At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead groundbreaking research in behavioural economics and retirement to shape industry standards.
- Company: Join Vanguard, a leader in investment management with a mission-driven culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on innovation and career development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on retail investors and influence global financial outcomes.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in economics or finance, with strong leadership and research skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Lead Vanguard’s Behavioral Economics and Retirement research in Europe to establish Vanguard as the authoritative global voice on retail investors—shaping industry thinking, informing policy, and driving better financial outcomes for investors worldwide. This role combines 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.
What you will do:
- Set the research agenda and drive insight
- Define and execute a multi-year research strategy across behavioral economics and retirement
- 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
- Position Vanguard research at the intersection of data, policy, and client outcomes
- 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, creating a strong pipeline of future leaders
- Set a high bar for intellectual rigor, storytelling, and impact
- Foster a culture of ownership, innovation, and collaboration across regions (US, UK, Europe, AUS)
- Translate research into business impact
- Partner with senior stakeholders in the UK and Continental Europe across Investment Strategy Group, Product and Marketing, Public Policy
- Turn research findings into actionable recommendations that influence product design (e.g., retirement solutions), advice frameworks and client experiences, business strategy and positioning
- Ensure research outputs translate into measurable investor outcomes
- Serve as a public voice for Vanguard
- Act as a senior spokesperson for Vanguard on retail investor topics
- Engage regularly with financial press and media, policymakers and regulators, industry bodies and conferences
- Deliver compelling, plain-language narratives that reinforce Vanguard’s mission
- Build Vanguard’s brand as the trusted authority on retail investors globally
- Influence policy and industry direction
- Lead research that informs debates on retirement systems and policy (e.g. savings, defaults and decumulation), investor protection and behavioral design
- Collaborate with internal and external partners to shape policy outcomes
- Ensure Vanguard has a clear, evidence-based voice in public discourse
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, or 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
What it takes:
- Experience
- 10+ years of experience in economics, behavioral science, finance, or public policy
- Proven track record of leading teams and complex research programs
- Publishing impactful research using large datasets
- Experience engaging with media, policymakers, or industry audiences
- Capabilities
- Strategic leadership: ability to set a vision and mobilize teams around it
- Research excellence: rigorous analytical and empirical skills
- Storytelling & influence: translate complex insights into compelling narratives
- Stakeholder leadership: ability to shape decisions across senior business partners
- External presence: credible, confident spokesperson in public forums
- Education
- Advanced degree (PhD or Master’s) in economics, finance, public policy, or related field preferred
Special Factors:
- European Designations: Certified, MiFiD II, T&C.
- Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.
- This position is hybrid and would require you to work in the office location Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
How We Work:
Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.
Head of Behavioral Economics and Retirement Research in London employer: The Vanguard Group
Vanguard is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work environment that fosters innovation and professional growth. As the Head of Behavioral Economics and Retirement Research, you will lead a high-performing team in a hybrid setting, benefiting from flexible working arrangements while making a significant impact on retail investor outcomes across Europe. With a strong commitment to employee development and a mission-driven culture, Vanguard empowers its employees to shape industry thinking and influence policy, making it a rewarding place to advance your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Behavioral Economics and Retirement Research in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Behavioral Economics and Retirement Research in London
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