Vice President of Research, Insights & Solutions
Catalyst IncMake your mark on the future of work and join Catalyst, a mission-driven organization advancing gender equity in workplaces around the world.
About us
Since the 1960s, Catalyst has been at the forefront of making workplaces inclusive for all. We empower organizations to create systemic change through cutting-edge research, global communities, and actionable solutions. As workplaces evolve, we continue to meet the moment, helping companies navigate challenges and seize opportunities for progress.
Who we are
Catalyst is a global organization with headquarters in New York and cohorts in Canada and Europe. Our agile workforce thrives on collaboration and delivers meaningful results from all over the world. Our mission inspires us every day: to make workplaces work for women. Because when workplaces work for women, they work for everyone. Guided by our core values — Respect, Collaboration, Accountability, and Impact — we create a culture where innovation thrives and meaningful change happens.
Who we work with
Catalyst works with organizations around the world to create more inclusive, equitable workplaces. Our Supporter network spans 42 industries across 14 countries, representing 24 million employees worldwide.
Our benefits
Our evolving benefits are designed to meet your needs at every stage of your live, ensuring you and your family are supported.
- Flexible work hours, hybrid NYC office, half-day Fridays
- Take time to recharge with a company-wide winter break in December.
- Benefit from generous paid time off—including your birthday!
- Access comprehensive benefits, from medical, dental, and vision coverage to supplemental insurance and backup childcare.
- Grow your skills with formal and informal learning opportunities, plus tuition reimbursement.
- Secure your financial future with a retirement plan, flexible spending accounts, and pre-tax commuter benefits.
How we hire
At Catalyst, we follow a structured hiring process designed to ensure equity at every stage. All applications are reviewed by both a recruiter and the hiring manager, ensuring a thoughtful and human-centered approach.
Typical Hiring Process:
- Recruiter Screening
- Hiring Manager Interview
- Team/Stakeholder Interview
- Performance Task
- Final Interview with an Executive
While the structure may vary slightly depending on the role, this is the general framework we follow. Most positions are filled within two months.
Performance Task Disclaimer:
As part of Catalyst’s standard interview process, candidates may be asked to complete a performance task. This task is designed solely to assess skills relevant to the role and is not used for any other purpose.
- Ownership: All ideas, strategies, and work product submitted remain the intellectual property of the candidate.
- Non-Use: Catalyst will not use, implement, or replicate any part of the submitted task for internal or external purposes, including strategic planning or execution.
- No Compensation: This task is a voluntary component of the interview process and is not compensated. Participation does not imply any employment relationship or obligation.
- Confidentiality: Submissions will be reviewed only by the hiring team and will not be shared beyond the scope of the interview process.
The role
TITLE: Vice President of Research, Insights & Solutions
DEPARTMENT: Product
REPORTS TO: Chief Product Officer
LOCATION: New York City or Virtual
SALARY RANGE: $146,000 - $170,000 (Placement within this range is dependent upon experience and location)
SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES
The Vice President (VP) of Research, Insights & Solutions spearheads the development and execution of innovative research strategies and solutions for Catalyst, charting the course and enabling an exceptional team of behavioral scientists and learning experience experts to generate unique insights and solutions designed to position the organization as the premier provider of cutting-edge knowledge to empower individuals, teams, and organizations to create inclusive workplace cultures.
This is not a traditional Head of Research role. The VP will operate as a research-grounded product leader owning Catalyst’s research-to-product strategy, translating insight into scalable solutions, and serving as a visible, credible external authority about women in the workplace and inclusion, leadership, and culture.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Product-Led Research Strategy
- Define and lead Catalyst’s research strategy, aligning research priorities to organizational growth, supporter needs, and market opportunities.
- Own the end-to-end research-to-solution lifecycle, from agenda setting through productization, launch, and evolution.
- Make clear prioritization decisions about what to build, what to scale, and what not to pursue, balancing rigor with market relevance.
- Guide the development of proprietary frameworks, diagnostics, tools, and learning solutions grounded in research.
- Insights & Solutions
- Lead the translation of research into practical, scalable solutions, including learning programs, tools, diagnostics, and recognition initiatives.
- Oversee the evolution of Catalyst’s Awards and benchmarking programs to ensure relevance, rigor, and market differentiation.
- Partner with Product, GRSS, Marketing, and Communications to enable consultative supporter engagement and revenue-aligned outcomes.
- Establish clear measures of usage, adoption, and impact for Catalyst’s research products and solutions.
- External Influence & Thought Leadership
- Serve as a public-facing authority on workplace inclusion, leadership, and culture.
- Represent Catalyst at high-profile conferences, executive forums, and industry events.
- Publish and contribute practitioner-oriented thought leadership that shapes executive and organizational decision-making.
- Partner with Communications and Marketing to amplify Catalyst’s research and point of view across channels and audiences.
- Leadership & Operations
- Lead and develop a globally distributed, multidisciplinary team across research, insights, and solutions.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and learning.
- Serve as a senior leader within the Product organization and present regularly to the Senior Leadership Team.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
- Advanced degree (PhD or equivalent) in organizational behavior, psychology, sociology, public policy, or a related field, with 10+ years of applied research experience leading complex projects and teams.
- Deep expertise in workplace inclusion, leadership, and organizational culture, with strong statistical literacy and experience overseeing advanced quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate research quality and rigor, including methodology, controls, segmentation, and interpretation.
- Proven product leadership, including ownership of research-backed products, solutions, or intellectual property with clear adoption or market impact.
- Established external influence, evidenced by executive-level speaking, published practitioner-oriented thought leadership, and industry credibility.
- Ability to operate effectively at the intersection of research rigor, product strategy, and market relevance.
- Executive presence with the ability to influence senior internal and external stakeholders.
- Proven people leader across diverse, multidisciplinary teams, with experience managing complex portfolios, budgets, and cross-functional partnerships.
- Strong strategic judgment and decision-making capability in ambiguous, evolving environments, with a global mindset and cultural fluency.