Strategy & Research Director

Lumen is the trusted network for AI. We’re transforming how businesses connect, secure, and scale in an AI-driven world.

By connecting people, data, and applications quickly, securely, and effortlessly, we help organizations move faster and unlock what’s next.

At Lumen, people power progress. Our culture is built on teamwork, trust, and transparency, giving you the flexibility, support, and opportunity to make a lasting impact. We’re looking for top-tier talent ready to take on the challenge. Join us in building the future.

The Role

The Director of Strategy & Research is a critical role in the transformation and growth story of Lumen. This role leads the creation of research insights leading to production of public-facing reports, blog posts, and white papers on the future uses and requirements of enterprise networking broadly, and for AI/ML use cases specifically. You will play a defining role in developing an understanding of future enterprise telecommunication needs and communicating that understanding internally and externally. Experience in conducting first-party research and excellent writing skills are essential; experience in economics, business, and/or computer science/engineering is desirable.

The Main Responsibilities

• Create and maintain a research plan grounded in Lumen’s strategy and technological realities
• Execute research, leveraging internal and external resources as appropriate, to develop insights and confirm or refute hypotheses about the changing nature of technology, business, government/public sector, entertainment, and sociocultural norms and their resulting impact on networking requirements
• Synthesize research findings into research papers, blogs/articles, and other products meant for both technical and non-technical audiences
• Effectively collaborate with Lumen product, engineering, marketing, and communications teams, among others
• Monitor technological innovations and macro-trends, collaborate and share with researchers at other organizations

What We Look For in a Candidate

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Economics, Business, or related field; PhD preferred
• Extensive experience in academic-style research planning, execution, and communication
• Strong data analysis skills
• Effective communication with senior teams (technical and non-technical) and excellent writing skills for a variety of audiences
• Strategic thinking, an interest in business, and a thirst for what comes next
• Self-motivated and proactive

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Economics, Business, or related field
• Experience in technology industries
• Experience in B2B environments

Compensation

This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors.

Location Based Pay Ranges

$152,066 - $202,755 in these states: AL AR AZ FL GA IA ID IN KS KY LA ME MO MS MT ND NE NM OH OK PA SC SD TN UT VT WI WV WY
$159,670 - $212,893 in these states: CO HI MI MN NC NH NV OR RI
$167,273 - $223,031 in these states: AK CA CT DC DE IL MA MD NJ NY TX VA WA

Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing. We're able to answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process.

Learn more about Lumen's:
Benefits
Bonus Structure

#LI-Remote

Requisition #: 342123

Background Screening

If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. For more information on these checks, please refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page . Job-related concerns identified during the background screening may disqualify you from the new position or your current role. Background results will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Equal Employment Opportunities

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, “protected statuses”). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training.

Privacy Notice

Lumen is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information collected during the recruitment and hiring process. Our Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect applicant information, as well as how individuals may request access to or deletion of their personal data.

To review Lumen’s Privacy Notice, please visit:

Disclaimer

The job responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to include a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities for this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on evolving business needs and conditions.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Please be advised that Lumen does not require any form of payment from job applicants during the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings will be posted on our official website or communicated through official company email addresses. If you encounter any job offers that request payment in exchange for employment at Lumen, they are not for employment with us, but may relate to another company with a similar name.