Research Director Jobs in Tennessee
Research Director jobs in Tennessee are actively recruited across healthcare, higher education, and life sciences, with demand at every level from newly promoted managers stepping into their first director role through senior research leaders overseeing multi-site programs. Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville anchor most of the hiring, where institutions like Vanderbilt University Medical Center, HCA Healthcare, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory maintain sustained research director needs. The most in-demand specialties are clinical research, health policy research, and applied science program leadership. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Research Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 13+ Research Director jobs
Employee Classification: Other Professionals
Institution: Roane State Community College
Department: Institutional Research
Campus Location: Roane State Community College
Job Summary
The Director of Institutional Research provides leadership for institutional research, assessment, program evaluation, and data-informed decision-making. The position analyzes and interprets institutional data, prepares internal and external reports, supports faculty and programs with learning outcomes assessment, and evaluates the effectiveness of academic programs, grants, and student success initiatives. The director also contributes to the development of database queries, statistical analyses, data products, and dashboards used to monitor institutional, student, and program outcomes.
Job Duties
Institutional Research, Reporting, and Analysis
Respond to institutional data and evaluation requests from faculty, staff, administrators, state agencies, and other stakeholders.
Gather, analyze, interpret, and present data to support institutional planning, accreditation, program improvement, and decision-making.
Conduct survey research, statistical analysis, data cleaning, and analysis of information maintained in the College's student information and related systems.
Compile institutional data and documentation for state and federal reporting, including Quality Assurance Funding, IPEDS, Perkins, enrollment, and graduation reporting.
Develop database queries, reports, dashboards, and other data products to support ongoing monitoring of student and program outcomes.
Perform data-quality reviews to promote accurate and timely institutional reporting.
Support grant development and reporting through data analysis, evaluation support, and written narratives.
Assessment and Program Evaluation
Provide leadership for learning outcomes assessment and assist faculty and program directors with developing measurable outcomes, assessment methods, and improvement strategies.
Analyze assessment findings and communicate results to faculty, administrators, and other stakeholders.
Support academic programs in meeting regional and programmatic accreditation expectations.
Coordinate institutional surveys, including student engagement, graduate, employer, and other surveys.
Develop evaluation plans for federal, state, and institutional grants.
Provide research and supporting data for grant applications and analyze data needed for grant reporting.
Assist faculty, staff, and administrators with strategic planning and assessment processes.
Leadership and Administration
Directly supervise the Data Analyst in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research, including assigning and reviewing work and supporting accurate, timely reporting of institutional data.
Coordinate with Information Technology staff who support institutional reporting.
Oversee the administration of college-wide course evaluations.
Serve as the primary institutional contact for research involving College faculty, staff, or students and help ensure compliance with institutional and federal human-subjects research requirements.
Chair or participate in college committees related to assessment, course evaluation, strategic planning, data governance, institutional review, general education, and student success.
Manage the Institutional Effectiveness and Research webpage
Performs other duties as assigned in support of Institutional Research operations and the College’s mission
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in educational psychology, public administration, economics, statistics, business administration, data science, social science, or a closely related field.
At least five years of relevant experience in institutional or policy research, data analysis, program evaluation, grant development or reporting, database programming, statistical analysis, or management of state- or federally funded programs.
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree in educational psychology, public administration, economics, statistics, business administration, data science, social science, or a closely related field.
Experience in institutional research, institutional effectiveness, assessment, or program evaluation within higher education.
Experience with state, federal, accreditation, or grant-related reporting.
Experience supervising staff or coordinating data and reporting work across departments.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of data modeling, data-cleaning methods, statistical analysis, and data management.
Experience with analytical or database languages such as SQL, DAX, SAS, R, Python, or comparable tools.
Proficiency with applications such as Excel, Power BI, PowerPoint, Power Automate, database systems, statistical software, or similar platforms.
Knowledge of inferential statistics, quasi-experimental analysis, qualitative research, survey design, program evaluation, and data-visualization practices.
Ability to translate complex data and research findings into clear, useful information for technical and non-technical audiences.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects and reporting deadlines with a high degree of accuracy.
Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, administrators, and external stakeholders.
Work Arrangement
This is a hybrid position based at the Harriman, Tennessee campus, with work-from-home flexibility available at the discretion of the supervisor and in accordance with college policies and operational needs. The position requires some travel among Roane State locations, occasional in-state travel, and periodic travel to professional meetings or conferences.
In order to be considered for the position, the following items must be uploaded:
Application
Resume
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
Candidates who are called for an interview must notify Human Resources in writing at least five (5) days in advance of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.
Roane State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as a protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities.
A summary of our benefits: BENEFITS SUMMARY.pdf
Employee Classification: Other Professionals
Institution: Roane State Community College
Department: Institutional Research
Campus Location: Roane State Community College
Job Summary
The Director of Institutional Research provides leadership for institutional research, assessment, program evaluation, and data-informed decision-making. The position analyzes and interprets institutional data, prepares internal and external reports, supports faculty and programs with learning outcomes assessment, and evaluates the effectiveness of academic programs, grants, and student success initiatives. The director also contributes to the development of database queries, statistical analyses, data products, and dashboards used to monitor institutional, student, and program outcomes.
Job Duties
Institutional Research, Reporting, and Analysis
Respond to institutional data and evaluation requests from faculty, staff, administrators, state agencies, and other stakeholders.
Gather, analyze, interpret, and present data to support institutional planning, accreditation, program improvement, and decision-making.
Conduct survey research, statistical analysis, data cleaning, and analysis of information maintained in the College's student information and related systems.
Compile institutional data and documentation for state and federal reporting, including Quality Assurance Funding, IPEDS, Perkins, enrollment, and graduation reporting.
