How to hire a research director

How to hire a research director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step research director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a research director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new research director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a research director do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a research director, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

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   Hiring the perfect research director also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of research directors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Research Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Research Director	Market research analysts study market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price.	$32-82
   Marketing Department Internship	A marketing department internship is a marketing degree program requirement in most colleges. This is the work experience period where interns get to apply the knowledge they acquire in the real world... Show more	$12-18
   Marketing Internship	Marketing interns are usually marketing students or fresh graduates who are interested in getting actual work experiences before taking on a full-time job. They usually have an interest or academic background related to marketing... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Research Projects
   • Data Collection
   • Healthcare
   • Market Research
   • Data Analysis
   • Patients
   • Project Management
   • Research Findings
   • PowerPoint
   • Research Studies
   • Business Development
   • Client Facing
   • Research Initiatives
   • Research Design

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Evaluate primary data using SPSS software, implement research plans and successfully manage the budget for the project.
   • Manage social media initiatives including Facebook and LinkedIn.
   • Manage Nielsen relationship to ensure successful measurement of the Seattle-Tacoma DMA.
   • Lead customer and competitor research, functional acquisition due diligence, and portfolio management of existing products/services and new investments.
   • Utilize Nielsen and Scarborough data to produce PowerPoint presentations and one-sheets, that convey the advantages of advertising on UPN24.
   • Conduct clinical research on skin cancer patients using electronic health record and total body photography imaging data.

   More research director duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your research director job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A research director salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a research director in North Dakota may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level research director usually earns less than a senior-level research director. Additionally, a research director with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average research director salary

   $108,875yearly

   $52.34 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level research director salary

   $68,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average research director salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$136,510	$66
   2	Washington	$132,453	$64
   3	New Jersey	$123,232	$59
   4	New York	$119,390	$57
   5	Connecticut	$118,083	$57
   6	Texas	$117,291	$56
   7	Oregon	$116,582	$56
   8	District of Columbia	$112,963	$54
   9	Rhode Island	$112,269	$54
   10	Colorado	$107,339	$52
   11	Massachusetts	$106,134	$51
   12	North Carolina	$102,495	$49
   13	Minnesota	$100,962	$49
   14	Pennsylvania	$98,747	$47
   15	Virginia	$96,913	$47
   16	Arizona	$96,312	$46
   17	Illinois	$95,640	$46
   18	Georgia	$94,134	$45
   19	Maryland	$93,570	$45
   20	Ohio	$86,863	$42

   Average research director salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$208,062	$100.03	560
   2	Google	$193,746	$93.15	173
   3	ViacomCBS	$173,529	$83.43
   4	Allegheny Health Network	$172,441	$82.90
   5	InsideTrack	$170,707	$82.07
   6	Cambridge Associates	$169,850	$81.66
   7	Integral Ad Science	$165,012	$79.33
   8	Duolingo	$160,629	$77.23	4
   9	TBWA Worldwide	$159,488	$76.68
   10	Gevo	$159,152	$76.52
   11	Leo Burnett	$156,842	$75.40
   12	Abt Associates	$155,056	$74.55
   13	Pine River Capital Management	$153,842	$73.96
   14	BGC Partners	$152,833	$73.48	3
   15	Nike	$152,222	$73.18	3
   16	AQR Capital Management	$150,301	$72.26
   17	Cedars-Sinai	$150,294	$72.26	139
   18	DTCC	$149,296	$71.78
   19	Aberdeen Strategy & Research	$148,812	$71.54
   20	Wpp Us Holdings Inc	$146,145	$70.26

4. Writing a research director job description

   A research director job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a research director job description:

   Research director job description example

   Are you concerned about the growing power that internet, mobile, and telecommunications companies have over people’s lives? Do you believe that corporations as well as governments have a responsibility to respect human rights? Do you have a qualitative and/or quantitative research background and experience handling or interpreting large data sets to inform public policy? If so, Ranking Digital Rights (RDR) encourages you to apply to become our Research Director.
   
   The Research Director is a senior-level position at Ranking Digital Rights (RDR). This person is responsible for conceptualizing and overseeing the production, maintenance, and launch of the RDR Corporate Accountability Index, including our annual Big Tech and Telco Giants Scorecards, as well as other related projects and publications. In addition, the Research Director will work with our Global Engagement Manager and our research partners around the world to further build capacity for global corporate accountability research and advocacy. Their broader mandate is to develop research-driven mechanisms for supporting our primary stakeholders and allies to hold companies accountable for users’ rights, and to extend RDR’s impact as a thought leader in internet policy as it relates to tech and telecom companies’ business and human rights obligations.
   
   The ideal Research Director will have experience overseeing the delivery of research projects—incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods—and/or research-driven advocacy campaigns at a nonprofit, human rights organization, or technology company. They must demonstrate a command of both current and emerging global digital rights issues, including the key dilemmas posed by tech and telecom companies’ policies and practices and how they can lead to potential human rights harms.
   
