Head of Behavioral Economics and Retirement Research

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: 1) 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

2) 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)

3) 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

4) 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

5) 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.