Develop database queries, reports, dashboards, and other data products to support ongoing monitoring of student and program outcomes.
Perform data-quality reviews to promote accurate and timely institutional reporting.
Support grant development and reporting through data analysis, evaluation support, and written narratives.
Assessment and Program Evaluation
Provide leadership for learning outcomes assessment and assist faculty and program directors with developing measurable outcomes, assessment methods, and improvement strategies.
Analyze assessment findings and communicate results to faculty, administrators, and other stakeholders.
Support academic programs in meeting regional and programmatic accreditation expectations.
Coordinate institutional surveys, including student engagement, graduate, employer, and other surveys.
Develop evaluation plans for federal, state, and institutional grants.
Provide research and supporting data for grant applications and analyze data needed for grant reporting.
Assist faculty, staff, and administrators with strategic planning and assessment processes.
Leadership and Administration
Directly supervise the Data Analyst in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research, including assigning and reviewing work and supporting accurate, timely reporting of institutional data.
Coordinate with Information Technology staff who support institutional reporting.
Oversee the administration of college-wide course evaluations.
Serve as the primary institutional contact for research involving College faculty, staff, or students and help ensure compliance with institutional and federal human-subjects research requirements.
Chair or participate in college committees related to assessment, course evaluation, strategic planning, data governance, institutional review, general education, and student success.
Manage the Institutional Effectiveness and Research webpage
Performs other duties as assigned in support of Institutional Research operations and the College’s mission
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in educational psychology, public administration, economics, statistics, business administration, data science, social science, or a closely related field.
At least five years of relevant experience in institutional or policy research, data analysis, program evaluation, grant development or reporting, database programming, statistical analysis, or management of state- or federally funded programs.
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree in educational psychology, public administration, economics, statistics, business administration, data science, social science, or a closely related field.
Experience in institutional research, institutional effectiveness, assessment, or program evaluation within higher education.
Experience with state, federal, accreditation, or grant-related reporting.
Experience supervising staff or coordinating data and reporting work across departments.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of data modeling, data-cleaning methods, statistical analysis, and data management.
Experience with analytical or database languages such as SQL, DAX, SAS, R, Python, or comparable tools.
Proficiency with applications such as Excel, Power BI, PowerPoint, Power Automate, database systems, statistical software, or similar platforms.
Knowledge of inferential statistics, quasi-experimental analysis, qualitative research, survey design, program evaluation, and data-visualization practices.
Ability to translate complex data and research findings into clear, useful information for technical and non-technical audiences.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects and reporting deadlines with a high degree of accuracy.
Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, administrators, and external stakeholders.
Work Arrangement
This is a hybrid position based at the Harriman, Tennessee campus, with work-from-home flexibility available at the discretion of the supervisor and in accordance with college policies and operational needs. The position requires some travel among Roane State locations, occasional in-state travel, and periodic travel to professional meetings or conferences.
In order to be considered for the position, the following items must be uploaded:
Application
Resume
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
Candidates who are called for an interview must notify Human Resources in writing at least five (5) days in advance of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.
Roane State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as a protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities.
A summary of our benefits: BENEFITS SUMMARY.pdf
See All 13 Research Director Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research Director JobsResearch Director Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Director Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research director jobs across Tennessee.
- Doctoral degree in a relevant field such as life sciences, public health, or social sciences
- Minimum seven to ten years of progressive research experience including supervisory responsibility
- Demonstrated record of securing extramural funding through federal grants or foundation awards
- Experience managing cross-functional research teams and coordinating with institutional review boards
- Strong background in quantitative or qualitative research methodology appropriate to the discipline
- Proficiency with research management systems and compliance requirements under federal funding regulations
Research Director Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research director in Tennessee?
Most research director roles in Tennessee require a doctoral degree in a relevant discipline, though some industry positions accept a master's degree combined with extensive experience. Tennessee does not require a state-issued license specific to research directors, but candidates pursuing clinical research roles often hold credentials such as the Certified Clinical Research Professional designation. Employers at Tennessee's major research universities and health systems typically expect a portfolio of funded projects and peer-reviewed publications before promoting or hiring into a director-level role.
How much do research directors make in Tennessee?
Research directors in Tennessee earn a median of about $124,530 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $66,280 for the lowest 10% to over $223,370 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire research directors in Tennessee?
Employers hiring research directors in Tennessee right now include Vanderbilt University, University of Tennessee, and University of Tennessee Health Science Center, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Tennessee's concentration of academic medical centers, federal research facilities, and growing biopharma presence means openings appear across a wide range of research disciplines and organizational types.
Which Tennessee cities have the most research director jobs?
Memphis, Nashville, and Tennessee consistently post the most research director openings in Tennessee. Nashville leads because of its dense cluster of health systems, academic institutions, and health-tech companies, while Knoxville's position adjacent to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee drives strong demand in applied and federal research, and Memphis draws openings through its medical research and logistics research sectors.
Are there remote research director jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, and more than many leadership roles, because research directors in policy, data science, and program evaluation can manage teams and deliverables without a fixed lab or clinic. About 57% of research director openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the analytical and administrative nature of much of the work. Roles anchored to wet labs, clinical trial sites, or federal facilities almost always require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a research director in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is moving into a research coordinator or research manager role first, then building toward director-level responsibility over several years. Tennessee's large academic health systems, including those affiliated with Vanderbilt, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and Meharry Medical College, regularly hire research coordinators and associates where candidates can develop grant management, IRB, and team leadership skills. Earning a Certified Clinical Research Professional credential or completing a formal research administration certificate strengthens a candidate's profile considerably for the step up to director.
Where can I find and apply to research director jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to research director jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the available roles, find ones that match your background and location preference, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 13 Research Director Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research Director Jobs