AD - Competitive Intelligence

Assistant Director-Competitive Intelligence

MNC Shared Services

Location-NCR

The role entails providing deep domain expertise in current and future competitive drivers in the marketplace as well as functional expertise in how to use competitive intelligence (CI) to develop competitive strategies. The CI support is provided to the company's Global leadership / account teams both on a pro-active basis and in response to specific requests. Responsibilities include managing unstructured complex projects, peer reviewing team deliverables, maintaining and expanding relationships and team visibility across key stakeholder groups.

Function and team overview

- The team is a globally connected research and analysis function with presence across several countries including India. The Competitive Intelligence & Market Performance team provides analytical support to the global leadership team and predicts competitor moves on a 3, 6, 12 and 18 month basis for the trends and/or competitive issues observed in the professional services marketplace.

Essential functions

1.Project management:

- Provide an objective commercial viewpoint based on an in-depth understanding and analysis of competitive information. Lead and provide actionable recommendations based on a) deep analysis of internal and external business issues and environmental factors b) careful assessment of available data and determination of knowledge gaps c) translating data into trends with estimated business impact; proactively translates business challenges into research briefings and analysis

- Work on innovative programs to increase the value of competitive intelligence processes and practice, and analyze the success of these programs. Lead competitive threat assessments to develop rigorous assumptions about key competitors.

- Continuously monitor external environment, identifying and communicating industry and competitor trends and implications. Provide industry analysis (trends, competitors, markets) that provides insights that guides strategic business and tactical planning across the organization.

- Develop project plans including scoping, timelines, milestones, priorities, and team allocation.Monitors progress and regularly updates stakeholders on potential overruns and changes; re-negotiates timelines, and scope changes.

- Review colleagues’ deliverables and advise on research, synthesis and key findings

People management / Networking

- Liaise with global CI counterparts to ensure up-to-date CI and assumptions are shared across the broader team.

- Liase across the broader market analysis &strategy organization to deliver holistic analytic insights to the brand.

- Competency development of colleagues in the CI domain.

- Maintain regular contact with subject matter specialists, both within and outside of the company

Position requirements

Education

Relevant tertiary education (e.g., economics, finance or business studies) or equivalent work experience

- Masters degree or postgraduate qualification an advantage

Work experience

- 8-15 years of leadership and management experience in CI and market research activities that have guided strategic and operational decision-making.

- Knowledge and experience within a professional services environment an advantage

Skills

Persuasive written and verbal communication skills, as well as presentation skills

- Strong analytical and problem solving skills

- Ability to multiple task and work in a matrixed environment, standing out as a successful collaborator

- Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage and prioritize concurrent cross-functional projects

- Expert in information sources relevant to the domain - demonstrated competency conducting research, distilling down volumes of data into concise summaries focused on the key implications for firm and its strategy

- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office; working knowledge of statistical analytical techniques including hands-on experience

- Identifies and introduce new elicitation tools and techniques into team.

Attributes

Passionate about research and analysis, and its practical application in the corporate environment

- Strong executive presence and proven ability to build strong working relationships with senior partners of the company, using primarily virtual communication methods

- Facilitate change by challenging the status quo and recommending opportunities for utilizing CI to improve understanding of customers and markets, to develop business insights that can be acted upon for improved decision making and business results. Demonstrate personal leadership and managerial courage to affect change.

- Excellent team player; comfortable working in a virtual environment; ability to peer review work and mentor colleagues

- Ability to work under pressure, and produce timely deliverables in a fast-paced environment

- Self-motivated, with strong work ethic and initiative; proactive in identifying issues and opportunities and delivering insightful solutions

- Holds high level of attention to detail

- May require occasional travel