Thought Leadership and research Specialist

Thought Leadership and research Specialist

Job Title: Thought Leadership and Research Specialist

Level: Senior Associate / Specialist

Function: Brand, Marketing & Communications (BMC) – Thought Leadership

Role Overview

The Thought Leadership Content Specialist is responsible for developing high-quality, insight-driven content that positions the organization as an industry leader. This role blends strategic thinking, strong research capability, and exceptional writing skills to create compelling narratives across formats such as reports, whitepapers, executive point-of-views, blogs, scripts, and multimedia content. The specialist will work closely with business leaders, SMEs, BMC teams, and the studio to bring complex ideas to life in a simple, influential, and impactful manner.

Key Responsibilities

• Content Strategy & Research
  • Identify emerging trends, industry shifts, and market intelligence to create timely thought leadership themes.
  • Conduct deep research using primary and secondary sources; synthesize complex information into clear, concise insights.
  • Partner with business leadership to develop content pillars and messaging frameworks.
• High-Impact Content Creation
  • Develop long-form and short-form content: whitepapers, articles, leadership POVs, newsletters, blog posts, video scripts, panel talking points, and social media content.
  • Convert data, expert interviews, and insights into compelling storytelling formats.
  • Ensure content is aligned with brand voice, tone, and message discipline (EY style).
• SME & Leader Collaboration
  • Conduct interviews with SMEs, solution leaders, partners, and external experts.
  • Translate technical, domain-heavy inputs into accessible, engaging narratives for broad audiences.
  • Manage reviews, revisions, and approvals.
• Editorial Excellence
  • Maintain rigorous editorial standards, fact-checking, and quality review.
  • Ensure consistency across all communications assets.
  • Create reusable content templates, messaging guides, and signature formats.
• Multi-Format Storytelling
  • Collaborate with studio teams to convert written content into:
    • Video scripts
    • Infographics
    • Social media snippets
    • Podcasts
    • Event presentations and keynote decks
• Measurement & Optimization
  • Track performance of thought leadership content on digital channels.
  • Recommend improvements based on analytics and audience engagement.
  • Maintain dashboards of content coverage, impact, and usage.

Required Skills & Competencies

Core Skills

• Exceptional writing and storytelling ability
• Strong research and analytical thinking
• Ability to simplify complex concepts
• Adept at working with senior stakeholders
• Editorial rigor with attention to accuracy and detail

Technical Skills

• Experience using content research tools (industry databases, analyst reports, etc.)
• Working knowledge of SEO for content
• Familiarity with scriptwriting for video and podcast formats
• Proficiency with PowerPoint for narrative decks

Behavioral Competencies

• Strategic mindset with ability to understand business priorities
• Creative thinker with ability to generate new angles, narratives, and formats
• Strong project management and deadline discipline
• Collaborative and comfortable in a fast-paced environment

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, English, Business, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in content creation, editorial strategy, corporate communications, or journalism.
• Prior experience in consulting, technology, professional services, or agency environments is an advantage.