Senior Manager, Market Research

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions.

Shape strategy with data-driven insight.

We are seeking a Senior Manager, Market Research & Strategic Insights to lead high-impact research initiatives that inform business strategy, strengthen market positioning, and drive growth. This role is ideal for a seasoned insights professional who combines strong analytical expertise with strategic thinking, executive communication, and cross-functional leadership.

This senior-level position will play a critical role in translating market intelligence, customer insights, and competitive analysis into actionable recommendations for marketing, product, and business leaders.

What You’ll Do

Lead strategic market research initiatives

• Design and execute qualitative and quantitative research projects to answer critical business questions
• Define research objectives, methodologies, and data collection approaches
• Analyze complex datasets and synthesize findings into clear, compelling insights
• Deliver strategic recommendations that influence business and marketing decisions

Monitor market dynamics and competitive intelligence

• Track industry trends, market shifts, customer behavior, and competitor activity
• Identify emerging opportunities, risks, and whitespace in the market
• Provide ongoing insight to senior stakeholders on market conditions and business implications

Drive business and marketing strategy

• Partner with marketing, product, sales, and leadership teams to inform strategic planning
• Apply research insights to support segmentation, targeting, positioning, and go-to-market decisions
• Evaluate performance of strategies and recommend adjustments based on data and trends

Manage high-visibility research programs

• Oversee end-to-end project execution, including timelines, deliverables, budgets, and resources
• Coordinate internal teams, external research vendors, and key stakeholders
• Ensure research quality, methodological rigor, and data integrity throughout the process

Advance research capabilities

• Leverage modern research platforms, analytics tools, and visualization technologies
• Identify opportunities to improve research efficiency, scalability, and impact
• Stay current on best practices, tools, and innovations in market research and insights

Communicate with influence

• Develop presentations, reports, and executive-ready summaries that clearly communicate findings
• Present insights and recommendations to senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders
• Serve as a trusted advisor by translating data into business relevance and action

Lead across teams

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners to align insights with organizational priorities
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external research partners
• Mentor junior team members and help elevate the overall insights function

What Success Looks Like

In this role, you will:

• Bring a forward-looking perspective on markets, customers, and competition
• Influence strategic decisions through credible, data-backed recommendations
• Help develop talent and strengthen research capabilities across the organization
• Build alignment across functions through insight-driven leadership and communication

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• 5+ years of progressive experience in market research, consumer insights, competitive intelligence, or strategic analytics
• Demonstrated expertise in areas such as:
• Consumer behavior, preferences, and motivations
• Competitive analysis and market positioning
• Market opportunity assessment and demand analysis
• Product and pricing research

• Proven experience designing and leading specialized research studies, including surveys, focus groups, interviews, and data analysis
• Strong proficiency with quantitative research and statistical analysis tools such as SPSS, R, or Python
• Familiarity with qualitative research methods, including interviews, thematic analysis, and content analysis
• Ability to synthesize complex information and communicate insights clearly to executive and non-technical audiences
• Strong project management skills with experience managing multiple priorities and stakeholders

Preferred Leadership Traits

• Strategic vision and the ability to anticipate market shifts
• Strong executive presence and influential communication style
• Experience mentoring and developing talent
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to lead through partnership and credibility

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to step into a highly visible role where your expertise will directly shape strategic decisions and business outcomes. If you thrive at the intersection of research, strategy, and leadership, we’d love to hear from you.

Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.

At Xylem, you'll not only contribute to solving water issues but also have the chance to make a difference through our paid Volunteer Program, Xylem Watermark. We prioritize our employees' well-being through inclusion and belonging as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERG). Proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (including disability and veterans) and Affirmative Action workplace, Xylem fosters an inclusive environment free from discrimination or harassment.

Please note that the information in this job description outlines the general nature of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Xylem is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to enable all employees to perform their essential job functions. We reserve the right to modify this job description and assign additional duties as needed. Embrace the opportunity to be part of Xylem's transformative journey in shaping the future of water technology! #XylemCareers #GlobalImpact #WaterInnovation