What does a Research Director do?

Research Directors manage the people and processes required to gain insights critical for innovation. Research Directors may specialize in areas such as product development, marketing data analytics or industry-specific innovation depending on the needs of your business.

These roles are often critical for academic, healthcare and technology organizations. They may provide data and conclusions necessary to support funding processes, better brand reputation or business growth.

Research Director skills and qualifications

You may list the following skills in your job description for a Research Director:

• Strategic planning capabilities for developing and executing research projects
• Data analytics skills for interpreting and drawing conclusions from complex data sets
• An understanding of regulatory compliance in your industry and how it impacts research and reporting
• Proficiency in research methodologies
• Knowledge of statistical analysis software or literature review platforms
• Communication skills to support reading and writing in-depth papers and presenting findings to business leaders or the public
• Leadership and management skills to help create a positive collaborative environment and motivate research teams

Research Director experience requirements

Research Director positions may require several years of experience. Successful Research Directors may have experience on academic, medical or corporate research teams, and you might look for candidates with project management and other leadership experience.

Indications of relevant experience might include being published in peer-reviewed journals, managing large projects relevant to your industry or having previously secured funding for research and development efforts.

Research Director education and training requirements

Depending on the scope of research work you require, you may want candidates with varying levels of formal education, including a bachelor’s, master’s or Ph.D. level education in relevant fields.

When hiring for a Research Director position, you might also look for credentials demonstrating a candidate’s project leadership knowledge. For example, a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI) can show a candidate understands project management methods.

Job description samples for similar positions

Similar job description samples are available if you’re looking for more guidance regarding another position. Consider resources related to a Director of Research job description, such as:

• Clinical Research Coordinator
• Research Analyst
• Research Scientist
• Researcher

Research Director job description FAQs

Who do Research Directors generally report to?

Research Directors may report to Chief Research Officers, Chief Executive Officers, Academic Deans, the Board of Directors or other high-level leadership. Reporting structures are typically determined by the type and scale of the organization.

Who might report to a Research Director?

Research Directors may oversee teams that include Research Scientists, Data Analysts, Project Managers, Research Coordinators and Statisticians. In some cases, Research Managers or other Supervisors might work directly under Research Directors.

What traits make for a good Research Director?

Traits that may help a Research Director succeed include strategic thinking or critical analysis skills and knowledge about grant writing and funding processes. A love of learning and curiosity can also help a Research Director succeed.

Who might a Research Director need to communicate with regularly?

Research Directors typically communicate with various collaborators. That might include executive leaders, boards of directors, investors, Research Scientists, government representatives, Lab Technicians, policymakers and the public.