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Director Of Research Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH

Washington, DC · On-site

$108K - $133K/yr

Job Summary The Director of Research oversees the management, implementation, and operations of Whitman-Walker Institute's research program, providing programmatic leadership of all federally-funded ...

Director of Research

Washington, DC · On-site

$140 - $180/hr

  • Medical

Director of Research FDD is seeking a full‑time Director of Research. The director plays a key leadership and management role within the FDD Research Department in addition to conducting research ...

As Director, US R&D, you will build GovCloud-native engineering capability purpose-built to serve US federal customers at the highest classification levels. You will own the migration of a platform ...

As Director, US R&D, you will build GovCloud-native engineering capability purpose-built to serve US federal customers at the highest classification levels. You will own the migration of a platform ...

Director of Quantitative Research

Bethesda, MD · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Present research findings to advisors and clients when appropriate * Serve as a subject matter expert on quantitative investing and portfolio construction Qualifications Required * 7-15+ years of ...

Social Science Research, Director

College Park, MD · On-site

$122.83 - $135.11/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Director of Social Science Research is a senior leadership position within our research team, responsible for leading social science research initiatives focused on understanding and ...

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Showing results 1-20

Director Of Research information

See Reston, VA salary details

$59.8K

$199K

$239.8K

How much do director of research jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for director of research in Reston, VA is $199,041.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $141,000.00 and $238,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director of research do?

A director of research oversees research activities within an organization, setting strategic goals, managing research teams, and ensuring projects align with business objectives. They analyze data, develop methodologies, and often collaborate with other departments to support decision-making and innovation.

How does a Director of Research typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive organizational goals?

A Director of Research often works closely with departments such as product development, marketing, and data analytics to align research initiatives with broader business objectives. This collaboration involves regular meetings to share insights, prioritize projects, and integrate research findings into strategic planning. Effective communication and leadership skills are essential, as Directors of Research frequently mediate between technical research teams and non-technical stakeholders to ensure that research outcomes effectively inform decision-making and innovation.

How to become a director of research?

To become a director of research, candidates typically need a master's or doctoral degree in a relevant field, along with extensive experience in research roles. Strong leadership, project management skills, and expertise in data analysis tools are also essential for advancing to this senior position.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Research, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director Of Research, you need advanced expertise in research methodologies, project management, and a relevant advanced degree (often a Ph.D.). Familiarity with statistical analysis software, research databases, and compliance regulations is typically required. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and effective communication skills help guide teams and foster collaboration. These skills ensure the successful design, execution, and dissemination of impactful research aligned with organizational goals.

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

AspectDirector Of ResearchResearch Manager
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in relevant field; often advanced degreesBachelor's or Master's in relevant field; some roles prefer advanced degrees
Work EnvironmentStrategic leadership, overseeing multiple projects or departmentsManaging research teams and project execution
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in corporate, academic, and government sectors for high-level research oversightCommon in corporate and academic settings for managing research activities

The main difference is that the Director Of Research typically holds a higher strategic leadership role, overseeing research initiatives at a departmental or organizational level, while the Research Manager focuses on managing research teams and project execution. Both roles require relevant credentials and are integral in research-driven industries, but the director position involves broader oversight and strategic planning.

How much do research directors make in the US?

Research directors in the US typically earn a median annual salary of around $100,000 to $150,000, depending on industry, experience, and location. Senior research directors or those in specialized fields can earn higher compensation, often exceeding $200,000 with bonuses and benefits included.

What are the most commonly searched types of Of Research jobs in Reston, VA?

The most popular types of Of Research jobs in Reston, VA are:

What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Director Of Research jobs?

Cities near Reston, VA with the most Director Of Research job openings:

Infographic showing various Director Of Research job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $199,041 per year, or $95.7 per hour.

DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH

Whitman-Walker Health

Washington, DC • On-site

$108K - $133K/yr

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago


Job description

About Whitman-Walker

Whitman-Walker envisions a society where all persons are seen for who they are, treated with dignity and respect, and afforded equal opportunity to health and wellbeing. Through care, advocacy, research, and education, we empower all persons to live healthy, love openly, and achieve equality and inclusion. For over 40 years, we have been meeting the needs of our communities with the endless dedication of our diverse teams.

About Whitman-Walker Institute

Whitman-Walker Institute’s (the “Institute”) mission is to expand the body of knowledge needed to strengthen Whitman-Walker’s programmatic foundation of care, advocacy, research and education. The Whitman-Walker Institute focuses on the strategic integration of research, policy, and education to improve the health and wellbeing of underserved communities nationwide, particularly LGBTQ people and people living with HIV. We do so through innovative research, effective stakeholder education, and shaping the systems of care that erect barriers to good health. The Institute is a part of the Whitman-Walker Health System. The Institute also supports Whitman-Walker Health in their mission of caring for the community, providing mission-critical support to Whitman-Walker Health through expanded research, education, policy and advocacy initiatives.


