Director, Research & Insights

We’re looking for an experienced Director of Research to oversee our 0-1 and foundational research portfolio, exploring new business models, and engagement across our financial platform and consumer finance ecosystem. This role will be a critical part of unlocking opportunities and benefits at the intersection of Credit Karma and Turbo Tax. You’ll join as part of the research leadership team, reporting to the Head of Research and Insights, and have a hand in shaping the next stage of the evolution of the function at Credit Karma. You will bring an integrated set of experiences across market research, user research and analytics to drive a holistic strategic perspective. You will partner as a peer leader across functions including Product, Marketing, Design, and Analytics, while championing a member-centric approach to our products, business, and culture. You will be a hands-on leader, supporting and enabling a small, but very senior and influential IC researchers. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys ensuring that research drives insights that impact business outcomes, envisioning a future that inspires excellence in research quality and practice, and deepening relationships and communication with executive leadership to deliver experiences that further Credit Karma’s mission in championing financial progress for all.

What you'll do:

• Lead advancement of qualitative and quantitative research insights, capabilities and operations, across our ecosystem tracks of work, partnering across both Credit Karma and Turbo Tax 
• Support, guide and enable a small team of senior researchers to deliver actionable insights 
• Identify and define key priorities and research objectives for your area of work and oversee execution and impact
• Oversee skills and methodologies, learning & development opportunities, and establishing processes to improve research quality bar 
• Champion member insights through qualitative and quantitative research, socializing the team’s work for wider visibility, and encouraging the use of research insights upstream 
• Translate business priorities into team vision and aligning research activities to optimize business impact and influence over the future direction 
• Partner with your team in driving transformative research insights, translating insights into innovative solutions that inform both Member and business problems and that deliver measurable outcomes
• Activating team culture, morale, and assessing team health on an ongoing basis to ensure it remains positive, and intervening swiftly to address issues as and when they arise
• Collaborate with cross functional leaders to identify research needs, design studies, and analyze data to inform product and marketing decisions related to our business
• Drive complex research initiatives comprised of multiple studies, overseeing design and execution of qualitative and quantitative research studies, including interviews, surveys, and ethnographic research to understand needs and behaviors 
• Present research results to stakeholders, including executive teams, to ensure strategic direction and tactical action
• Develop and manage operations related to research, overseeing programs, practices and infrastructure advancement and alignment that helps accelerate and amplify high quality work across the team and broader function

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor's, Masters' or Ph.D. degree in related field preferred or equivalent relevant experience
• At least 15+ years of experience planning and executing highly impactful market and user research studies, with at least 5+ years managing research teams
• Demonstrated ability to drive strategic change in product and marketing initiatives based on customer need, industry shifts and innovation opportunities 
• Demonstrated ability to drive multiple large complexity research initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to explain the benefits of mixed methods marketing, product and user experience research and integrate within the marketing and product planning, estimation, and prioritization process
• Proven experience in leadership and management skills: motivating and guiding team members, as well as building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders
• Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative research methods, including survey design, statistical analysis, and data visualization
• Executive communication and presentation skills: Demonstrated experience of communicating complex research findings to technical and non-technical audiences
• Demonstrated experience to think critically about research findings and translate them into actionable recommendations
• Experience working closely with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to achieve shared goals

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience in Fintech, with research that explores a wide range of different business models
• Direct experience with mixed methods capabilities and supporting research across marketing and product
• Previous experience leading work focused on pricing strategy, behavioral economics and/or incorporating conjoint analysis

Pay Transparency Notice: 

Credit Karma’s mission of championing financial progress for all starts from within. That’s why we implemented role-based compensation, which ensures people who are in the same role receive the same pay with variations for geographic location only. It’s all part of a more comprehensive D&I strategy that helps level the playing field. The base salary range for this role is $355,010 plus equity and benefits. 

Benefits at Credit Karma includes:

• Medical and Dental Coverage
• Retirement Plan
• Commuter Benefits
• Wellness perks
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick, Baby Bonding, Cultural Observance, & More)
• Education Perks
• Paid Gift Week in December

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Credit Karma is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We welcome all candidates without regard to race, color, religion, age, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, veteran or military status, disability (physical or mental), genetic information or other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination of any kind and operate in compliance with applicable fair chance laws. 

Credit Karma is also  committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment because it is the right thing to do. We believe that such an environment advances long-term professional growth, creates a robust business, and supports our mission of championing financial progress for everyone. We offer generous benefits and perks with a single eye to nourishing an inclusive environment that recognizes the contributions of all and fosters diversity by supporting our internal Employee Resource Groups. We’ve worked hard to build an intensely collaborative and creative environment, a diverse and inclusive employee culture, and the opportunity for professional growth. As part of the Credit Karma team, your voice will be heard, your contributions will matter, and your unique background and experiences will be celebrated.

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