Chief Researcher Jobs
Chief Researcher jobs are open across academic institutions, think tanks, consulting firms, and technology companies, from senior research associate to principal and director level, with specializations in quantitative analysis, policy research, and mixed-methods inquiry. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 14+ Chief Researcher jobs
Department:
106100 R&D AdminLocation:
San DiegoBe a part of a global team that is inspired to make a difference in the lives of people living with rare disease.
At Travere Therapeutics, we recognize that our exceptional employees are vital to our success. We are a dedicated team focused on meeting the unique needs of rare patients. Our work is rewarding – both professionally and personally – because we are making a difference. We are passionate about what we do.
We are seeking talented individuals who will thrive in our collaborative, diverse, fast-paced environment and share in our mission – to identify, develop and deliver life-changing therapies to people living with rare disease. We stick by our values centered on patients, courage, community, and collaboration to pursue our vision of becoming a leading biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the delivery of innovation and hope to patients in the global rare disease community.
At Travere Therapeutics, we are in rare for life. We continue to courageously forge new paths as we move toward a common goal of elevating science and service for rare patients .
Position Summary:
The Chief Research Officer (CRO) reports to the EVP, Head of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer and provides enterprise leadership for Research, Clinical Operations and Clinical Supplies, Clinical Pharmacology, and Biometrics. Through the leaders of these functions, the CRO connects early scientific work with rigorous clinical execution and high-quality evidence generation across Travere’s rare disease portfolio.
The CRO helps shape the long-term research agenda and pipeline strategy, assesses external innovation, and makes recommendations on scientific opportunity, development feasibility, investment, and risk. The role builds strong functional leaders and an effective organization while working closely with Clinical Development and Safety, Regulatory and Quality, Medical Affairs, Business Development, Program Management, Commercial, and Technical Operations. The CRO is accountable for the performance and budgets of the functions in the role’s remit and for their contribution to enterprise priorities.
Responsibilities:
Enterprise, Portfolio, and Organizational Leadership
- Serve as strategic advisor to the EVP, Head of R&D and CMO, CEO, and Board on research direction, development execution, evidence generation, portfolio choices, and organizational capabilities.
- Integrate scientific, clinical pharmacology, statistical, and operational perspectives into portfolio prioritization, investment decisions, development plans, lifecycle opportunities, and business development assessments.
- Lead scientific and translational due diligence for licensing, acquisitions, research collaborations, targets, and platform opportunities in partnership with Business Development, Clinical Development, and Technical Operations.
- Identify emerging science, technology, and academic collaboration opportunities that can strengthen Travere’s rare kidney and metabolic disease pipeline; translate selected opportunities into research and development plans.
- Develop leaders, succession plans, capabilities, resource plans, and budgets across the assigned functions; ensure clear decision rights, timely escalation, and disciplined execution across programs.
Research and Translational Science
- Provide strategic direction to the Head of Research for discovery biology, genetics, target selection and validation, translational biology, nonclinical development, biomarkers and assays, and external scientific collaborations.
- Set research priorities and decision criteria that connect disease understanding and preclinical evidence to clinically meaningful hypotheses and future development opportunities.
- Guide the transition from research to clinical development, including nonclinical evidence, biomarker strategy, pharmacology, and readiness for first-in-human evaluation, in partnership with Clinical Development and Regulatory.
- Build an external scientific network of investigators, academic institutions, disease experts, and partners; support the scientific assessment of new therapeutic approaches and technologies.
Clinical Operations and Clinical Supplies
- Provide executive oversight of global clinical trial planning and delivery through Clinical Operations leadership, from early studies through registrational and post-approval studies.
- Ensure sound operational plans for country and site selection, feasibility, enrollment, study start-up, monitoring, vendor and CRO oversight, clinical supplies, timelines, budgets, and trial closeout.
- Hold the organization accountable for trial quality, participant experience, data integrity, inspection readiness, and compliance with applicable GCP requirements and company procedures.
- Anticipate execution risks and resolve cross-functional tradeoffs with Clinical Development, Safety, Regulatory, Quality, Technical Operations, and Program Management; maintain clear ownership of trial delivery and supply handoffs.