Job Summary

The Director of Research oversees the management, implementation, and operations of Whitman-Walker Institute’s research program, providing programmatic leadership of all federally-funded, foundation-sponsored, industry-sponsored, and other research awards. In this role, the Director of Research provides indirect oversight of all research protocols; oversees the management of clinical, quality assurance, and regulatory operations for all research studies and protocols; and ensures the ongoing cost-effective, compliant, ethical, and methodologically sound implementation of all research activities. The Director of Research ensures a well-functioning staffing model for all research projects, providing supervision and training of key management staff within Research and works directly with Principal Investigators and departmental leadership to ensure all aspects of the research program operations are fully implemented according to study protocol and Institute standard operating procedures. As a departmental director, the Director of Research is expected to work closely with the leads of other relevant departments regarding the research portfolio and departmental needs and serve as a key member of departmental leadership to achieve short-term and long-term success of research within Whitman-Walker Institute.

  • Financial Impact:Develop operational modelsthatincrease cost-effectiveness of researchprojects
  • Staffing Impact:Promotedepartmentalstaff satisfaction andsupporteffectivestaffmanagement
  • Operational Impact:Supportprojectteamsacross the department,ensuringcomparableonboarding, training, and operational experiences and coordinating effective work across sites

Core Institute Primary Essential Duties:

  • Performs and behavesin accordance withWhitman-Walker’s mission, cultural norms and core values of dignity, respect,affirmationand humility.
  • Maintains a respectful, non-judgmental, and compassionate manner with patients/clients/staff.
  • Demonstrates excellent care and concern for research participants, following all relevant protections and safeguards to minimize risks and ensure voluntary participation and confidentiality
  • Adheres to Whitman-Walker policies and procedures, with special attention given to research ethics, compliance, funder policies, privacy/confidentiality, and HIPAA requirements.
  • Maintains data integrity through conscientious use of relevant tools and employing a system of checks and balances.
  • Demonstrates organizational skills necessary to multi-task, meetdeadlinesand re-prioritize as needed.
  • Participates in organizational quality and performance improvement activities.
  • Trains and ensure all staffare followingorganizational and departmental policies and procedures.
  • Reviews and monitors workload and workflow by assigning tasks thatassureequity of workload and promote the provision of high-quality service.
  • Is responsible forthe schedule of tasks that are rotated amongstaff.
  • Liaisons betweendepartmentand other internal departments to discuss workload and workflow.
  • Actively works to support the mission of Whitman-Walker by supporting and collaborating with departments throughout the Whitman-Walker Health System and Whitman-Walker Health.

Role-Specific Essential Duties

  • Worksin close collaboration with theExecutive Directorand investigatorstomaintainhigh-level oversight of all research programmatic operations and implementation duties assigned and supervises senior managers,managers, and supervisorsresponsible for the day-to-day coordination and implementation of such functions.
  • Provides on-site supervision at each of Whitman-Walker’s active research facilities to ensure effective multi-site operations, including overseeing andmaintainingsite-specific inventory and ongoing availability of necessary materials, equipment, and supplies.
  • Works with investigators and department leadership tooversee, evaluate, and enhanceallresearch protocols andrelatedoperations.
  • Overseesa cost-effective, well-functioning, andwell-supportedprojectstaffing model, ensuringthe successful management of dedicated project staffforall researchprotocolsbyensuring continuity,appropriate coverage, task distribution, and overall needs.
  • Overseesthesuccessfulmanagement of staff onboarding andtrainings, including phlebotomy, the handling of biospecimens, laboratory processing, and ensuring data quality.
  • Overseesthe use of all departmental systems for the management of source documentation, tracking, andinvoicingfor research studies and clinical trials.
  • Oversees the development of concise, well-written Standard Operating Procedures,in accordance withdepartmental and Institute policies and procedures, with support from project staff;conducts training on, supervises, and conducts quality assurance checksto ensure consistency withall Standard Operating Procedures used withinresearch.
  • Managesthe administrative teamwith the development, review, and maintenance of budgets for all individual research grants, contracts, and other projects and activities, including staff effort allocationsand ongoing spending.
  • Overseesthe management ofregulatory activities,includinginitialIRB submissions, protocol modifications, continuing reviews,reporting, and corrective actions, serving as key regulatory point person withstudy monitors, external funders, and other relevant internal and external bodies and providingsupervision of the relevant researchstaffwho work directly on such documentation and procedures.
  • Coordinatesthe receipt and reviewsof new requests for industry-sponsored research studies andworkclosely with the Medical Director of Research and other staff to oversee site selection and activation.
  • In consultation with investigators,overseesthedesign, implementation,andimprovements ofquality control and quality assurance activities forall studies and protocols within the Institute’sresearch portfolio.
  • Oversees communication between external and internal research partners and staff; serving as the primarypointperson and/orparticipatingin relevanttrainingsfrom collaborating institutions, as needed.
  • Overseesthecoordination of any necessary consultations with or referrals to internal and external resources for research participants, such as behavioral health support, primary care, and specialty care.
  • Other duties as assigned.
  • Participates in management meetings to act upon a variety of matters including personnel matters and provides updates and reports as requested
  • Supporting management in fact finding efforts concerning managerial actions or union grievance processing
  • Reviewsand makesrecommendations for changes to collective bargaining agreements and the Employee Handbook to ensure ongoing compliance

