Strategy, Research & Innovation (Manager or Director)

*This position may be filled at a Manager or Director level, depending on the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. The official title will be either Strategy, Research & Innovation Manager or Director of Strategy, Research & Innovation.

At Visit Indy, it's our job to promote the city of Indianapolis. And that job has never been easier, more energizing or more rewarding than it is right now. As an unprecedented level of cooperation between business and government boosts Indianapolis to a completely new level, we're reveling in the opportunity to show our city off.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Strategy, Research & Innovation (Manage or Director) advances Visit Indy’s organizational effectiveness and destination competitiveness by integrating research, data, emerging technologies, and strategic foresight into planning, decision-making, and implementation.

This position translates research and information into practical insights and supports teams in applying them to improve products, services, operations, strategies, and outcomes. The Strategy, Research & Innovation (Manage or Director) stewards Visit Indy’s core research assets and coordinates its distributed research resources, ensuring information is credible, accessible, and broadly applied across the organization. The position identifies knowledge gaps and strengthens data literacy and informed decision-making across Visit Indy.

The Strategy, Research & Innovation (Manage or Director) extends Visit Indy’s research and intelligence capacity to hospitality, civic, philanthropic, and community partners. Through strategic studies, applied innovation, responsible AI use, and cross-functional collaboration, the position supports Visit Indy and its partners in responding to change and strengthening destination competitiveness. The position is a senior individual contributor who leads through expertise, communication, facilitation, and influence rather than direct authority. All team members reflect the organization's "3 Ps" culture - productive, positive, and progressive.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To be successful in this role, an individual must be able to perform the functions listed below. We will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

Research & Destination Intelligence

- Coordinate, steward, and continuously improve Visit Indy’s distributed research and destination intelligence program, including hotel and short-term rental performance, economic impact, visitor behavior, resident sentiment, competitive benchmarking, and performance measures across marketing, sales, and other functions.

- Maintain a clear, accessible inventory of Visit Indy’s existing research, data sources, and knowledge gaps. Help teams identify what we know, what we do not know, and the most useful ways to answer important questions.

- Synthesize signals from multiple research sources and interpret trends across tourism, technology, urban development, consumer behavior, and the broader destination environment, translating findings into clear stories and actionable implications.

- Manage external research consultants, data providers, and intelligence platforms, ensuring research is current, credible, documented, accessible, and useful across teams.

- Lead complex special studies and competitive analyses that inform organizational strategy, destination strategy, feasibility work, long-term planning, and the Destination Vision Plan.

Cross-Functional Insights Leadership

- Partner directly with teams to translate research and insights into decisions and measurable improvements across Visit Indy, including destination development feasibility, implementation, and investment strategy.

- Coach and support colleagues in interpreting findings, asking better questions, testing new approaches, and applying what they learn to their work.

- Develop and maintain dashboards, KPIs, and performance systems that give teams timely, accessible, and actionable information, while helping them understand and use those tools effectively.

- Influence and collaborate across teams without direct authority, serving as a connector, facilitator, and trusted thought partner across organizational silos.

Innovation & Organizational Capability

- Identify, evaluate, and apply emerging tools, technologies, research methods, and practices, including artificial intelligence, that improve organizational effectiveness, insight generation, storytelling, decision-making, and destination competitiveness.

- Build organizational capability to use new tools and methods effectively and responsibly, including developing frameworks, use cases, training, governance practices, and standards for accuracy and appropriate use.

- Pilot and deploy promising approaches, measure their value, document learnings, and work alongside teams to support adoption and continuous improvement.

- Advance a culture of applied innovation in which research, technology, and new ideas lead to better decisions, stronger work, and meaningful organizational change.

Ecosystem Intelligence & Civic Impact

- Make relevant research and intelligence accessible to hospitality, civic, philanthropic, and community partners, positioning Visit Indy as a trusted intelligence hub for the destination ecosystem.

- Develop mechanisms for sharing insights externally through partner briefings, data collaborations, dashboards, data tools, and other practical resources.

- Listen to partners’ questions, information needs, and knowledge gaps and identify opportunities for shared research, analysis, and learning.

- Build and maintain relationships with public agencies, universities, and regional planning bodies to align tourism intelligence with broader community priorities.

Other Functions

- Represent Visit Indy in relevant industry, research, innovation, destination development, and economic development forums and working groups. Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the following education and/or experience.

- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required in data science, economics, public policy, statistics, information systems, marketing and communications, tourism, hospitality, urban planning, or a related field preferred.

- Minimum of three to five years of related experience translating research, data, or emerging trends into strategy, action, organizational improvement, or destination impact.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. We will make reasonable accommodations to enable those with disabilities to perform these functions.

- Strong working knowledge of research design, quantitative and qualitative methods, destination intelligence, business intelligence, and data visualization, with the judgment to partner effectively with subject-matter experts.

- Strong AI literacy and demonstrated experience applying AI tools to research, workflow, or communications challenges, with sound judgment related to governance and accuracy.

- Strategic thinking and foresight with the ability to translate data into implications and implications into action.

- Exceptional communication, storytelling, facilitation, and listening skills, including the ability to make complex findings useful to nontechnical audiences and coach others in applying insights to their work.

- Demonstrated ability to build organizational data literacy, facilitate change, drive adoption of new tools and practices, and influence without direct authority.

- Strong project management and stakeholder coordination skills; attention to detail; and ability to manage multiple projects independently.

- Natural curiosity, adaptability, and commitment to continuous learning; knowledge of tourism, destination management, or urban development strongly preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those an individual must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. We will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

- Physical demands include the ability to sit for extended periods, stand, move intermittently throughout the workday, operate standard office equipment, and occasionally lift or move up to 15 pounds.

- Good speaking, listening, and interpersonal skills and ability to interact with others in person, by phone, by e-mail, and in written correspondence.

Visit Indy is an equal opportunity employer. Accordingly, not only do we adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws pertaining to equal employment opportunity, but it is our firm policy to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities for all individuals regardless of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or any other legally protected category or characteristic. Hiring and promotion practices are performed without regard to the same.