Clinical Pharmacology
- Lead the clinical pharmacology strategy across programs, including PK/PD, exposure-response, dose and regimen selection, pharmacometrics, drug interactions, human ADME, and pediatric extrapolation where relevant.
- Connect nonclinical DMPK and translational findings to clinical study design, quantitative decision-making, and regulatory submissions in partnership with Research, Clinical Development, Biometrics, Regulatory, and Technical Operations.
- Ensure robust analysis, interpretation, and communication of pharmacology data for protocols, study reports, health authority interactions, submissions, labeling, and lifecycle development.
Biometrics and Evidence Generation
- Provide leadership for biostatistics, statistical programming, and data management, preserving the functional rigor and independent statistical judgment needed for credible evidence.
- Ensure statistical input into study design, endpoints, estimands, analysis plans, interim analyses, data standards, database lock, reporting, and integrated submission datasets.
- Align Biometrics with Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Clinical Pharmacology, Regulatory, Medical Affairs, and Program Management on data quality, interpretation, decision milestones, and evidence needs across the product lifecycle.
Board and External Engagement
- Lead the development of the R&D content and discussion plan for the Board’s Science & Technology Committee meetings, in partnership with the EVP, Head of R&D and CMO, committee leadership, and relevant functional and program leaders. Integrate program progress, research strategy, scientific opportunities, clinical execution risks, and decisions requiring Board input.
- Present research and development priorities, progress, risks, and recommendations to the Executive Team and Board; ensure materials are clear, balanced, and grounded in evidence.
- Represent Travere with scientific and academic collaborators, key opinion leaders, patient communities, and strategic partners. Support investor or analyst discussions on R&D matters when requested, in coordination with the EVP, Head of R&D and CMO and Investor Relations.
Education/Experience Requirements:
- Advanced degree in a relevant scientific, medical, or quantitative discipline, such as a PhD, MD, PharmD, or equivalent experience required.
- 17+ years of progressive biotechnology or pharmaceutical leadership experience, including significant rare disease experience is required.
- Substantial leadership experience in biotechnology or pharmaceuticals, including oversight of multiple research and development functions and demonstrated enterprise judgment.
Additional Skills/Experience:
- The ideal candidate will embody Travere’s core values: Courage, Community Spirit, Patient Focus and Teamwork.
- Driven, intelligent, passionate about making a difference for patients with rare diseases.
- Experience translating scientific opportunity into development programs and integrating research, clinical pharmacology, biometrics, and clinical trial execution in a matrix organization.
- Strong understanding of rare disease drug development, global clinical studies, regulatory evidence requirements, and the scientific and operational risks of a growing pipeline.
- Demonstrated ability to lead senior functional leaders, allocate resources, build teams, evaluate external opportunities, and communicate recommendations to executive and Board audiences.
- Scientific curiosity, sound quantitative judgment, collaborative leadership, and commitment to Travere’s values of Courage, Community Spirit, Patient Focus, and Teamwork.
- Operate effectively in a fast-paced, confidential, and matrixed environment with shifting priorities and compressed timelines.
- Team player and strong interpersonal and organizational skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent decision-making and collaboration skills with strong attention to detail.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as business needs require and to perform onsite work in San Diego as required.
Total Rewards Offerings :
Travere provides comprehensive total rewards offerings that demonstrate our commitment as a diverse, equitable, people-centric, and pay-for-performance organization.
Benefits: Our benefits include premium health, financial, work-life and well-being offerings for eligible employees and dependents, wellness and employee support programs, life insurance, disability, retirement plans with employer match and generous paid time off.
Compensation : Our competitive compensation package includes a combination of both cash compensation (base pay and short-term incentive) and long-term incentive compensation (company stock), designed to recognize, retain, and reward employees.
Target Base Pay Range:
$325,000.00 - $439,000.00- This information is current as of the date of this posting and may be modified in the future. Actual pay offered to a candidate will depend on a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, education, skills, and location.
