Vanguard
Head of Behavioral Economics and Retirement Research
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Lead, Behavioral Economics & Retirement Research (Europe)
Establish Vanguard as the authoritative global voice on retail investors, shaping industry thinking, informing policy, and driving better financial outcomes for investors worldwide.
This is a hybrid role (in-office Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays) where you will combining thought leadership, people leadership, and business influence. You will set the research agenda, lead a high-performing team, and translate insights into tangible impact across Vanguard’s products, advice, and client experience.
About the Role
Lead Vanguard’s Behavioral Economics and Retirement research in Europe to:
- Define and execute a multi-year research strategy across behavioral economics and retirement.
- Position Vanguard at the intersection of data, policy, and client outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Set the Research Agenda & Drive Insight
- Identify high-impact questions at the frontier of:
- Retail investor behavior and decision-making
- Retirement accumulation and decumulation
- Leverage large-scale administrative, market, and survey data to produce breakthrough insights.
- Ensure research findings directly influence:
- Product design (e.g., retirement solutions)
- Advice frameworks and client experiences
- Business strategy and positioning
Lead and Develop a Best-in-Class Team
- Build and lead a multi-disciplinary research team (economists, data scientists, policy researchers).
- Coach and develop talent, fostering ownership, innovation, and collaboration across regions (US, UK, Europe, AUS).
- Set a high bar for intellectual rigor, storytelling, and impact.
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Translate Research into Business Impact (Eurozone Stakeholders)
- Partner with senior stakeholders across:
- Investment Strategy Group
- Product & Marketing
- Public Policy
- Turn research into actionable recommendations influencing client outcomes.
Serve as a Public Voice for Vanguard
- Act as a senior spokesperson on retail investor topics.
- Engage regularly with:
- Financial press and media
- Policymakers and regulators
- Industry bodies and conferences
- Deliver compelling, plain-language narratives reinforcing Vanguard’s mission and positioning the firm as the trusted authority on retail investors globally.
Influence Policy & Industry Direction
- Lead research shaping debates on:
- Retirement systems, savings defaults, and decumulation
- Investor protection and behavioral design
- Collaborate with internal/external partners to shape policy outcomes.
What Success Looks Like (12–24 Months)
✅ Vanguard is recognized as the go-to authority on retirement and investor behavior. ✅ Research directly shapes at least 2–3 major product/advice/policy decisions. ✅ Strong pipeline of externally visible thought leadership (press, conferences, policymaker engagement). ✅ A high-performing, engaged team with clear succession depth. ✅ Clear integration of research into client-facing insights and actions.
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Requirements
Experience
- 10+ years in:
- Economics, behavioral science, finance, or public policy.
- Proven track record of:
- Leading teams and complex research programs.
- Publishing impactful research using large datasets.
- Engaging with media, policymakers, or industry audiences.
Capabilities
- Strategic leadership: Ability to set a vision and mobilize teams.
- Research excellence: Rigorous analytical and empirical skills.
- Storytelling & influence: Translate complex insights into compelling narratives.
- Stakeholder leadership: Shape decisions across senior business partners.
- External presence: Credible, confident spokesperson in public forums.
Education
- Advanced degree (PhD or Master’s) preferred, in economics, finance, public policy, or related field.
Special Factors
- European designations: Preferred (e.g., Certified, MiFID II, T&C).
- No sponsorship for work visas available for this position.
**How We Work
Vanguard operates under a hybrid model enhancing flexibility while fostering collaboration and learning. Our mission-driven, collaborative culture directly supports long-term client outcomes and an enriched employee experience.
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