Explore Research Director Jobs

Research Directors set the vision and direction for research programs, translating complex questions into actionable insights and discoveries. They lead teams, shape strategy, manage budgets, and communicate findings to executives, clients, policymakers, or scientific communities. Browse vetted Research Director opportunities paying $100,000 or more on Ladders.

What Does a Research Director Do?

Responsibilities vary by organization and field, but often include defining research priorities, designing studies or methodologies, overseeing data collection and analysis, ensuring quality and ethical standards, and presenting results to decision-makers. Research Directors may lead academic, clinical, market, user, policy, or product research.

Skills and Qualifications

Employers commonly seek substantial research experience, proven people leadership, strong analytical and communication skills, and the ability to connect evidence to organizational goals. Roles may require an advanced degree or specialized expertise, depending on the discipline. Familiarity with research methods, data tools, compliance requirements, and budget management can also be valuable.

Research Director Career Opportunities

Research Director roles are available across sectors such as technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, finance, consulting, government, and higher education. Job titles and scope differ by employer: some positions focus on building research strategy and teams, while others emphasize a particular subject area, product portfolio, or methodology.

Find Your Next Research Director Role

Use Ladders to discover vetted, high-paying Research Director jobs and explore opportunities that align with your experience and career goals. Review each listing for its responsibilities, qualifications, compensation details, and work arrangement.

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1
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$170K - $230K *

Elevate the creative vision for a diverse portfolio, leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative, strategic solutions in a highly regulated environment while fostering client relationships a...

2 weeks ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$170K - $230K *

Lead the creative vision for a diverse portfolio in the pharmaceutical sector. Guide multidisciplinary teams, foster client relationships, and ensure strategic, effective creative work in a highly reg...

Chicago, ILRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$125K - $145K *

Innovate competitive total rewards programs that align with business goals. Lead the strategy for compensation and benefits, ensuring internal equity and external competitiveness while partnering with...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in quality excellence by providing strategic oversight and management in compliance, assurance, and validation within biopharmaceutical manufacturing while fostering collaboration and...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $120K *

Lead the clinical psychology team at an outpatient pediatric facility, focusing on effective mental health strategies for children with diverse behavioral and developmental needs while ensuring qualit...

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

$80K - $95K *

Elevate innovation in medical device design as part of a dynamic R&D team, focusing on assistive technologies for individuals with disabilities. Contribute to impactful projects that enhance quality o...

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Hospitals & Medical Centers

$156K - $187K *

Drive strategic analytics and reporting to enhance service performance and user experience in academic technology. Collaborate with stakeholders to develop actionable insights and sustainable reportin...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$150K - $180K *

Champion the development of cutting-edge ML detection models, transforming research into production-ready solutions. Collaborate with a high-caliber team to architect scalable systems that enhance sec...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in designing and implementing complex operational workflows that enhance service delivery and client experience. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement...

Johnson City, TNRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$85K - $90K *

Contribute to the efficiency of our Communications team by providing vital administrative, budget, and operational support. Collaborate with colleagues to enhance departmental impact while managing mu...

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$130K - $155K *

Lead high-visibility analytics initiatives, driving impactful measurement and decision-making across marketing and customer engagement. Collaborate with diverse teams, elevate analytical standards, an...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$80K - $95K *

Transform insights into impactful strategies by leading market research projects, collaborating with account teams, and delivering compelling narratives that drive client decisions and foster long-ter...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$45K - $500K+*

Tackle complex scholarly manuscripts in science and economics, ensuring style, grammar, and accuracy. Collaborate with authors and colleagues to guide manuscripts through publication stages while main...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$137K - $165K *

Empower data-driven decision-making by leading analytics initiatives, optimizing measurements, and developing scalable reporting solutions that translate complex data into actionable insights for team...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$150K - $180K *

Accelerate your career by partnering with the founder to drive strategic initiatives, manage investor relations, and tackle high-priority projects that shape the company's future. Own the execution of...

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $140K *

Lead the charge in shaping HR strategies that align with business goals, fostering a cohesive employee experience while ensuring compliance and operational excellence across the US organization...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$210K - $250K *

Lead and inspire a diverse team of data scientists to drive product strategy, utilizing data insights to enhance offerings and influence cross-functional collaboration for impactful decision-making...

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$85K *

Lead innovative polling solutions by managing survey processes and data analysis. Collaborate with teams to enhance methodologies and ensure client deliverables meet expectations while continuously im...

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$85K *

Manage the end-to-end polling process by designing effective surveys, analyzing data, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver strategic insights that inform client decisions and enhan...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Engage with clients as a strategic leader, driving innovative solutions and managing complex accounts. Collaborate with marketing teams to enhance brand value and deliver impactful campaigns while nav...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$110K - $130K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of youth mental health research by leading analytical efforts to innovate data accessibility and deepen insights. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to trans...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$90K - $110K *

Empower operational excellence by supporting the Orion system for client performance reporting, driving accurate data integration, and enhancing advisor onboarding processes. Collaborate with teams to...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$90K - $110K *

Drive client success by supporting performance reporting systems, ensuring data accuracy, and facilitating new advisor integrations in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Proactively enhance proc...

New York, NYRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in developing and overseeing a comprehensive Corporate Compliance Program, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards while fostering a culture of integrity and accountability across t...

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's dedicated to advancing clinical research through statistical expertise. Collaborate with medical professionals to design, analyze, and report on clinical studies, ensuring complianc...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Research Director do?question toggle

    A Research Director leads research strategy and execution. Typical duties include setting priorities, overseeing teams and studies, managing budgets, maintaining research quality, and communicating findings to stakeholders.

  • What qualifications are needed for Research Director jobs?question toggle

    Requirements vary by field, but employers often look for extensive research experience, leadership ability, strong analytical and communication skills, and expertise in relevant methods or subject matter. Some roles require an advanced degree.

  • What industries hire Research Directors?question toggle

    Research Directors work in industries including technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, finance, consulting, government, and higher education, as well as other organizations that rely on research and evidence-based decisions.

  • How much do Research Director jobs pay?question toggle

    Compensation varies based on industry, location, experience, and role scope. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more; check individual listings for available compensation information.

  • How can I find Research Director jobs paying $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Browse Research Director listings on Ladders and review each opportunity's compensation, responsibilities, qualifications, and work arrangement to identify roles that match your goals.