Senior Research Director / Research Director

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Research Director / Research Director based in the United States.

Join a growing life sciences consulting environment where market research and strategic insights help shape critical decisions across the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. In this leadership role, you will oversee complex primary market research projects, transforming qualitative and quantitative data into actionable recommendations that support commercial success. You will work closely with clients and multidisciplinary teams to address business challenges throughout the product lifecycle, from market assessment and positioning to forecasting and communications testing. Combining methodological expertise with strategic thinking, you will guide research design, ensure analytical rigor, and deliver impactful insights to senior stakeholders. You will also build trusted client relationships, identify opportunities for repeat business, and contribute to the growth of the research practice. This remote opportunity offers a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment where you can lead teams, develop talent, and contribute to decisions that ultimately help improve patient outcomes.

Accountabilities:

• Lead and oversee the full primary market research lifecycle, including proposal development, project scoping, research design, screener and questionnaire development, discussion guide creation, data collection, analysis, synthesis, and final report presentation.
• Collaborate with senior consulting leadership to develop research proposals, define project objectives, select appropriate methodologies, and align research strategies with client business priorities.
• Design and manage quantitative and qualitative research programs addressing complex commercial challenges across the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.
• Oversee qualitative research activities, including independent discussion guide development, moderation of healthcare professional (HCP) and patient interviews, and interpretation of US and global research findings.
• Lead qualitative projects covering patient journeys, product positioning, communications testing, target product profile (TPP) evaluation, market landscapes, and drivers and barriers to adoption.
• Direct quantitative research design, questionnaire development, sampling strategies, and fieldwork management to ensure alignment with client objectives and methodological standards.
• Oversee quantitative research projects involving demand assessment, chart audits, communications testing, TPP evaluation, market mapping, awareness, trial and usage (ATU) trackers, segmentation, and forecasting.
• Incorporate advanced analytical techniques into research design and reporting, collaborating with statisticians and interpreting methods such as MaxDiff, TURF, and conjoint analysis.
• Supervise research programming, tabulation, coding, charting, and other analytical workstreams to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with project specifications.
• Synthesize complex research findings into clear, evidence-based insights and strategic recommendations, producing high-quality reports and presenting results to core client teams and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Build and strengthen client relationships, serving as the lead point of contact throughout projects and taking ownership of selected client relationships where appropriate.
• Develop opportunities for repeat business by understanding clients' broader commercial objectives, anticipating their needs, and delivering consistently valuable research outcomes.
• Manage client communications proactively and professionally, facilitate meetings and readouts, and navigate challenging situations with a solution-oriented approach.
• Oversee project timelines, budgets, resources, and deliverables, coordinating internal teams, clients, contractors, and external research vendors to ensure efficient execution.
• Lead and develop junior team members by prioritizing workloads, setting individual objectives, monitoring performance, and providing training, coaching, and professional development support.
• Contribute to the continued growth of the research practice by strengthening internal capabilities, supporting business development, and fostering a collaborative, high-performance team culture.

Requirements:

• Seven to ten years of quantitative and/or qualitative market research experience within the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.
• Extensive experience managing primary market research projects from proposal development and research design through execution, analysis, reporting, and client presentation.
• Strong expertise in quantitative research, qualitative research, or both, with the ability to independently design methodologies that address complex business and research objectives.
• Demonstrated experience designing discussion guides and moderating interviews with diverse healthcare professional specialties and patient populations across US and global markets.
• Proven ability to analyze and interpret qualitative data and translate findings into actionable insights across patient journeys, product positioning, communications testing, market assessment, and related research areas.
• Strong quantitative research capabilities, including questionnaire design, sampling strategy, fieldwork management, and interpretation of data from healthcare professionals and patients.
• Experience overseeing research programming, tabulation, coding, and charting, ensuring the quality and accuracy of analytical deliverables.
• Familiarity with advanced analytics, including MaxDiff, TURF, and conjoint analysis, with the ability to collaborate with statisticians and translate analytical outputs into meaningful commercial recommendations.
• Experience with a broad range of biopharmaceutical market research projects, including demand assessment, chart audits, TPP evaluation, market mapping, ATU tracking, segmentation, and forecasting.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, budgets, timelines, and multiple stakeholders while maintaining high standards of quality and meeting deadlines.
• Strong client management and business development skills, including the ability to build trusted relationships, identify opportunities for repeat business, and communicate confidently with senior and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex research findings clearly and persuasively.
• Outstanding analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving abilities, supported by strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
• Proven leadership experience or the ability to supervise, mentor, and develop junior researchers, manage workloads, and support professional growth.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary consulting environment.
• A strategic mindset, with the ability to understand the broader commercial implications of research findings and connect project outcomes to long-term client and account objectives.
• An advanced degree is preferred, including a PhD, MBA, MS, or MPH.
• Work arrangement: Fully remote, with the ability to work from anywhere in the United States.

Benefits:

• Competitive base salary: Annual range of $135,000–$185,000, depending on qualifications, experience, and role level.
• Generous incentive compensation: Additional earning potential through a performance-based incentive structure.
• Retirement savings: 401(k) plan with a generous employer match, immediate vesting, and access to financial planning resources.
• Comprehensive healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision insurance options effective from the first day of employment.
• Flexible healthcare spending: Access to a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), depending on eligibility.
• Insurance coverage: Employer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance, with additional voluntary coverage options.
• Parental benefits: Paid maternity leave and parental leave for all new parents.
• Professional development: Continuing education benefits to support ongoing learning, advanced expertise, and career progression.
• Health and wellness: Wellness benefits, including support for gym memberships and up to $1,000 in annual reimbursement.
• Employee assistance: Access to an Employee Assistance Program for additional support and resources.
• Generous paid time off: Vacation days, floating holidays, sick leave, and company holidays.
• Remote flexibility: The freedom to work remotely from anywhere in the United States while collaborating with clients and colleagues.
• Leadership and career growth: Opportunities to lead high-impact research engagements, mentor junior professionals, develop client partnerships, and contribute to the expansion of the research practice.
• Collaborative work environment: An entrepreneurial and supportive culture that values innovation, teamwork, professional development, and meaningful contributions to the life sciences industry.

How Jobgether works:

We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.

We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!

Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.

#LI-CL1

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.