   As a senior member of the team, the Research Director will be expected to conceptualize and apply for new funding opportunities, working in close collaboration with the Director, Policy Director, and Operations Coordinator. They must be able to identify and seize strategic opportunities with agility, to advance and promote RDR’s work and data. In addition, deep knowledge of the opportunities and challenges facing applied research organizations in the global digital rights field, the stakeholders they seek to engage, and the people they aim to protect from corporate abuses of human rights online will prepare this person for greatest success.
   
   Reporting to the director, the Research Director will be a member of RDR’s leadership team and work closely with the policy director and operations coordinator, and supervise our projects, global engagement, and technology teams.
   
   If you thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment and are passionate about supporting teams to achieve their full potential, we encourage you to apply.
   About RDR RDR works to promote freedom of expression and privacy on the internet by creating global standards and incentives for companies to respect and protect users' rights. We do this by scoring and ranking the world's most powerful digital platforms and telecommunications companies on relevant commitments and policies, based on international human rights standards. We work with companies as well as advocates, researchers, investors, and policymakers to establish and advance global standards for corporate accountability. RDR is housed at New America, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that invests in new thinkers and new ideas to address the next generation of policy challenges. We are a globally distributed team, with staff and contractors working from the Washington, D.C., area, Paris, Budapest, Buenos Aires, and other locations. Responsibilities In conjunction with the director, the leadership team, and the RDR Index manager, develops a strategy and work plan that highlights the relevance and currency of RDR’s dataset on corporate policies and practices in the tech and telecom sectors in line with our strategic goals; Supervises the projects and tech teams to produce the RDR Index and related outputs, such as the Big Tech and Telco Giants scorecards and other editorial and data outputs; Supervising design and development of the data infrastructure for our research methodologies, including data collection, scoring, and analysis Supervises the development of capacity building materials and programs to support the growth of an evidence-driven global corporate accountability movement targeting tech and telecom companies; Builds and supports relationships with partner organizations, including digital rights organizations around the world; Builds project budgets and tracks costs with the assistance of the operations manager; Regularly contributes to grant proposals and reporting; Aligns research outputs with RDR’s policy goals as appropriate, working with the policy director; Works with RDR’s communications and editorial team to shape outputs for public audiences and key stakeholder groups. Recruiting and preparing contracts for research consultants and other vendors to support production of RDR’s research projects, as needed. Qualifications Experience in developing data-driven research reports and evidence-based policy advocacy campaigns with demonstrated impact at a nonprofit or NGO, preferably in the digital rights or a related field. Formal training in research methods, such as through a PhD or other higher education, is welcome but not required. Experience as a servant leader dedicated to helping diverse teams achieve success while committed to individual well-being, organizational health, and a sustainable pace. Experience managing remote teams across multiple time zones a plus. Demonstrated success in conceptualizing, assigning, and editing reports, white papers, blog posts, and other editorial outputs. Excellent oral and written communications skills in English; other languages a plus. Superior people, project, and knowledge management skills. Uncompromising adherence to deadlines. Deep knowledge of the digital rights field and how to measure policy and advocacy impact. Experience collaborating with communications teams to amplify impact through media coverage. Location & physical demands RDR operates as a distributed team, with some staff based at New America in Washington, D.C., while other staff and contractors work from other locations around the world. We will prioritize candidates with U.S. work authorization and who work +/- 1 hour from the U.S. Eastern Time zone or who can offer a compelling reason why their specific time zone, if outside the +/- 1 zone, would be advantageous to RDR. This position often requires completing work at a computer and may require occasional travel. Compensation & benefits The salary range for this position is $83,580 - $104,475, depending on years of experience and demonstrated competencies. In addition, our compensation packages include generous health and retirement benefits and paid time off, including 20 days in your first year of employment. How to apply Please submit a cover letter and resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority for review given to those received by June 15, 2022. We would like to fill the position as soon as possible. Diversity, equity & inclusion Technological disruption, online discrimination, and the digital divide disproportionately affectthe most historically marginalized communities in society, including people of color, women, LGBTQIA+ people, and people with a disability. RDR is committed to centering the needs of these communities in our work, and we strongly encourage applications from people with a diverse array of backgrounds to support this mission. We encourage candidates to apply even if they do not match all the qualifications listed above. Ranking Digital Rights and New America is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce at all levels of the organization thereby creating a culture that allows us to better serve our mission, our employees, and our communities. We value and encourage the contributions of our employees and strive to create an environment where everyone can reach their full potential and drive outstanding results. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. This policy applies with regard to all aspects of one’s employment, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits, and termination. Please No Phone Calls, No Emails Please submit your application through the New America portal. We are not able to respond to phone calls or emails. Powered by JazzHR YXTuaHEa5g

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right research director for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   To find research director candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as swipe files, exit five, marketinghire, american marketing association.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit research directors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new research director

   Once you've decided on a perfect research director candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new research director. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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