Research Director Jobs in Ohio

Research Director jobs in Ohio are actively sought across the state's deep base of academic medical centers, pharmaceutical and biotech firms, nonprofit research institutes, and university-affiliated programs, with openings ranging from early-career research management roles through senior and executive-level positions. Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati anchor most of the hiring, where employers such as The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic, and Procter and Gamble maintain consistent demand for research leadership. The most in-demand specialties are clinical and translational research, consumer insights and market research, and policy-oriented social science research. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles6
Top employerOhioHealth
Top cityColumbus, OH
Cities hiring3
Work type100% Hybrid
Top industryScience

Showing 5 of 6+ Research Director jobs

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Physician or Physician Scientist Section Director, Cardiovascular Research and Innovation (Open Rank/Track Faculty)
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The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Added 3d ago
Physician or Physician Scientist Section Director, Cardiovascular Research and Innovation (Open Rank/Track Faculty)
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Columbus, Ohio
Corporate Training
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Teaching & Instruction
10,000+

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OhioHealth
Director, Research Business Services
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OhioHealth
Added 1w ago
Director, Research Business Services
OhioHealth
Columbus, Ohio
Business Operations
Program Management
Project Management
Bachelor's degree in finance
10,000+

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American Electric Power
Managing Director Accounting Policy & Research
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American Electric Power
Added 1w ago
Managing Director Accounting Policy & Research
American Electric Power
Columbus, Ohio
Corporate Training
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Teaching & Instruction
$189k - $245k/yr
Bachelor's degree in business
10,000+

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Case Western Reserve University
Assoc Director Research Admin - Pre Award Support
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Case Western Reserve University
Added 2w ago
Assoc Director Research Admin - Pre Award Support
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
Consulting & Professional Services
Human Resources
$66k - $83k/yr
Hybrid
Master's degree
5,001-10,000

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The Ohio State University
Senior Director, Research Security
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The Ohio State University
Added 1mo ago
Senior Director, Research Security
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio
Biotech & Life Sciences
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
$140k - $183k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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See All 6 Research Director Jobs in Ohio

Find roles in Ohio that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Research Director Jobs by City in Ohio

Where Ohio roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Columbus
4 jobs
Marietta
1 job
Cleveland
1 job

Research Director Job Market in Ohio

A snapshot from current Ohio openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

OhioHealth
OhioHealth1 open role
American Electric Power
American Electric Power1 open role
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Science & Research
  • Consulting & Professional Services

What Ohio Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in research director jobs across Ohio.

  • Doctoral degree in a relevant discipline such as life sciences, social science, or public health
  • Five or more years of progressive experience managing research teams or programs
  • Demonstrated record of winning and administering competitive grants or sponsored research funding
  • Experience designing and overseeing multi-site or cross-functional research studies
  • Strong knowledge of IRB protocols, research compliance, and federal regulatory requirements
  • Proficiency with statistical analysis software and data management systems used in the field

Research Director Jobs in Ohio: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a research director in Ohio?

Most research directors in Ohio begin with a doctoral degree, or at minimum a master's degree, in a field aligned with their research area, such as biomedical sciences, public health, psychology, or business. Ohio does not require a state-issued license specific to the research director title, but roles at academic medical centers or hospitals often require IRB certification and, in clinical settings, Good Clinical Practice credentials. Building experience as a principal investigator, program manager, or senior researcher within Ohio's university systems or healthcare networks is the typical path to promotion.

How much do research directors make in Ohio?

Research directors in Ohio earn a median of about $137,170 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $78,720 for the lowest 10% to over $217,760 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire research directors in Ohio?

Employers hiring research directors in Ohio right now include OhioHealth, American Electric Power, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Ohio's concentration of academic medical centers, Fortune 500 consumer goods companies, and federally funded research institutions means demand comes from a wide mix of sectors beyond any single industry.

Which Ohio cities have the most research director jobs?

Columbus, Marietta, and Cleveland account for the most research director openings in Ohio. Columbus leads because of The Ohio State University and its affiliated health system, Cleveland draws heavily from its world-class medical research corridor anchored by Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, and Cincinnati's concentration of consumer goods headquarters and research-intensive manufacturers sustains steady demand across corporate and academic settings.

Are there remote research director jobs in Ohio?

Yes, and more than many leadership roles, because research direction often involves oversight, writing, and stakeholder coordination that can be done remotely. About 100% of research director openings tied to Ohio are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting genuine flexibility in the market. Strategy, grant development, data oversight, and literature synthesis tend to be the most remote-compatible functions, while roles requiring direct lab supervision or participant-facing clinical research remain primarily on-site.

How can I get hired as a research director in Ohio with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a postdoctoral fellowship or research coordinator role at one of Ohio's major research universities or health systems, such as Ohio State, Case Western Reserve University, or Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. From there, moving into a program manager or associate director position builds the supervisory and budgetary experience that research director roles require. Completing a Project Management Professional credential or a clinical research coordinator certification strengthens candidacy, and applying to internal promotion pipelines at large Ohio institutions is often more effective than competing externally at the director level.

Where can I find and apply to research director jobs in Ohio?

You can find and apply to research director jobs in Ohio on Migrate Mate, which lists current Ohio openings across industries and hiring organizations. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.

See All 6 Research Director Jobs in Ohio

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