Who we’re looking for
Role: VP of Research
Team: Research
Reports To: CEO and Co-Founder
Supervisory Responsibility: This role will directly oversee Knit’s Research leadership team, including the Managing Director of Research and Head of Research Operations, as well as the future Research Excellence function.
This executive leadership role will be responsible for overseeing the entire Research organization, including Research Delivery, Research Operations, and Research Excellence. The organization currently consists of 27 team members.
Location: USA, NYC preferred.
Travel: If not located in NYC, this role will be expected to travel to NYC approximately once a month.
A little about Us
Knit is the The Researcher-Driven AI Platform helping researchers run agency-quality quant + qual research at DIY costs & speed. Through Knit, brands like NASCAR, JBL, and Mars automate their consumer research process to get a quicker and more holistic understanding of their audiences.
Role Purpose
Research is at the heart of everything we do at Knit. As an AI-native research company, our ability to deliver exceptional research, innovate how research is conducted, and translate our expertise into differentiated products and customer experiences is fundamental to our success.
You will be a core member of our leadership team, reporting directly to the CEO. You will be the ultimate accountable leader for Research across the business, spanning Research Delivery, Research Operations, and our future Research Excellence team.
This is much more than leading a research organization. You will play a central role in shaping Knit’s company strategy, product roadmap, go-to-market approach, and market positioning. Because research is the foundation of our business, your judgment, expertise, and leadership will influence nearly every major decision we make as a company.
This is the perfect role for someone wanting to build a world-class research organization while helping redefine what the future of market research looks like for the AI-native world!
Core outcomes of the role
Research exists at Knit for 3 core jobs to be done. You are responsible for all three outcomes.
Build a world-class product
Deliver excellent outcomes for our customers
Establish market credibility
Your success will be measured by your impact on Knit’s revenue growth, operating leverage, product innovation, and competitive differentiation.
Key Responsibilities
As a core member of Knit’s executive leadership team, you are responsible not only for the performance of Research, but for helping shape the strategy and success of the broader company.
1. Shape Knit's company strategy, product strategy, and execution
Serve as a core member of the research team responsible for shaping Knit's strategy, priorities, and company-wide performance. Play a central role in determining where Knit invests, what we build, and how we bring our capabilities to market. Partner with the CEO and the rest of the executive team to set Knit's business and product strategy, define company OKRs, and make the strategic decisions that will shape our future. Your research expertise should meaningfully influence our Product roadmap, GTM strategy, Marketing positioning, and long-term competitive differentiation.
2. Build and lead a world-class Research organization.
Own the strategy, organizational design, hiring, leadership development, and capacity planning across all Research functions. Build a high-performing leadership team, establish clear accountability and operating cadences, and create a culture of research excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. Work closely with the CEO and the rest of the executive team to identify bottlenecks, make investment tradeoffs, and ensure Research has the talent, systems, and resources to deliver against Knit's growth ambitions.
3. Drive retention and expansion through exceptional research delivery.
Own Research's contribution to GRR and NRR. You will be ultimately…