Title: Growth Lead Financial Services
Location: Remote (West Coast preferred)
Compensation: Commensurate with Experience 
Contact dwilberschied@smithhanley.com

Our client, an AI research startup is redefining how primary market research is conducted. The company’s end-to-end platform uses advanced AI to automate expert interviews and streamline insight delivery, helping clients in private equity, Fortune 500 companies, and the life sciences industry move faster and smarter.

Overview
The Financial Services & Private Equity Market Growth Lead is responsible for expanding the agency’s footprint across banking, fintech, insurance, asset management, and PE/VC clients. This leader blends deep sector expertise with a strong commercial mindset, helping clients leverage advanced AI-powered research, analytics, and decision-support solutions to drive smarter investments, stronger portfolios, and customer-centric growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Own revenue growth strategy for Financial Services & Private Equity verticals, including pipeline development, territory planning, and key-account expansion.

• Build and nurture executive-level relationships across FS/PE client organizations, understanding business challenges and aligning them with AI-enhanced research offerings.

• Partner with research, data science, engineering, and product teams to craft insight solutions that integrate automation, predictive analytics, and advanced modeling.

• Lead go-to-market motion for FS/PE solutions, including thought leadership, industry event presence, and partnership development.

• Identify emerging opportunities (e.g., risk analytics, customer intelligence, due diligence acceleration, portfolio monitoring) and translate them into new service offerings.

• Collaborate with marketing on vertical-specific content and positioning.

• Serve as an internal voice of the customer, guiding product innovation and solution development for FS/PE needs.

• Forecast revenue, track KPIs, and report on business performance and opportunities.

Qualifications

• 7–12+ years in Financial Services, Private Equity, or related consulting, research, analytics, or insights roles.

• Proven track record in business development, account growth, or commercial leadership.

• Strong understanding of FS/PE decision cycles, investment processes, and customer/market dynamics.

• Familiarity with AI, analytics, data platforms, or tech-enabled research solutions (hands-on is not required, but comfort with the ecosystem is).

• Ability to translate complex analytical capabilities into compelling client value.

• Exceptional communication, executive presence, and relationship-building skills.

• Strategic thinker with a bias toward action, revenue generation, and cross-functional collaboration.