Budget Responsibilities

  • Supports oversight of individual project budgets/accounts and departmental budgets in collaboration with theExecutive Director.

Management Responsibilities

  • Supervises and trains senior managers,managers, and supervisorsto ensure uniform, proactive, and highly functional management of research projects and programming.

Core Knowledge, Skills, and Talents Required

  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
  • Ability to manage time and effortin order tomeet strategicobjectives.
  • Knowledge of all Institute and applicable Whitman-Walker Health policies and procedures.
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, anddisseminatesignificant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Knowledge of healthcare information systems with the ability to adapt to new electronic medicalrecordand population health platforms.
  • Ability tomaintainrecords and information inan accurate,timely, and confidential manner.
  • Ability to adapt to changes in theservice deliverymodel,re-prioritizingas necessary.
  • Ability to prepareaccurate,conciseand comprehensive reports.
  • Flexibility toworkvarious shifts, including afternoon,eveningand weekend shifts, as necessary.
  • Flexibility to work within theorganizationsvariouslocationsas necessary.
  • Commitment to health equity.

Role Specific- Knowledge, Skills and Talents Required:

  • Knowledge of HIVandLGBTQ+healthand approaches to both quantitative and qualitative research focused on health equity.
  • Knowledge ofand experience with general protocols forbiomedical,public health, and social/behavioralresearch studies, includingclinical trials,cohort studies,and related programs.
  • Strong management skills and ability to conduct ongoing training and supervision.
  • Highly developed oral and written communication skills, including the ability to function efficiently as part of a multidisciplinary team infacilitatingtheappliedresearchprograms.
  • Ability to conduct sensitive, empathetic interviews that respect the dignity and diversity of clients.
  • Ability to prepareaccurate,conciseand comprehensive reports.
  • Ability tomaintainrecords and information inan accurate,timelyand confidential manner.
  • Excellent organizational skills, includingproficiencyin use of computer word processing and data entryprogramsand the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Excellent communication skills, in person, in writing and via telephone to diverse audiences such as patients, clients, other employees and Board members.
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, complex work environment with competing priorities.
  • Strong organizational skills and ability tomaintainimportant executiverecordsan accurate,timelyand confidential manner.
  • Clear, concise written communication skills with good attention to grammar and punctuation.
  • Knowledge of general office terminology, standards,practicesand demands.
  • Strong word processing, proofreading, and database management skills.
  • Sensitivity to all areas of diversity, including HIV status, race, ethnicity, ability, age, sexualorientationand gender identity.

Education and Experience Required

  • Master’s degree in a research or related fieldrequiredor at least 5 years of equivalent work experiencerequired; relevant educational training beyond this degree may beconsidered asadditionalyears of experience.
  • A minimum of 5 years of work experience in researchproject coordinationwithin the context offederally-fundedor industry-sponsoredresearchisrequired, which should includeno fewer than3 years in a management position with evidence of effective staff supervision.
  • Experience working with a broadly diverse population and ability to work harmoniously with diverse groups of individualsrequired.

Working Conditions:

Working conditions for this position are normal for an office environment.  Individual may be required to work evenings and / or weekends and organization events.

Physical Demands:

  • Lifting: No more than 20 lbs. and infrequently.
  • Movement: Standing and sitting for long periods.
  • Visual:Long periodsoncomputer.
  • Concentration:Extended periods of engagement with computer systems where concentration is key to accuracy in data entry. Intermittent periods of engagement with a telephone system to respond to inquiries where concentration is key to task performance.
  • Communication: Direct and indirect communication. Written and verbal competency.