Travere will accept applications on an ongoing basis until a candidate is selected for the position.
Travere Therapeutics, Inc. is an EEO/AA/Veteran/Disability Employer.
If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact us by sending an email to accommodations@travere.com . Please note that this email address is to be used exclusively to request an accommodation with the online application, interview or hiring process only. Travere HR will not reply to emails sent to this address for any other reason.
Department:
106100 R&D AdminLocation:
San DiegoBe a part of a global team that is inspired to make a difference in the lives of people living with rare disease.
At Travere Therapeutics, we recognize that our exceptional employees are vital to our success. We are a dedicated team focused on meeting the unique needs of rare patients. Our work is rewarding – both professionally and personally – because we are making a difference. We are passionate about what we do.
We are seeking talented individuals who will thrive in our collaborative, diverse, fast-paced environment and share in our mission – to identify, develop and deliver life-changing therapies to people living with rare disease. We stick by our values centered on patients, courage, community, and collaboration to pursue our vision of becoming a leading biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the delivery of innovation and hope to patients in the global rare disease community.
At Travere Therapeutics, we are in rare for life. We continue to courageously forge new paths as we move toward a common goal of elevating science and service for rare patients .
Position Summary:
The Chief Research Officer (CRO) reports to the EVP, Head of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer and provides enterprise leadership for Research, Clinical Operations and Clinical Supplies, Clinical Pharmacology, and Biometrics. Through the leaders of these functions, the CRO connects early scientific work with rigorous clinical execution and high-quality evidence generation across Travere’s rare disease portfolio.
The CRO helps shape the long-term research agenda and pipeline strategy, assesses external innovation, and makes recommendations on scientific opportunity, development feasibility, investment, and risk. The role builds strong functional leaders and an effective organization while working closely with Clinical Development and Safety, Regulatory and Quality, Medical Affairs, Business Development, Program Management, Commercial, and Technical Operations. The CRO is accountable for the performance and budgets of the functions in the role’s remit and for their contribution to enterprise priorities.
Responsibilities:
Enterprise, Portfolio, and Organizational Leadership
- Serve as strategic advisor to the EVP, Head of R&D and CMO, CEO, and Board on research direction, development execution, evidence generation, portfolio choices, and organizational capabilities.
- Integrate scientific, clinical pharmacology, statistical, and operational perspectives into portfolio prioritization, investment decisions, development plans, lifecycle opportunities, and business development assessments.
- Lead scientific and translational due diligence for licensing, acquisitions, research collaborations, targets, and platform opportunities in partnership with Business Development, Clinical Development, and Technical Operations.
- Identify emerging science, technology, and academic collaboration opportunities that can strengthen Travere’s rare kidney and metabolic disease pipeline; translate selected opportunities into research and development plans.
- Develop leaders, succession plans, capabilities, resource plans, and budgets across the assigned functions; ensure clear decision rights, timely escalation, and disciplined execution across programs.
Research and Translational Science
- Provide strategic direction to the Head of Research for discovery biology, genetics, target selection and validation, translational biology, nonclinical development, biomarkers and assays, and external scientific collaborations.
- Set research priorities and decision criteria that connect disease understanding and preclinical evidence to clinically meaningful hypotheses and future development opportunities.
- Guide the transition from research to clinical development, including nonclinical evidence, biomarker strategy, pharmacology, and readiness for first-in-human evaluation, in partnership with Clinical Development and Regulatory.
- Build an external scientific network of investigators, academic institutions, disease experts, and partners; support the scientific assessment of new therapeutic approaches and technologies.
Clinical Operations and Clinical Supplies
- Provide executive oversight of global clinical trial planning and delivery through Clinical Operations leadership, from early studies through registrational and post-approval studies.
- Ensure sound operational plans for country and site selection, feasibility, enrollment, study start-up, monitoring, vendor and CRO oversight, clinical supplies, timelines, budgets, and trial closeout.
- Hold the organization accountable for trial quality, participant experience, data integrity, inspection readiness, and compliance with applicable GCP requirements and company procedures.
