Director of Insights
Some companies are in the Business of Technology.
Others are in the Business of Finance…Or Sports…Or Soft Drinks.
At EF, we’re in a different kind of business.
One that’s a little less tangible but makes a big impact.
We’re in the Business of Understanding.
Between people.
Between cultures.
For over half a century we’ve been the leader in international educational programs and methods designed to foster such understanding.
Through Language, Cultural Exchange, Academic Studies, and Educational Travel, we create the kinds of immersive experiences that challenge biases, open minds, and pave the way for a more understanding world. And yes, we have technology, we have finance, we even have sports with our own professional cycling team EF Education - EasyPost.
But it’s what we do with it – building greater understanding, breaking down barriers, and creating a better world…that makes all the difference.
EF Educational Tours (ET) and EF Explore America (EA), divisions of EF Education First, are proud to lead the way in travel-based learning. For over 60 years, we have delivered immersive experiences that unlock personal growth for students, teachers, and the communities of which they are a part.
About the job:
We are looking for a Director of Insights to help drive our efforts to put our customers at the center of everything we do. The Director of Insights will be a key member of our Brand Experience team, a part of our larger ET/EA Marketing & Creative team. Working under the direction of the Sr. Director, Brand Experience, the Director of Insights will be responsible for building and growing a marketing insights capability and cross-functional “insights center of excellence” that informs our product strategy, evolution, and go-to-market approach. The Director of Insights will balance high-level strategic thinking with hands-on execution to deliver market knowledge and resources that drive business growth.
In this role, you will help us understand our market, identify growth opportunities, and unearth new ways to show more students the world. You will get inside the minds of educators, families, and students through interviews, surveys, and any other methodologies you have in your toolbox. You will stay atop of industry and competitive trends, analyze quantitative and qualitative data and evangelize learnings to ensure we are always in position to lead the way. And you will do this as part of a tight-knit, collaborative team that sits at the intersection of Sales, Marketing, Product Development, and User Experience.
What you’ll do:
- Collaborate across teams, including senior management, to align research priorities with business goals, including building out a research plan to address near and long-term needs
- Design, implement, analyze, and synthesize research that will deepen understanding of the market and customer landscape to help the business grow
- Conduct primary and secondary research using the best tools for the job, including interviews, focus groups, surveys, ethnography, persona and journey work
- Collaborate across teams to ensure insights are integrated across the organization
- Serve as the primary point of contact for insights-related inquiries from internal stakeholders
- Provide research guidance to key stakeholders and teams across the organization
- Keep up with and contribute to trends and innovations in education and travel
Who you are:
You have experience in marketing research. You know how to partner with leaders to understand business needs and how deeper insights can address key questions. You can define the role of insights in the sales, marketing and the product development process. You can conduct incisive interviews and develop useful surveys. You can slice and dice data and translate the findings into actionable and concise presentations, too. You may not know a lot about what we do, but you can help us do it better. Your profile will probably look something like this:
- Positive, organized, and accountable
- Firm belief in the transformative power of travel, and enthusiasm for education
- Able to adapt gracefully to changing priorities and deliver on concurrent projects without sacrificing quality
- Intellectually curious with a love of practical applications
- 7+ years of relevant research experience
- Proven track record of driving strategic initiatives and delivering impactful insights that move a business forward
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex data into clear and actionable insights.
- Highly organized with strong project management skills and the ability to balance strategic and tactical responsibilities
- Think quickly, work efficiently, and collaborate often
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity
Who we are:
The ET/EA Marketing & Creative team is made up of 60+ staff: writers, designers, video editors, producers, photographers, web content developers, email and marketing automation, and marketing strategists representing the full funnel. Customer-first and collaboration forward, we leverage our subject-matter expertise, the strength of our brand, and our deep understanding of the market, our customers and the business to drive the strategies and solutions that get more students and teachers traveling.
Why you’ll love working here:
Work in our North American headquarters where you’ll enjoy comprehensive professional development, frequent social programming and employee-run DEIB Resource Groups, and clubs. You can expect:
- Paid international travel at least once a year (more as you grow with us)
- Eligibility for our Workplace Flexibility Program: our hybrid work model with up to two days of work-from-home flexibility work per week, after your initial onboarding
- Robust professional growth opportunities including monthly trainings, workshops, and inspiring talks with global leaders and experts
- Four weeks paid vacation your first year and ten paid holidays
- 25% company match on your 401(k)
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with life and disability insurance
- Wellness benefits and a yearly fitness reimbursement
- EF program discounts including travel, language schools, childcare, and more
- Dependent care, healthcare, and commuter flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
- Discounts at local venues and businesses
Excited but not a perfect match? Apply anyway. We love interesting candidates and diverse backgrounds
About EF Education First:
At EF we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another. Since 1965, we have helped millions of people see new places, experience new cultures, and learn new things about the world and about themselves. Our culturally immersive education programs—focused on language, travel, cultural exchange, and academics—turn dreams into international opportunities.
When you join EF, you join a multicultural and diverse community working across more than 600 schools and offices in 50 countries, all with one shared mission of opening the world through education. Whoever you are, whatever you are passionate about—we welcome you and want you to bring that to work every day. EF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to inclusion and belonging across race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, identity, parental status, experience and everything else that makes you unique.
Founded in Sweden in 1965, EF has school and offices around the world, including hubs in Boston, London, Mexico City, São Paulo, Shanghai, Stockholm, Zürich, and more. Learn more at https://ef.com