for work visas.

Desired Skills:

• Strong collaborative and empathetic mindset.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly.
• Effective project management and facilitation skills.
• Proactive in identifying growth opportunities through research insights.

Company Commitment:
Info-Tech values diversity and inclusion and aims to provide accommodations throughout the recruitment process.

Summary:

The Research Director will provide strategic guidance and research for financial services, driving impactful insights while fostering collaboration and participating in workshops. An ideal candidate will have extensive industry experience and a proactive approach to client engagement.