- Anticipate execution risks and resolve cross-functional tradeoffs with Clinical Development, Safety, Regulatory, Quality, Technical Operations, and Program Management; maintain clear ownership of trial delivery and supply handoffs.
Clinical Pharmacology
- Lead the clinical pharmacology strategy across programs, including PK/PD, exposure-response, dose and regimen selection, pharmacometrics, drug interactions, human ADME, and pediatric extrapolation where relevant.
- Connect nonclinical DMPK and translational findings to clinical study design, quantitative decision-making, and regulatory submissions in partnership with Research, Clinical Development, Biometrics, Regulatory, and Technical Operations.
- Ensure robust analysis, interpretation, and communication of pharmacology data for protocols, study reports, health authority interactions, submissions, labeling, and lifecycle development.
Biometrics and Evidence Generation
- Provide leadership for biostatistics, statistical programming, and data management, preserving the functional rigor and independent statistical judgment needed for credible evidence.
- Ensure statistical input into study design, endpoints, estimands, analysis plans, interim analyses, data standards, database lock, reporting, and integrated submission datasets.
- Align Biometrics with Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Clinical Pharmacology, Regulatory, Medical Affairs, and Program Management on data quality, interpretation, decision milestones, and evidence needs across the product lifecycle.
Board and External Engagement
- Lead the development of the R&D content and discussion plan for the Board’s Science & Technology Committee meetings, in partnership with the EVP, Head of R&D and CMO, committee leadership, and relevant functional and program leaders. Integrate program progress, research strategy, scientific opportunities, clinical execution risks, and decisions requiring Board input.
- Present research and development priorities, progress, risks, and recommendations to the Executive Team and Board; ensure materials are clear, balanced, and grounded in evidence.
- Represent Travere with scientific and academic collaborators, key opinion leaders, patient communities, and strategic partners. Support investor or analyst discussions on R&D matters when requested, in coordination with the EVP, Head of R&D and CMO and Investor Relations.
Education/Experience Requirements:
- Advanced degree in a relevant scientific, medical, or quantitative discipline, such as a PhD, MD, PharmD, or equivalent experience required.
- 17+ years of progressive biotechnology or pharmaceutical leadership experience, including significant rare disease experience is required.
- Substantial leadership experience in biotechnology or pharmaceuticals, including oversight of multiple research and development functions and demonstrated enterprise judgment.
Additional Skills/Experience:
- The ideal candidate will embody Travere’s core values: Courage, Community Spirit, Patient Focus and Teamwork.
- Driven, intelligent, passionate about making a difference for patients with rare diseases.
- Experience translating scientific opportunity into development programs and integrating research, clinical pharmacology, biometrics, and clinical trial execution in a matrix organization.
- Strong understanding of rare disease drug development, global clinical studies, regulatory evidence requirements, and the scientific and operational risks of a growing pipeline.
- Demonstrated ability to lead senior functional leaders, allocate resources, build teams, evaluate external opportunities, and communicate recommendations to executive and Board audiences.
- Scientific curiosity, sound quantitative judgment, collaborative leadership, and commitment to Travere’s values of Courage, Community Spirit, Patient Focus, and Teamwork.
- Operate effectively in a fast-paced, confidential, and matrixed environment with shifting priorities and compressed timelines.
- Team player and strong interpersonal and organizational skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent decision-making and collaboration skills with strong attention to detail.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as business needs require and to perform onsite work in San Diego as required.
Total Rewards Offerings :
Travere provides comprehensive total rewards offerings that demonstrate our commitment as a diverse, equitable, people-centric, and pay-for-performance organization.
Benefits: Our benefits include premium health, financial, work-life and well-being offerings for eligible employees and dependents, wellness and employee support programs, life insurance, disability, retirement plans with employer match and generous paid time off.
Compensation : Our competitive compensation package includes a combination of both cash compensation (base pay and short-term incentive) and long-term incentive compensation (company stock), designed to recognize, retain, and reward employees.
Target Base Pay Range:
$325,000.00 - $439,000.00- This information is current as of the date of this posting and may be modified in the future. Actual pay offered to a candidate will depend on a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, education, skills, and location.
