Director or Vice President of Strategy & Research
The Director or Vice President of Strategy & Research manages Riverbend Research projects, advances The Partnership’s research agenda, and provides research support internally for the Business Investment, Policy, and Talent Development teams.
Key Responsibilities
Riverbend Research Project Management – 40%
Riverbend Research is The Partnership’s in-house research consultancy. Riverbend Research works with businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies to execute a variety of research-based projects.
- Create project proposals and develop project fee structures
- Develop methodology to complete research projects
- Execute all steps involved in project analysis including literature reviews, data collection, data analysis, and data interpretation
- Delegate appropriate project tasks to lower-level staff
- Communicate with internal and external project stakeholders
- Create project deliverables such as reports, whitepapers, and spreadsheets
- Present research findings to project stakeholders
Advance The Partnership’s Research Agenda – 25%
- Research and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to produce meaningful, original insights about Baton Rouge and the surrounding Capital Region
- Create deliverables including reports, whitepapers, PowerPoints, and data visualizations that communicate findings to stakeholders
- Delegate appropriate research tasks to lower-level staff
- Discuss and present findings at meetings, conferences, and to members of the media
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with organizations and individuals engaged in similar areas of research across the Capital Region and Louisiana including BRAF, ULL Blanco Center, LED, Visit Baton Rouge, and the Mayor’s Office
Internal Research Support – 25%
- Provide research support to the Business Development team, including assisting in completing RFPs/RFIs, providing data and analysis to companies, and conducting economic impact analyses and fiscal impact modeling
- Research sociodemographic statistics/trends, economic data, and policy issues to inform and support BRAC’s public policy positions
- Provide research support to the Talent team by analyzing BRAC’s Handshake initiative, annual migration data, and other talent-related issues
- Delegate appropriate internal research support tasks to lower-level staff
Maintain Policy Expertise / Stay Current on Emerging Trends – 5%
- Monitor data release dates from organizations like the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Louisiana Workforce Commission
- Analyze and interpret new data and communicate key findings to relevant internal staff
- Remain current on emerging trends and best practices in issue areas of relevance to The Partnership including economic development, criminal justice, education, workforce, business development, entrepreneurship, quality of life, and governance
Master Various Data Tools/Databases – 5%
- Become an expert in using and navigating free and subscription-based data tools and sources including IMPLAN, Lightcast, ESRI Site To Do Business, AI, Tableau, Microsoft Excel, US Census Bureau, Louisiana Workforce Commission, Louisiana Believes, and Open Data BR
Other duties as assigned.
Differentiating Duties Between Director and Vice President
Director
- Executes research
- Manages projects
- Supports internal teams
- May supervise Strategy & Research staff on a project-by-project basis
Vice President
- Leads Riverbend Research as a program
- Manages staff and client relationships
- Represents the organization externally
- Shapes strategy and research priorities