Director of Research Jobs

Explore Director of Research opportunities on Ladders, where professionals can find vetted roles paying $100,000 or more. Directors of Research lead teams and programs that turn complex questions into reliable insights, discoveries, and strategic recommendations. Positions span industries including healthcare, biotechnology, technology, finance, academia, and market research.

What Does a Director of Research Do?

A Director of Research sets priorities and guides the design, execution, and communication of research. Depending on the organization, the role may oversee scientific studies, product research, analytics, customer insights, or policy work. Typical responsibilities include managing research teams and budgets, selecting methods and tools, ensuring data quality and ethical practices, and presenting findings to executive stakeholders.

Skills and Qualifications

Employers commonly seek substantial experience in a relevant research discipline, a record of leading projects or teams, and strong analytical and communication skills. Many roles require an advanced degree, though expectations vary by field. Familiarity with research methods, statistical analysis, data governance, and relevant industry regulations can also be important.

Career Opportunities and Compensation

Director-level research roles offer opportunities to shape organizational strategy, build high-performing teams, and influence decisions through evidence and innovation. Compensation depends on factors such as industry, location, scope, and experience. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, helping experienced candidates explore research leadership opportunities that match their goals.

Find Director of Research Jobs on Ladders

Search Director of Research jobs on Ladders to discover senior opportunities across organizations and industries. Review role requirements, compare positions, and find a research leadership role aligned with your expertise and career plans.

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$160K - $200K *

Shape the future of product strategy by leading a high-performing team, driving innovation, and ensuring alignment across operations and technology to deliver exceptional customer value and measurable...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$190K - $275K *

Elevate technical excellence as the Chief Engineer, guiding multidisciplinary teams to ensure mission success through robust architecture, requirements management, and strategic decision-making in com...

Huntsville, ALRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$160K - $200K *

Champion global regulatory strategies by providing expert support from development to approval. Lead cross-functional teams and ensure compliance with US and international regulations while fostering...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$160K - $185K *

Transform the landscape of video understanding by owning data design, evaluation methodologies, and experimental validation for multimodal models. Collaborate with leading labs to advance video metric...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Lead the charge in defining user experience strategy, managing a multi-disciplinary design team to deliver innovative, user-centered digital products while fostering collaboration and high-impact desi...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$171K - $231K *

Drive innovative patient recruitment strategies to enhance clinical trial enrollment and retention. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement data-driven approaches, optimize patient engage...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$70K - $105K *

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive project execution and operational excellence in medical communications. Leverage your project management skills to ensure timely delivery and high-qual...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$75K - $105K *

Collaborate with clients to enhance their social media strategies using healthcare insights, data-driven execution, and creative content development for multi-channel success. This role demands a proa...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$126K - $153K *

Transform healthcare safety by leading multi-hospital engagements, applying High Reliability Organization principles, and driving operational improvements to enhance patient care and trust across dive...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$140K - $200K *

Lead the charge in defining, developing, and evolving innovative live event and consumer products. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance fan experiences and drive Evo's future growth through strat...

Los Angeles, CARemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$160K - $200K *

Unlock potential by leading technical direction in autonomy systems. Drive ownership of advanced perception, prediction, and planning components with cross-stack influence, facilitating innovation and...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Transportation

$135K - $160K *

Elevate the design and development of a robust replication engine for large-scale data systems, focusing on high-performance, secure, and resilient asynchronous replication capabilities to ensure reli...

North Carolina, USRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$140K - $165K *

Engage in strategic federal advocacy by leading legislative initiatives, coalition management, and policy analysis. Collaborate with stakeholders to advance organizational priorities and represent key...

Washington, DCRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$150K - $180K *

Drive Navy revenue growth as you partner with executives to innovate and execute forward-thinking GTM strategies, transforming opportunities into impactful contracts while navigating complex defense e...

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4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$160K - $200K *

Elevate client success by leading high-stakes projects and cultivating strong relationships while driving innovative solutions and business growth in a dynamic consulting environment...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $190K *

Help us shape the future of AI operations by leading a dynamic team focused on innovative solutions, strategic partnerships, and technical excellence in agentic environments. Drive growth and operatio...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$76K - $115K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of customer education through innovative instructional design. Leverage your expertise to create engaging learning experiences that empower users and drive succes...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$185K - $256K *

Elevate the market growth strategy for biologics research, driving software adoption and AI use cases. Collaborate with global teams and engage with industry leaders to shape the future of molecular t...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$129K - $162K *

Empower healthcare transformation by providing legal support in payor contracting. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to negotiate, draft, and manage contracts, ensuring compliance with regulator...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$135K - $160K *

Transform product security by leading strategy, conducting threat modeling, and collaborating across teams to ensure secure design and compliance. Drive innovation in security practices while mentorin...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$85K - $95K *

Join as a critical team member to manage and enhance productivity platforms, ensuring stability, security, and user satisfaction. Collaborate across teams to drive operational maturity and navigate co...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Business Services

$401K - $500K+*

Join a team that's shaping the future of infrastructure engineering by leading efforts for cloud platforms, scaling developer experiences, and unlocking transformative AI solutions to enhance producti...

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Reposted 3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$110K - $130K *

Oversee the planning and execution of clinical trials, ensuring compliance and data integrity while collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive innovative treatments and therapies forward...

Blue Bell, PARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$125K - $150K *

Unlock your potential by securing electrical power for innovative data center projects. Collaborate with utilities and stakeholders to ensure timely power availability, driving large-scale infrastruct...

Dallas, TXRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

$83K - $118K *

Unlock your potential by leading complex IT/SaaS projects, driving execution, and enhancing business processes. Collaborate with diverse teams to ensure project success while utilizing Agile methodolo...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Director of Research do?question toggle

    A Director of Research leads research strategy and execution, manages teams and resources, ensures the quality and integrity of findings, and communicates results to decision-makers. Specific responsibilities vary by industry and organization.

  • What qualifications are typically required for Director of Research jobs?question toggle

    Requirements often include deep experience in a relevant research field and a history of managing projects or teams. An advanced degree is common in some scientific and academic roles, while other employers prioritize equivalent industry expertise.

  • How much do Director of Research jobs pay?question toggle

    Pay varies by industry, location, employer, and role scope. Ladders lists vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, including eligible Director of Research opportunities.

  • Where can Directors of Research work?question toggle

    Directors of Research work across fields such as biotechnology, healthcare, technology, finance, academia, government, and market research.

  • How can I find Director of Research jobs?question toggle

    Browse Director of Research listings on Ladders, review the qualifications and responsibilities for each position, and apply to roles that fit your experience and career goals.