Travere will accept applications on an ongoing basis until a candidate is selected for the position.
Travere Therapeutics, Inc. is an EEO/AA/Veteran/Disability Employer.
If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact us by sending an email to accommodations@travere.com . Please note that this email address is to be used exclusively to request an accommodation with the online application, interview or hiring process only. Travere HR will not reply to emails sent to this address for any other reason.
Chief Researcher Jobs by Experience Level
See All 14 Chief Researcher Jobs
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Find Chief Researcher JobsChief Researcher Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chief researcher jobs.
- Advanced degree in a research-intensive field such as social science, life science, or public policy
- Demonstrated experience leading multi-phase original research projects from design through publication
- Proficiency with quantitative analysis tools such as R, Python, SPSS, or Stata
- Experience managing or mentoring junior researchers, analysts, or research coordinators
- Strong record of presenting findings to non-technical stakeholders, executives, or policymakers
- Familiarity with IRB protocols, research ethics standards, and data privacy requirements
Tips for Your Chief Researcher Job Search
Tailor your resume to research outputs
Chief researcher roles are evaluated on deliverables, not duties. List published studies, proprietary datasets built, or policy briefs that influenced decisions. Hiring committees want to see what your research produced, not just what methods you used.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists chief researcher openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target organizations by research infrastructure
Filter openings by whether the employer runs an in-house research department, funds external studies, or publishes original work. Chief researchers in organizations without research infrastructure often spend most of their time building it rather than conducting studies.
Prepare a research portfolio before interviewing
Bring two or three examples of complete research cycles you led, from question framing to final deliverable. Panels at this level ask how you scoped ambiguous problems, not just whether you can run a regression or code qualitative data.
Negotiate scope before you negotiate salary
Before accepting an offer, clarify budget authority for studies, team headcount, and whether you have sign-off on research design. Chief researcher roles vary dramatically in autonomy, and misaligned expectations on scope are the most common source of early attrition.
Follow up with a research insight, not a thank-you note
After your interview, send a brief note that references a methodological choice or data gap you discussed and adds one concrete observation. It signals the analytical instinct the role demands and differentiates you from candidates who send generic follow-ups.
Chief Researcher Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most chief researchers?
The companies hiring the most chief researchers right now include US Department of Veterans Affairs, University of Utah, and Synhawk, with the largest share of openings in Utah, California, and Pennsylvania, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is especially concentrated at research-intensive institutions and organizations with dedicated policy or product research functions.
How many chief researcher jobs are remote?
About 71% of chief researcher openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote arrangements most common in roles focused on literature synthesis, secondary data analysis, and policy research rather than hands-on lab work or in-person ethnographic studies. Roles tied to physical fieldwork or institutional research facilities tend to require on-site presence.
How do you become a chief researcher?
Most chief researchers follow a path from research associate or analyst roles, building experience with independent project ownership before moving into a leadership position. You typically need an advanced degree, a portfolio of completed research cycles, and demonstrated ability to manage methodology decisions and present findings to decision-makers. Some professionals transition from adjacent roles in data science, evaluation, or consulting by systematically taking on research design responsibilities.
Can you get hired as a chief researcher without direct experience in the role?
Yes, especially if you've led research functions under a different title such as research director, principal investigator, or senior research scientist. Employers evaluate whether you've owned full research cycles, made methodology decisions independently, and communicated findings to non-specialist audiences. A strong portfolio of research outputs often matters more than a previous job title that uses the word 'chief.'
What does the chief researcher interview process look like?
Chief researcher interviews typically include a screening call with HR or a research operations lead, followed by a panel interview with department heads or senior staff who assess your methodological judgment and research philosophy. Many employers also include a case exercise or presentation where you walk through a research design or critique an existing study. Final-round conversations often involve executives who evaluate how you communicate findings to non-technical audiences.
Where can I find and apply to chief researcher jobs?
You can find and apply to chief researcher jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that fit your specialization and experience level, then apply directly to each listing that matches what you're looking for.
See All 14 Chief Researcher Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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