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Research Director Behavioral Science Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Sensis Inc.

Research Director

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

A. in related field such as Business, Economics, or Social Sciences. M.A. or MBA preferred. * At ... To change behavior, you need to engage people first-through useful, digitally relevant means. These ...

Manhattan Strategy Group

Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The Education Research Director will provide senior leadership for major federally funded education research-to-practice ...

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Research Director Behavioral Science information

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$57.5K

$191.3K

$230.5K

How much do research director behavioral science jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for research director behavioral science 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 research director in behavioral science do?

A Research Director in Behavioral Science oversees and guides research projects that study human behavior, decision-making, and psychological patterns. They lead teams of researchers, design studies, analyze data, and ensure projects align with organizational goals. Their work often informs policy, product development, or interventions by providing evidence-based insights into how people think and act. Additionally, they may collaborate with other departments, present findings to stakeholders, and stay updated on the latest developments in behavioral science.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a research director in behavioral science?

To thrive as a Research Director in Behavioral Science, you need advanced expertise in behavioral research methodologies, data analysis, and typically a Ph.D. or equivalent in psychology, behavioral science, or a related field. Familiarity with statistical software (such as SPSS, R, or Python), research management systems, and ethical compliance certifications is often required. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and communication skills distinguish top performers by enabling them to guide teams and translate research into actionable insights. These skills are crucial for driving innovative research, ensuring methodological rigor, and maximizing the impact of behavioral science initiatives.

What are the typical challenges faced by a research director in behavioral science when leading multidisciplinary teams?

As a Research Director in Behavioral Science, one common challenge is aligning the goals and communication styles of professionals from diverse backgrounds, such as psychologists, data scientists, and business strategists. Coordinating interdisciplinary collaboration requires strong leadership, clear project management, and the ability to translate behavioral insights into practical applications for stakeholders. Additionally, balancing scientific rigor with client or organizational objectives can be demanding, as it involves managing expectations and ensuring outcomes are both evidence-based and actionable.

What is the difference between Research Director Behavioral Science vs Data Scientist?

AspectResearch Director Behavioral ScienceData Scientist
Required CredentialsAdvanced degrees in psychology, behavioral science, or related fieldsDegree in computer science, statistics, or related fields
Work EnvironmentLeading research teams, designing behavioral studies, strategic planningAnalyzing data, building models, coding, and data visualization
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in academia, healthcare, tech companies focusing on user behaviorCommon in tech, finance, and e-commerce sectors
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding leadership roles in behavioral researchUnderstanding technical data analysis roles

The Research Director Behavioral Science typically leads behavioral research teams, focusing on strategic study design and insights, often requiring advanced degrees in behavioral fields. Data Scientists analyze large datasets, develop models, and support data-driven decisions. While both roles involve data and research, the Research Director emphasizes leadership and behavioral expertise, whereas Data Scientists focus on technical data analysis and modeling.

What are popular job titles related to Research Director Behavioral Science jobs?

For Research Director Behavioral Science jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Director, Behavioral Scientist

Hartford, CT • On-site

The Travelers Indemnity Company
10K+ employees
Learn more about The Travelers Indemnity Companyexternal

