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Research Data Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Director of Data aligns data priorities with business, Operations, R&D, Finance, etc. needs, restores trust in enterprise data, and ensures data investments translate into measurable business ...

Data Director

Des Moines, IA · On-site

$140 - $220/hr

The Director of Data aligns data priorities with business, Operations, R&D, Finance, etc. needs, restores trust in enterprise data, and ensures data investments translate into measurable business ...

The Director of Data aligns data priorities with business, Operations, R&D, Finance, etc. needs, restores trust in enterprise data, and ensures data investments translate into measurable business ...

The Director of Data aligns data priorities with business, Operations, R&D, Finance, etc. needs, restores trust in enterprise data, and ensures data investments translate into measurable business ...

... research, and direct patient care. At NYU Langone Health, equity and inclusion are fundamental ... The Research Data Associate position within the Department of Population Health will contribute to ...

Reinvestment Fund seeks a Civic Data Director to serve as departmental lead on production of ... Research new and substitute data sources as necessary. * Present new databases and data tools to ...

... research, and direct patient care. At NYU Langone Health, equity and inclusion are fundamental ... The Research Data Associate position within the Department of Population Health will contribute to ...

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Research Data Director information

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$57.5K

$191.3K

$230.5K

How much do research data director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for research data 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 is a research data director?

Research Data Directors are professionals responsible for overseeing the management, organization, and integrity of data within research projects or institutions. They develop policies and strategies for data collection, storage, sharing, and security, ensuring compliance with ethical and legal standards. Research Data Directors often collaborate with researchers, IT teams, and administrators to facilitate data-driven decision-making and support high-quality research outcomes. Their role is vital for maintaining data quality, accessibility, and reproducibility in research environments.

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

To thrive as a Research Data Director, you need expertise in data management, statistical analysis, and research methodologies, typically supported by an advanced degree in a relevant field. Familiarity with data governance frameworks, statistical software (such as SAS, R, or SPSS), and compliance standards like HIPAA or GDPR is essential. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and communication skills help guide teams and facilitate collaboration across departments. These skills ensure robust data integrity, drive impactful research outcomes, and maintain regulatory compliance in complex research environments.

What are some common challenges faced by a research data director, and how can they be effectively addressed?

A Research Data Director often encounters challenges such as ensuring data integrity across multiple projects, managing compliance with institutional and federal data regulations, and coordinating data sharing among diverse research teams. Addressing these challenges requires strong leadership, the implementation of robust data governance frameworks, and ongoing training for staff on data best practices. Additionally, fostering open communication between researchers, IT, and compliance teams helps to proactively resolve issues and maintain smooth data operations.
More about Research Data Director jobs

What cities are hiring for Research Data Director jobs?

Cities with the most Research Data Director job openings:

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

The most popular types of Research Data jobs are:

What states have the most Research Data Director jobs?

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

Infographic showing various Research Data Director job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $191,320 per year, or $92 per hour.

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago


Job description

The Director of Data defines Kemin’s enterprise data strategy and provides architectural direction, standards, and prioritization to enable analytics, business intelligence, and AI initiatives. Operating within a hybrid model, this role sets enterprise data architecture expectations and governance while closely partnering with IT teams responsible for execution and platform operations. The Director of Data aligns data priorities with business, Operations, R&D, Finance, etc. needs, restores trust in enterprise data, and ensures data investments translate into measurable business value.

Join the Kemin Team and Transform Lives!

We are a privately held, family-owned-and-operated global biotechnology company driven by curiosity and committed to transforming the quality of life for people, pets, and the planet.

 

We create solutions that strengthen health and wellbeing, provide nutrition and immune support for pets and production animals, safeguard the planet’s natural resources, and protect the global food supply chain for generations to come.

 

We supply over 500 specialty ingredients for various industries, including human and animal health and nutrition, pet food, aquaculture, nutraceutical, food technologies, crop technologies, textiles, biofuels, and animal vaccines.

 

We employ 3,500 global employees and operations in 90 countries, including manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Italy, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States.

As a valued member of our team, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your financial, physical, and professional well-being:

  • Competitive Financial Package: Enjoy a rewarding salary, uncapped bonus opportunities, a 401k match program, and generous paid vacation and holidays.
  • Health and Wellness Support: Stay fit and healthy with our fitness reimbursement for the whole family, access to an on-site fitness center, a restaurant offering seasonal fresh food options, and free fresh fruit in break areas.
  • Career Development and Advancement: Unlock your potential with opportunities for growth and development throughout your entire career.
  • Continued Learning Opportunities: Grow your skills with our in-house learning platforms, offering thousands of training resources both live and online, and take advantage of tuition reimbursement for external post-secondary pursuits.
  • Service Opportunities: Make a positive impact with paid time off for service, partnerships with The World Food Programme and Habitat for Humanity, and local community initiatives.

Enterprise Data Strategy & Direction

  • Establish the enterprise data strategy and targetstate architecture that supports analytics, AI, and decisionmaking use cases.
  • Translate business, Operations, Finance, R&D, etc. priorities into clear data architecture and sequencing guidance.
  • Define what "analytics-ready" and “AI-ready” data means at Kemin and ensure alignment across teams.

Data Standards & Oversight

  • Define and maintain data standards, patterns, and design principles for structured and unstructured data.
  • Provide functional leadership and architectural direction to data architecture resources operating within IT.
  • Chair or cochair architecture governance forums to review designs, resolve tradeoffs, and approve exceptions.

Data Governance, Quality & Trust Enablement

  • Define governance frameworks, roles, and accountability models aligned to highvalue data domains.
  • Set data quality thresholds and improvement priorities based on analytics and AI business needs.
  • Partner with IT and business data owners to remediate critical data quality issues and improve usability.

Data Analytics and Data Engineering

  • Define platform expectations and workload strategies (e.g., Databricks, Fabric) to support analytics and AI use cases.
  • Partner with IT to ensure platform decisions are aligned to data strategy rather than infrastructure convenience alone.
  • Ensure priority AI pilots and analytics initiatives are supported by appropriate data foundations and pipelines.

Cross Functional Leadership & Development

  • Partner with Finance to define ROI measurement frameworks and baseline metrics for data and AI investments.
  • Align stakeholders on priorities, trade offs, and sequencing when data quality or architecture constraints exist.
  • Communicate data strategy, progress, and risks clearly to senior leadership in business terms.

  • Education and Experience:
    • Bachelors Degree in Data Science, Computer Science, or Analytics with 10+ years of related experience.
  • Strong executive communication skills; able to translate data strategy into business outcomes for non-technical leadership.
  • Background in manufacturing, life sciences, chemicals, CPG, or other R&D-intensive, data-complex environments.
  • Demonstrated success improving data quality, trust, and usability across fragmented systems and legacy platforms.
  • Experience partnering with IT architecture and engineering teams while setting enterprise data standards, priorities, and design expectations.
  • Strong understanding of modern data platforms (e.g., lakehouse architectures) and their role in enabling analytics and AI.
  • Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment without direct authority.
  • Experience establishing or scaling data governance frameworks, stewardship models, or domain ownership structures.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed/religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status (where applicable), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy/childbirth/breastfeeding or related conditions, age (40+), disability (including the use of a service animal), genetic information, marital status, familial or caregiver status, military or veteran status, status as a victim of domestic violence, reproductive health decisionmaking, and any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also prohibit retaliation for raising concerns or participating in an EEO process. Applicants who need a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview can email TalentAcquisition.US@Kemin.com.

A post-offer background check and drug screen is required.  Additional pre-employment requirements may be necessary based on position.

Kemin is a drug-free and tobacco-free campus. 

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