Research Director

About the Role & Team

IDC is seeking a Research Director to join our established worldwide artificial intelligence, data, and automation research practice to focus on data collaboration and monetization vendors and technologies. The candidate will have to demonstrate an ability to understand both the existing and future capabilities across the data collaboration and monetization vendor landscape, spanning cloud platform providers, specialist data brokers, and emerging data exchange players as well as the technologies and architectures that underpin data marketplaces and sharing ecosystems. This includes a command of the full spectrum of data monetization models, from traditional licensing and syndication arrangements to modern API-based data products, revenue-sharing frameworks, and the commercial structures that enable organizations to derive measurable value from their data assets. Research will include understanding market drivers and trends, buying behaviors, and the business value impact of these technologies and services.  The candidate will employ IDC research methodologies to size markets and forecast market growth.

What You’ll Do

• Track and analyze key trends across the data collaboration and monetization vendor landscape, covering cloud platform providers, specialist data brokers, data exchange and marketplace operators, and clean room technology vendors. Assess how these players are delivering value to enterprise clients and evolving their competitive positioning in response to market demand.
• Evaluate the full spectrum of data monetization models, including licensing, syndication, Data-as-a-Service (DaaS), and API-based data products, identifying the commercial structures, technical requirements, and organizational capabilities that distinguish successful implementations from underperforming ones.
• Conduct market sizing, segmentation, and competitive strategy studies across the data collaboration and monetization landscape. Analyze the financial performance and strategic direction of key technology providers alongside enterprise demand patterns for data sharing and monetization products and services.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in client-facing engagements, including advisory sessions, inquiry calls, and presentations to C-level executives and senior IT decision-makers. Represent IDC's point of view on data collaboration and monetization trends with authority and clarity.
• Partner with IDC's sales organization to identify and develop incremental revenue opportunities across subscription research and custom advisory engagements within the AI, Data, and Automation practice.
• Apply expertise in enterprise digital transformation and AI adoption to contextualize how data collaboration and monetization technologies address real-world IT and business challenges faced by organizations across industries.
• Respond to client inquiries with timely, well-grounded market and competitive intelligence, and collaborate with analysts across IDC practices to contribute to syndicated research documents, forecasts, and cross-practice initiatives.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree required; master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years' experience in market research, advisory, marketing or consulting specific to data management, collaboration, and/or monetization.
• Knowledge of the data collaboration and monetization tech sector is required, as well as the ability to analyze and provide actionable guidance to technology providers and end-users.
• Knowledge of product portfolios including data, software, and services.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze survey data and provide a clear, concise summation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to analyze, present and articulate complex data sets.
• Good interpersonal and organizational skills and the capacity to work both independently and within a team.
• Proven ability to read and evaluate financial reports to analyze key drivers that will impact companies’ ability to differentiate and remain competitive.
• Ability to travel (25-30%) for client meetings, industry events and customer projects.
• This role has flexibility to work from an approved remote US or Canada location or onsite at our Boston, MA corporate office.

Why This Role Stands Out
At IDC, your work helps shape how the world understands technology and where it goes next. You collaborate with curious, high-caliber colleagues who value rigor, integrity, and shared success. As the premier global provider of trusted technology intelligence, IDC equips business and technology leaders with the evidence they need to make confident decisions. Our insights inform strategy, investment, and innovation across industries and regions.

Recognized by IIAR as Analyst Firm of the Year for five consecutive years, IDC sets the standard for credibility and impact. With more than 1,000 analysts worldwide and a truly global perspective, we combine deep expertise with practical relevance. Here, your ideas matter, your voice is heard, and your contributions provide the insights leaders rely on every day. It is meaningful work, backed by a culture that supports growth, collaboration, and long-term career development with a globally respected brand.

What We Offer

• 15 vacation days (prorated based on start date)
• 12 company-paid holidays
• 6 paid sick days (prorated based on start date; may vary by state)
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 2 floating holidays (prorated based on start date)
• 1 volunteer day
• 401(k) company match (IDC matches 3% on the first 6% of employee contributions)
• Company-paid short-term disability
• Company-paid life insurance
  
• Company-paid parental leave
  

Compensation Transparency

At IDC, we are committed to fair and equitable pay practices. Employees are compensated equitably for their work, aligned with their skills and experience. Salary and incentive structures are determined through a rigorous process that considers experience, education, certifications, role-specific requirements, internal equity, and verified U.S. market data from an independent third-party partner.

The expected total annual compensation, depending on location and experience, is between $130,000 – $180,000, inclusive of base salary and variable compensation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IDC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. Employment eligibility verification required. We participate in E-Verify.

IDC is currently able to employ remote workers in the following states: Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Washington D.C. (DC), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Kansas (KS), Massachusetts (MA), Maryland (MD), Maine (ME), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Missouri (MO), Mississippi (MS), North Carolina (NC), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), Ohio (OH), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Utah (UT), Virginia (VA), Vermont (VT), Washington (WA), and Wisconsin (WI).