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Research Director Jobs in Naperville, IL (NOW HIRING)

Tavern Research

Director of Survey Research

Chicago, IL · On-site

$185K - $219K/yr

Director of Survey Research Location: Chicago, IL or Washington, DC Reports to: CEO Salary : $185,000-$219,000 + bonus + equity About Tavern Research Tavern Research is a political tech startup ...

Vizient, Inc.

Research & Insights Director

Chicago, IL · On-site

$88.90K - $155.50K/yr

Summary: In this role, you will lead high-impact research initiatives that generate actionable insights to inform business strategy, drive growth, and enhance client relevance. You will apply ...

Vizient

Research & Insights Director

Chicago, IL

$88.90K - $155.50K/yr

Summary: In this role, you will lead high-impact research initiatives that generate actionable insights to inform business strategy, drive growth, and enhance client relevance. You will apply ...

The Sound

Director - Quantitative Research

Chicago, IL · On-site

$140K - $160K/yr

Director - Quantitative Research Quantitative Research Consultancy Chicago, Illinois At a glance Who: Quantie who has a killer skillset of being a seller /doer/ mentor with at least 7yrs exp ...

The Sound

Director - Quantitative Research

Chicago, IL · On-site

Salary: $140,000$160,000 (est. base depending on experience) Director - Quantitative Research Quantitative Research Consultancy Chicago, Illinois At a glance Who: Quantie who has a killer skillset of ...

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Research Director information

See Naperville, IL salary details

$57.4K

$191K

$230.2K

How much do research director jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for research director in Naperville, IL is $191,035.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $135,300.00 and $228,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Is a Research Director?

A research director manages a company’s research and development department. As a research director, you supervise team members, overseeing data collection and analysis, product design, and manufacturing. Other responsibilities include hiring and training new staff, conducting performance evaluations, and gathering information and preparing detailed reports about the progress and outcomes of research projects. The qualifications for a career as a research director are a doctorate in science and at least five years of management experience.

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

To thrive as a Research Director, you need advanced expertise in research methodology, data analysis, and project management, typically supported by a PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant field. Familiarity with statistical software, data visualization tools, and research management systems is often required. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and communication skills set outstanding candidates apart in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for guiding research teams, ensuring the quality of deliverables, and aligning projects with organizational goals.

How does a Research Director typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive project success?

As a Research Director, you will frequently work with cross-functional teams, including product managers, data analysts, marketing professionals, and senior leadership. Collaboration often involves establishing research priorities, aligning on project goals, and communicating key findings to various stakeholders. Effective Research Directors facilitate regular meetings, provide clear direction to research staff, and ensure that research insights are integrated into broader organizational strategies. This collaborative approach is essential for delivering impactful research outcomes that support business objectives.

What does a Research Director do?

A Research Director oversees the planning, execution, and management of research projects within an organization. They are responsible for setting research goals, developing strategies, and ensuring that projects align with the company's objectives. Research Directors lead teams of researchers, manage budgets, and analyze data to drive decision-making. Additionally, they often present findings to stakeholders and keep up-to-date with advancements in their field to maintain the organization's competitive edge.

What is the difference between Research Director vs Research Manager?

AspectResearch DirectorResearch Manager
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 in research departments, overseeing multiple projectsManaging research teams and projects, focusing on execution
Industry UsageUsed in corporate, academic, and government research settingsCommon in corporate and academic research teams

The Research Director typically holds a higher strategic leadership role, overseeing research initiatives and setting long-term goals. The Research Manager focuses more on managing day-to-day research activities and team coordination. Both roles require strong research credentials, but the Research Director's scope is broader and more strategic.

More about Research Director jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Research jobs in Naperville, IL? The most popular types of Research jobs in Naperville, IL are:
What job categories do people searching Research Director jobs in Naperville, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Research Director jobs in Naperville, IL are:
What cities near Naperville, IL are hiring for Research Director jobs? Cities near Naperville, IL with the most Research Director job openings:
Research Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Research Director job openings in Naperville, IL as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $191,035 per year, or $91.8 per hour.