$114K - $189K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

Who Are We?
Taking care of our customers, our communities and each other. That's the Travelers Promise. By honoring this commitment, we have maintained our reputation as one of the best property casualty insurers in the industry for over 170 years. Join us to discover a culture that is rooted in innovation and thrives on collaboration. Imagine loving what you do and where you do it.
Job Category
Claim
Compensation Overview
The annual base salary range provided for this position is a nationwide market range and represents a broad range of salaries for this role across the country. The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment. As part of our comprehensive compensation and benefits program, employees are also eligible for performance-based cash incentive awards.
Salary Range
$114,700.00 - $189,200.00
Target Openings
1
What Is the Opportunity?
Behavioral science is becoming a critical function for many businesses today and Travelers is no exception. Travelers Claim Behavioral Science group uses scientific methods to understand the changing needs of our customers, claimants and employees. As a Director, Behavioral Scientist, you will apply behavioral science frameworks and academic insights to practical business challenges in the Property and Casualty Insurance industry. You will serve as a researcher, interviewer, design thinking facilitator, and data analyst for the application of behavioral science to Travelers Claim strategies and projects.What Will You Do?
  • In close collaboration with key stakeholders across Claim, conduct pilots, apply behavioral science frameworks, and implement interventions to influence choices customers or claimants make before or throughout the lifecycle of a claim.
  • Conduct research and test behavioral interventions to enhance claim practices, product design, business strategies, as well as customer and employee experiences.
  • Collect and analyze quantitative data, conduct semi-structured interviews, facilitate group design thinking sessions, and conduct test and learns with follow up measurements.
  • Apply behavioral science frameworks to test interventions that inform product design and experiences, and that impact financial results.
  • Collaborate with product designers, data scientists, project managers and marketing and communications to design, develop, conduct and evaluate projects and proofs of concept.
  • Help to develop and document research to support multiple recommendations to improve Claim business line results.
  • Implement agreed upon interventions in partnership with various sponsors.
  • Apply insights internally to influence how employees within the organization react to and manage transformational change.
  • Provide insights, best practices, tools, and training to help develop organizational capabilities in the application of behavioral science.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
What Will Our Ideal Candidate Have?
  • 5+ years of applied industry experience in a business setting.
  • Proven ability to design, conduct, analyze and communicate research results and recommendations as business cases.
  • Ph.D., with certification and/or applied experience in Data Science.
  • Proficiency with Excel, and R, SAS, or Python.
  • Experience in natural language processing and/or statistically based text analysis methods.
  • Experience in designing and conducting semi-structured interviews or user research for Behavioral Science interventions.
  • Group-led facilitation using design thinking collaboration software across multi-disciplinary groups.
  • Natural curiosity is key - demonstrated ability to understand problems and ask the right questions.
  • Strong research and analytical skills including an ability to observe and record behaviors.
  • Experience advocating for and influencing business partners to adopt behavioral science research, experimentation, and interventions.
  • Strong Project Management Skills and the ability to bring projects from idea to testing, and implementation; ability to balance priorities while working on multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment and effectively collaborate across business areas.
  • Insurance or financial services industry experience

What is a Must Have?
  • Master's in Behavioral Science, Psychology, Economics, HCI, UX, People Analytics or related field.
  • Some experience applying behavioral science frameworks, insights, and experimental research in a business setting.

What Is in It for You?
  • Health Insurance: Employees and their eligible family members - including spouses, domestic partners, and children - are eligible for coverage from the first day of employment.
  • Retirement: Travelers matches your 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to your first 5% of eligible pay, subject to an annual maximum. If you have student loan debt, you can enroll in the Paying it Forward Savings Program. When you make a payment toward your student loan, Travelers will make an annual contribution into your 401(k) account. You are also eligible for a Pension Plan that is 100% funded by Travelers.
  • Paid Time Off: Start your career at Travelers with a minimum of 20 days Paid Time Off annually, plus nine paid company Holidays.
  • Wellness Program: The Travelers wellness program is comprised of tools, discounts and resources that empower you to achieve your wellness goals and caregiving needs. In addition, our mental health program provides access to free professional counseling services, health coaching and other resources to support your daily life needs.
  • Volunteer Encouragement: We have a deep commitment to the communities we serve and encourage our employees to get involved. Travelers has a Matching Gift and Volunteer Rewards program that enables you to give back to the charity of your choice.

Employment Practices
Travelers is an equal opportunity employer. We value the unique abilities and talents each individual brings to our organization and recognize that we benefit in numerous ways from our differences.
In accordance with local law, candidates seeking employment in Colorado are not required to disclose dates of attendance at or graduation from educational institutions.
If you are a candidate and have specific questions regarding the physical requirements of this role, please send us an email so we may assist you.
Travelers reserves the right to fill this position at a level above or below the level included in this posting.
To learn more about our comprehensive benefit programs please visit http://careers.travelers.com/life-at-travelers/benefits/.

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