Research Lead, IT Applications

Description

Location:  North America, Remote (Toronto, ON or London, ON or Las Vegas, NV if locally based)

Position Purpose

If you are passionate about being a thought partner of CIOs and developing tools and methods to support them, then we would love to hear from you!

The Research Lead, Applications leads a team in creating and delivering client-driven, project-based, practical research and advisory that helps IT leaders drive measurable results in their organizations. The Research Lead acts as the research and people leader responsible for execution of the practice’s research projects and advisory operations primarily in the domains of the delivery and management of custom and enterprise applications (specifically ERP, CRM, or HRMS).

The Research Lead will maintain an active pulse on the needs of members as well as industry development, deliver exceptional service via calls and workshops, collaborate with other Leads within ITRG Research Management team, and oversee the high quality of research and advisory services.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Leading a team of analysts responsible for producing world-class research and supporting and engaging a dedicated set of Research members via online advisory support and on-site workshops, when safe to do so.
• Assisting the Practice Lead in ensuring the development of a best-practice research agenda on strategic IT topics and growing advisory and consulting services provided to Info-Tech members.
• Using practical experience and knowledge to motivate, coach, and develop analysts, with a focus on helping clients develop their departments; and ensuring that the resources we offer will help fulfill their mandates.
• Helping clients take a leading role in guiding their organizations towards success by ensuring Analysts provide thought-provoking research and best-practice deliverables.
• Ensuring analysts remain current in their respective specialties, so they are equipped to provide informed advice to clients.

• Design and build of high-quality keynote/other presentations, and successful delivery of presentations as needed.

Areas of focus for this role includes:

• Agenda Planning. Contribute to Info-Tech’s Research Agenda planning activities by working with analysts and other stakeholders to identify trends, propose research topics, and ensure research outlines and scoping documents are developed.
•  Ensure that your team of analysts develop research content centered around best practice methodologies, practical case studies, and industry research to provide members with the resources they need to be successful IT managers and leaders.
• Member Advisory.Leverage our research to assist members through the process of executing projects or process improvements connected to IT and business, either remotely (working through a series of structured calls or online workshops) or onsite when it is safe to do so (working through structured workshops).
• Service Quality.Ensuring that your team provides measurable value to our clients through the various services provided: research, calls, workshops, and consulting.

 Education and Experience

• Bachelors’ degree or higher in business or technology, or other related discipline, or equivalent experience required.
• Certifications in an IT or project management related topic

• Significant practical experience (5-10 years working in the Applications field and supporting clients in some of the following domains: 
  • Application Department Strategy
  • Application Portfolio Management
  • Product Management and Ownership
  • Agile, DevOps, and Lean Software Development
  • Software Delivery (one or more of Business Analysis, Solution Architecture, Application Design, Software Development, Quality Assurance, Release Management, and Application Management/Support/Operations
  • Enterprise Applications Implementation and Management (one or more of ERP, CRM, HRMS, PLM, SCM, SIS, and EHR)
• Acquired experience and knowledge of one or more aspects of the methods and tools landscape and use cases for software delivery
• Presentation and facilitation experience demonstrated through prior client-facing workshops, training sessions, and consulting engagements.
• History of strong relationship building and management skills. Experience gaining and maintaining trusted advisor status with senior management and C-level executives.              
• Experience managing, mentoring, developing, and training staff would be an asset.

• Must be flexible and have ability to travel occasionally to deliver workshops onsite at client locations both within and outside of North America, when it is safe to do so.

• Must be eligible to obtain appropriate work Visa for cross-border work within North America and globally.
• Must be available for after-hours work periodically to service APAC clients

Skills

• Inclusion. Contributes to an environment in which all employees feel a sense of belonging, valued for their differences, and empowered to participate and contribute freely.

• Domain Expertise. Expert understanding and experience of the key management processes within an IT department and business operations.
• Leadership Qualities. Proven ability to motivate, coach, and empower team members to deliver organizational goals, while delivering value back to employees.
• Project Management. Manage project scope, budget effectively, and report on project progress within a timely manner. 

• Planning & Results Orientation. Invests time in upfront planning to achieve organizational goals and objectives while meeting quality standards, following the appropriate processes, and demonstrating continuous commitment.
• Business Development. Generate advisory sales leads from interactions with clients, whether during analyst calls or during project work, and proposing Info-Tech Research Group’s services to fulfill Member’s needs.
• Client Interaction and Facilitation. Ability to build rapport, establish credibility as a trusted advisor, and communicate effectively with clients both remotely and through facilitated in-person sessions.

• Research. Apply primary and secondary research, along with superior analytical and written communication skills, to lead the team in producing high-quality, published research for our members.

• Writing Ability. Ability to craft and word deliverables in a clear and concise manner. Achieve an aesthetically appealing outcome that is polished and professional.

• Managing Through Change & Uncertainty. Adjusts thinking and behavior to resiliently face change and uses experience to fuel growth. Embraces failure as a learning opportunity for themselves and others. Enables the process of change and transition while helping others deal with the effects of change.
• Dynamic Learning Mindset. Continuously seeks opportunities to learn, questions the applicability of past approaches in the current environment, owns growth, and embraces failure as a learning opportunity.
• Event Speaking. Ability to present credibly, articulately, and confidently at Info-Tech’s own events or at external events and conferences.

ITRG is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We are pleased to consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected factors. 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

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