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Associate Research Director Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Associate R&D Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA ยท On-site

$100 - $125/hr

Working closely with our Director of Process Development, you'll run experiments on our custom ... Help keep a fast-moving R&D lab running: equipment maintenance, upkeep, and the practical work that ...

Showing results 41-60

Associate Research Director information

What is an associate research director?

An Associate Research Director is a senior-level professional who helps oversee the planning, execution, and management of research projects within an organization. They typically support the Research Director by supervising research teams, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget, and maintaining the quality and integrity of research output. Associate Research Directors also play a key role in developing research strategies, analyzing data, and communicating findings to stakeholders. Their position often serves as a bridge between research staff and upper management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate research director?

To thrive as an Associate Research Director, you need advanced expertise in research methodologies, data analysis, and project management, usually supported by a graduate degree in a relevant field. Familiarity with statistical software (such as SPSS or R), data visualization tools, and experience with research management systems are typically required. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and communication skills enable you to guide teams and present complex findings to stakeholders effectively. These competencies are essential for delivering high-quality research insights, ensuring project success, and supporting organizational goals.

What are some common challenges faced by associate research directors when managing multiple projects simultaneously?

Associate Research Directors often juggle several projects at once, which requires excellent organizational and time management skills. Balancing priorities, allocating resources efficiently, and ensuring consistent communication across teams can be demanding, especially when deadlines overlap or project scopes change. Additionally, maintaining high-quality standards while mentoring junior researchers and coordinating with senior leadership adds to the complexity. To succeed, it's important to develop strong delegation skills and foster collaborative relationships within the research team.

What is the difference between Associate Research Director vs Research Manager?

AspectAssociate Research DirectorResearch Manager
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in relevant field, often with research experienceBachelor's or Master's, with focus on project management and research oversight
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning, overseeing research teams, high-level decision makingManaging research projects, coordinating teams, ensuring project deliverables
Industry UsageUsed in corporate, academic, and government research settingsCommon in corporate and institutional research departments

The Associate Research Director typically holds a higher strategic role, overseeing multiple research projects and teams, while the Research Manager focuses on managing specific research projects and day-to-day operations. Both roles require strong research credentials, but the Associate Research Director is more involved in strategic planning and leadership.

What job categories do people searching Associate Research Director jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Associate Research Director jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Associate Research Director jobs?

Cities in California with the most Associate Research Director job openings:

Infographic showing various Associate Research Director job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 94% In-person, and 6% Remote job distribution.

Scientist/Senior Research Associate

Brisbane, CA โ€ข On-site

CareDx, Inc.
Biotechnology Research and Developmentย โ€ขย 501 - 1,000 employees

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 5 days ago


Job description

Company Description
CareDx, Inc., based in Brisbane, California, is a molecular diagnostics company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of clinically differentiated, high-value, non-invasive diagnostic surveillance solutions for transplant recipients. The Company has commercialized AlloMapยฎ, a gene expression test that aids clinicians in identifying heart transplant recipients with stable graft function who have a low probability of moderate/severe acute cellular rejection. CareDx is also pursuing the development of additional products for post-transplant monitoring of other solid organs that use a variety of technologies, including next-generation sequencing, to detect donor-derived cell-free DNA to monitor the health of organs after transplantation. For more information, please visit: www.CareDx.com.
Job Description
Specifications
Title: Scientist or Senior Research Associate
Manager: Associate Director, R&D
FLSA: Exempt
Classification: Regular full Time
Department: Research & Development
Location: Brisbane (HQ)
Management: n/a
General Description
We are seeking a highly motivated, critical, and creative Scientist or Senior Research Associate to join the CareDx R&D group. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing, dynamic, and collaborative R&D team innovating cutting-edge technology. The new team member will participate in CareDx research activities with the goal of developing novel cell-free DNA-based tests that address critical clinical unmet needs for transplant patients.
Responsibilities as follows, but not necessarily limited to:
โ€ข Lead cell-free DNA projects to create and develop novel nucleic acid analysis technologies and diagnostic tests for transplant recipients
โ€ข Plan and efficiently execute complex laboratory experiments with excellent attention to detail
โ€ข Analyze data in close collaboration with biostatistics and bioinformatics teams
โ€ข Contribute insight toward experimental design and interpretation as well as troubleshoot laboratory processes and protocols
โ€ข Keep a detailed laboratory notebook and summarize work in research reports and manuscripts
โ€ข Interface with staff in multiple departments and clearly communicate results with colleagues and R&D management
โ€ข Support lab efforts to develop technologies, reagents, and controls necessary for the next generation of CareDx services
Work Environment:
An employee in this position may work in an environment, or visits facilities, in which safety, environmental and health concerns may demand constant attention. Adherence to the Corporate and/or Plant policies, rules, and regulations in these areas is required.
Travel:
Travel is not a primary aspect of this position although travel may be requested from time to time.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers, handle or feel, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit, stand and walk. There will be periods of time during the workday where you will be sitting for 3-4 hours in a row. Regular use of hands to operate office equipment and type on the keyboard will be required. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.
CareDx is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualifications
โ€ข Ph.D. in molecular biology or a related discipline or M.S. with more than 4 years of relevant experience
โ€ข Strong background in nucleic acid biochemistry and PCR (qPCR, multiplex PCR, and/or digital PCR)
โ€ข Experience with library preparation for next generation sequencing and evaluation of results
โ€ข Ability to quickly learn new technologies and incorporate them into your research
โ€ข Strong grasp of quantitative analysis with a fundamental understanding of statistics
โ€ข Excellent record keeping and the ability to efficiently work with large data sets
โ€ข Interest in being part of a vibrant team setting
โ€ข Industry experience in biotechnology, diagnostics, or life sciences strongly preferred
Additional Information
Benefits & Perks:We provide Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance, Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts, Commuter Accounts, 401(k), 3 weeks of vacation, 5 days sick leave, 1 personal floating holiday, 9 paid holidays, gym reimbursement, yoga onsite, ping pong, foosball, BBQ's, social hours, and more!