Director of Survey Research

Tavern Research

Chicago, IL • On-site

$185K - $219K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

Director of Survey Research
Location: Chicago, IL or Washington, DC
Reports to: CEO
Salary: $185,000-$219,000 + bonus + equity
About Tavern Research
Tavern Research is a political tech startup building tools and insights to help our customers win elections and make better, evidence-based decisions. We specialize in scaling expert human work, such as content generation and survey research to support thoughtful, data-driven civic engagement. We're a venture-backed, mission-driven, fast-moving, and mostly technical team focused on supporting campaigns and organizations working to strengthen democratic participation. We are experimental by design and expect every team member to continuously improve how they work using new tools and technology. Everything else is on our website. If you still have questions, let us know when you apply!
About You
You've spent a career doing serious political polling at the highest levels, the kind that shapes how candidates talk to voters and how organizations make decisions that actually matter. You've led teams, advised under pressure, and built a reputation on delivering results when the stakes are real. You believe Democrats can win more if they use data better, and you want to be part of building what that looks like at the frontier of AI and political research. This isn't a role for someone who wants to maintain the status quo. It's for someone who wants to define what comes next.
About the Role
This is a senior leadership position. As Director of Survey Research, you'll own Tavern's public opinion research function end-to-end: setting the methodological standard, leading the team, advising on strategy, and serving as the credible public face of our research work. You'll work closely with the CEO and be the go-to voice when a client needs a deep briefing or a reporter needs a credible source.
We value in-person work and expect employees based in Chicago to work regularly from our South Loop office. We also welcome remote candidates, ideally based in Washington, DC.
If you have strong team members you'd like to bring along, we'd love to talk to them too.
Responsibilities
Research & Quality Leadership
  • Own Tavern's polling, opinion research, and strategic insights functions
  • Design and oversee large-scale survey research, message testing, audience segmentation, and longitudinal tracking studies
  • Establish and enforce methodological standards for rigor, reliability, and statistical validity across the organization
  • Serve as the final quality control layer for all research deliverables, catching what others miss while mentoring researchers and partnering with engineers to build LLM systems that improve research accuracy over time.
  • Develop and champion AI-assisted methodologies for sentiment analysis, behavioral forecasting, and opinion modeling
  • Translate complex datasets into clear, actionable strategic recommendations for leadership and clients

Strategic Advisory
  • Serve as a senior thought partner to the CEO and leadership team on public perception, communications strategy, and stakeholder sentiment
  • Identify emerging trends, narrative shifts, and risks before they surface publicly
  • Advise clients on policy, messaging, and the political landscape in real time
  • Inform Tavern's product roadmap through research-backed insight

Team & Organizational Leadership
  • Build, manage, and mentor a high-performing research team
  • Establish research operations, vendor relationships, and governance processes
  • Drive cross-functional collaboration across product, communications, and client teams
  • Handle in-depth polling briefings with clients and campaigns when needed; you're a key backstop for client-facing depth

External Engagement & Communications
  • Serve as Tavern's primary public voice on polling, methodology, and political opinion research
  • Brief media, engage with campaigns, academic institutions, and think tanks with fluency and credibility
  • Know what a reporter will find interesting and how to deliver it well

Qualifications
  • 10+ years of experience in political polling or public opinion research
  • Deep expertise in survey methodology, statistical inference, sampling, and experimental design
  • Track record in Democratic campaigns and advocacy at a senior level (presidential, Senate, or gubernatorial experience a plus)
  • Demonstrated success managing and developing research teams
  • Excellent communicator with strong media instincts, comfortable briefing everyone from candidates to reporters to boards, and serving as a public-facing voice through press, panels, and published work.
  • Familiarity with AI-assisted research tools, or genuine curiosity about building new methodologies
  • Bonus: You have a trusted team member who's ready to join alongside you.

To be explicit: you don't need a degree to work here. You just need to be exceptional at what we're asking from you.
Benefits
  • Premium health insurance
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Office closed for all federal holidays
  • 401k match
  • Equity

Tavern Research is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
The pay range for this role is:
185,000 - 219,000 USD per year (Chicago, IL)
185,000 - 219,000 USD per year (Remote)

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