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Qualitative Research Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... a Director, CX Research to own the evidence behind Pfizer's AI experience, and to build and lead ... Telemetry and behavioral data joined to qualitative evidence so patterns surface before they become ...

Serve as a hands-on leader who personally designs, executes, and analyzes qualitative research ... direct authority Leadership Candidate demonstrates a breadth of leadership experiences and ...

Serve as a hands-on leader who personally designs, executes, and analyzes qualitative research ... direct authority Leadership Candidate demonstrates a breadth of leadership experiences and ...

Serve as a hands-on leader who personally designs, executes, and analyzes qualitative research ... direct authority Leadership Candidate demonstrates a breadth of leadership experiences and ...

Serve as a hands-on leader who personally designs, executes, and analyzes qualitative research ... direct authority Leadership Candidate demonstrates a breadth of leadership experiences and ...

Serve as a hands-on leader who personally designs, executes, and analyzes qualitative research ... direct authority Leadership Candidate demonstrates a breadth of leadership experiences and ...

Director, CX Research

Bothell, WA ยท On-site

$150 - $210/hr

Hands-on design, execution, and analysis of qualitative research (interviews, usability testing, contextual inquiry, concept testing) and experiments; apply quantitative/statistical analysis to ...

Serve as a hands-on leader who personally designs, executes, and analyzes qualitative research ... direct authority Leadership Candidate demonstrates a breadth of leadership experiences and ...

Showing results 41-60

Qualitative Research Director information

See salary details

$57.5K

$191.3K

$230.5K

How much do qualitative research director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for qualitative research director in the United States is $191,320.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $135,500.00 and $229,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a qualitative research director do?

A Qualitative Research Director leads and oversees qualitative research projects, such as focus groups, interviews, and ethnographic studies, to gain deep insights into human behavior, attitudes, and motivations. They are responsible for designing research methodologies, managing research teams, analyzing qualitative data, and presenting findings to clients or stakeholders. Their role is crucial in informing strategic decisions for businesses, nonprofits, or academic institutions by providing context-rich, detailed understanding of target audiences.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a qualitative research director?

A Qualitative Research Director needs expertise in research methodologies, data analysis, and a strong academic background, often with a master's or PhD in social sciences or related fields. Familiarity with qualitative data analysis software like NVivo, Atlas.ti, or MAXQDA, as well as experience in managing research projects, is typically required. Excellent leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills help in guiding teams and engaging with stakeholders. These competencies ensure rigorous, insightful research outcomes that drive organizational decision-making and innovation.

How does a qualitative research director typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a research project?

As a Qualitative Research Director, collaboration with cross-functional teams is a central part of the role. You will regularly work with product managers, designers, data analysts, and marketing professionals to ensure research findings are aligned with business objectives. This involves leading workshops, presenting insights, and facilitating discussions to translate qualitative data into actionable strategies. Effective communication and the ability to synthesize complex feedback are key to fostering alignment and driving impactful decisions across the organization.

What is the difference between Qualitative Research Director vs Quantitative Research Manager?

AspectQualitative Research DirectorQuantitative Research Manager
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Market Research, Sociology, or related field; experience in qualitative methodsBachelor's or Master's in Statistics, Market Research, or related field; experience in quantitative methods
Work EnvironmentLeads qualitative research teams, designs focus groups, interviews, and ethnographiesOversees quantitative data collection, surveys, and statistical analysis
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in marketing, consumer insights, and social research firmsCommon in market research agencies, consulting firms, and corporate analytics

The main difference between a Qualitative Research Director and a Quantitative Research Manager lies in their focus areas. The director specializes in qualitative methods like interviews and ethnographies, while the manager handles quantitative data and statistical analysis. Both roles require research experience but differ in techniques and leadership scope.

More about Qualitative Research Director jobs

What cities are hiring for Qualitative Research Director jobs?

Cities with the most Qualitative Research Director job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Qualitative Research jobs?

The most popular types of Qualitative Research jobs are:

What states have the most Qualitative Research Director jobs?

States with the most job openings for Qualitative Research Director jobs include:

Infographic showing various Qualitative Research Director job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $191,320 per year, or $92 per hour.

Director, User Experience Research - Experience Design (XD)

Uiuxtrend

Manhattan, NY โ€ข On-site

$210 - $260/hr

Other

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

We're looking for a Research Director to lead the vision, strategy, and execution of research across our Partner Tools portfolio - spanning Hotel and Vacation Rental Partner Experiences, APIs, and Partner Advertising, from established products to the newest AI-powered, agentic experiences we're building today.

This is a player/coach role for someone who wants to lead a small, senior team of researchers while staying hands-on with the work itself. You'll partner closely with engineering, design, and product to make sure research is a necessary component in the vision and execution of our partner facing tools. You'll hold both ends of the research spectrum at once: deep human understanding through methodological craft, and the technical fluency to guide how we evaluate agentic and non-deterministic product experiences as they emerge.

Youโ€™ll thrive in this role if you find as much satisfaction in developing another researcherโ€™s career as you do in uncovering a pivotal customer insight, if you're comfortable working shoulder-to-shoulder with engineers, and if you're energized by the pace at which AI is changing what and how we research.

Responsibilities
  • Define and lead the research strategy across our Partner Tools portfolio.
  • Operate as a player/coach for a small, senior research team - setting strategy and craft standards while remaining directly involved in research execution.
  • Partner closely with engineering, design, product, and data science teams, to translate partner insights into strategic, business-impactful decisions.
  • Champion rigorous, AI-informed research methodologies, and bring direct, hands-on examples of how you've integrated AI tools into your own research workflow, from planning through synthesis.
  • Build scalable research frameworks and reusable insight systems that create durable value across a complex, multidisciplinary organization.
  • Integrate qualitative and quantitative research to combine behavioral data with human-centered depth and deliver complete partner insights.
Required Qualifications
  • 15+ years of relevant professional experience without an advanced degree, or 5-10 years with a suitable advanced degree; or equivalent related professional experience.
  • Bachelorโ€™s or advanced degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Anthropology, Cognitive Science, or a related field; or equivalent related professional experience.
  • Demonstrated expertise in qualitative research methodologies and integrating AI into research planning, execution, or delivery.
  • Proven experience leading and developing high-performing research teams across multiple locations and career levels.
  • Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and translate research insights into strategic, business-impactful decisions.
  • Experience building and scaling research programs across complex, multidisciplinary organizations and diverse product domains, ideally including specific experience in B2B.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Masterโ€™s degree or PhD in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, Statistics, Psychology, or a related field - or equivalent professional experience.
  • A track record of working in close, day-to-day partnership with engineering - e.g., embedded in agile/scrum teams, contributing to technical scoping, or evaluating AI/ML model behavior directly alongside engineers.
  • Experience researching B2B tools, APIs, or advertising/monetization products.
  • Specific, demonstrable examples of creating research artifacts and workflows with AI platforms such as Cursor, Claude, GPT, or comparable tools.
  • Demonstrated ability to safely integrate and operate AI/ML-enabled solutions that improve research outcomes while maintaining methodological rigor.
  • Experience establishing scalable research practices for AI tools, products, and systems, including evaluating their impact on human behavior and customer experiences.
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