Senior Research Director

About Savills

Savills is an organization full of extraordinary individuals. Brilliant people who are driven to succeed, hungry to remain at the forefront of their specialties, and eager to propel themselves, our clients, and our business forward. We are one of the preeminent commercial real estate firms with services ranging from tenant representation and project management to workplace strategy and occupant experience - showcasing the breadth and depth of our expertise.

Find your place to thrive.

No matter the role you’re in, we all share one purpose: to help people thrive through places and spaces. The DNA ingrained in our business guides us on this mission, shaping the way we behave to deliver the best results. When you join Savills, our ask for you is simple:

Be extraordinary, together.

About the Role

Located in Los Angeles, Savills is seeking a Senior Research Director to spearhead our analytics and insights efforts across the Southern California region, focusing on comprehensive data-driven strategies to advance our market positioning and client service excellence across multiple sectors. This role demands a proven leader with deep expertise in commercial real estate research, capable of driving data initiatives that support high-stakes decision-making for the firm’s executive leadership and client advisors.

The ideal candidate is a well-connected expert on the Los Angeles commercial real estate market with the ability to provide oversight and guidance for Orange County and San Diego, as well. Prior experience at a commercial real estate brokerage, capital markets, or analytics firm preferred.

Specific responsibilities to include:

• Market Strategy and Insights Development: Lead the development and execution of a sophisticated research strategy for key commercial real estate markets and sectors. This includes gathering data points, identifying emerging trends, and crafting insights that position the firm as an industry leader in market intelligence.
• Cross-departmental Collaboration: Partner closely with brokerage, consulting, technology, marketing and PR teams to ensure that research insights directly contribute to client advisory, business development efforts, and support organizational priorities.
• Data Integration and Technology Oversight: Manage the region’s research data infrastructure, including data sourcing, integration, and quality assurance. Educate and train internal teams on Research tools and applications.
• Thought Leadership: Establish the firm as a thought leader by producing authoritative white papers, reports, and market commentary. Represent the firm in the press and at industry conferences and panels, providing expert analysis on market conditions and future trends.
• Client Engagement and Advisory Support: Regularly interface with key clients to present research insights and provide consultative expertise on market opportunities, risks, and trends. Support high-value pitches and client engagements with compelling, data-backed narratives.

Qualifications

• BA or BS degree in business, marketing, statistics or related field
• 5-7 years of experience in commercial real estate research, with at least 3 years in a leadership role
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce, ChatGPT, experience with data visualization tools a plus
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with experience delivering insights to executive leadership and external stakeholders
• Consistently demonstrate a high level of performance and professionalism
• Self-starter who works independently and thinks proactively and strategically
• Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines

Savills values a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, veteranstatus, or any other protectedcharacteristic. Savills participates in the E-Verify program.