Research Director Jobs in Washington
Research Director jobs in Washington are in strong demand, concentrated in biotechnology, public health, technology, and academic research, with openings from senior research manager through executive-level director. Seattle, Bellevue, and the greater Puget Sound corridor are the primary hiring hubs, anchored by employers like the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Microsoft, and the University of Washington. The most sought-after specialties include clinical and translational research, product research and development, and public policy research. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Director of Institutional Research (On-Campus/In-Person position)
DEPARTMENT: Office of Academic Affairs
REPORTS TO: Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs
FLSA: Exempt
SALARY: $80,000 - $95,000 (commensurate with experience and education)
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Institutional Research Director is responsible for maintaining and reporting on all official institutional data, research and
analysis, to all institutional stakeholders. The IR Director supervises all institutional research activities which provide
information to support institutional planning, policy formulation, and decision making, directs and manages data collection,
data analysis, and research activities relative to institutional research.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Represents Heritage University in the most positive manner with prospective, former and current students, clients,
suppliers and the community we serve. Interacts effectively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students and other
customers of our services, learns and uses operating practices of the department and Heritage University.
2. Upholds the Heritage University Mission Statement.
3. Handles confidential information with tact, discretion and in compliance with FERPA regulations.
4. Collects, analyzes, and interprets all institutional data and is the only source of official institutional data for all
interested parties.
5. Coordinates with the Associate Vice President of Information Technology to assure data is reliably entered and
securely stored.
6. Assures that all federal, state, and other reporting requirements are submitted in a timely fashion.
7. Provides information of a general nature about the University through the publication of a yearly Factbook and
maintenance of a data dashboard.
8. Provides ad hoc information as requested by senior administration.
9. Is an active participant in strategic planning and responsible for its data needs. Serves as central resource for
institutional data and assists in the development and monitoring of strategic indicators.
10. Coordinates with Vice-presidents, the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, CILT, and Chairpersons to assure
all reporting needs are met accurately and in a timely fashion.
11. Assesses institutional outcomes and contributes to reporting for accreditations in coordination with the Associate
Vice President of Academic Affairs.
12. Coordinates the administration and utilization of institution-wide surveys and studies related to institutional
assessment.
13. Consults and/or collaborates with faculty and staff, departments, offices, and/or programs to include: routine or
special projects to develop and design tools for data collection; survey administration; and summarization and
analysis of the findings.
14. Maintains the University’s webpage in the area of Institutional Research.
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:
1. A Bachelor degree with demonstrated understand of social science research (Master degree preferred).
2. Minimum of two years of experience with research and data analytics, preferably in a leadership role
3. Functional knowledge of statistical software packages such as SPSS, R, SAS, or STATA and mainframe databases
for data retrieval.
4. The ability to navigate and understand databases and extract data from systems.
5. The ability to write concise analytical reports that are directed to specific readership is required.
6. The ability to interact with many levels of personnel in a congenial, courteous manner is required.
7. Excellent interpersonal/written communication skills; strong customer service/public relations orientation.
8. Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
9. Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
10. Sensitivity to various cultures and the ability to work as a collaborative team member.
11. Initiative, commitment to accomplishment, and adaptability when needed.
12. Walk across campus; sit for long periods of time; type on a keyboard for extended periods of time; lift reams of
papers.
• Health Benefits - medical, dental, and vision
- No cost life insurance.
- Paid Time Off
- 21 Paid Holidays
- Matching 403(b) Contribution after a year of service.
- Tuition Waiver Program
- Additional plans are available for purchase. This includes AFLAC and additional life & ADD insurance.
- Many other employee engagement programs.
APPLICATION INFORMATION AND DEADLINE: Applications should include the following:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- List of References (names, addresses & phone numbers of 3-5 current professional references).
- HU Employment Application LINK: HU Application
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
To apply, please email application material to: HumanResources@heritage.edu OR Heritage University
Office of Human Resources 3240 Fort Road Toppenish, WA 98948
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Heritage University is an equal opportunity/ equal access/ affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse
workforce and complies with all Federal and State laws, regulations, and executive order regarding non-discrimination and affirmative
action.
2
JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Director of Institutional Research (On-Campus/In-Person position)
DEPARTMENT: Office of Academic Affairs
REPORTS TO: Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs
FLSA: Exempt
SALARY: $80,000 - $95,000 (commensurate with experience and education)
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Institutional Research Director is responsible for maintaining and reporting on all official institutional data, research and
analysis, to all institutional stakeholders. The IR Director supervises all institutional research activities which provide
information to support institutional planning, policy formulation, and decision making, directs and manages data collection,
data analysis, and research activities relative to institutional research.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Represents Heritage University in the most positive manner with prospective, former and current students, clients,
suppliers and the community we serve. Interacts effectively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students and other
customers of our services, learns and uses operating practices of the department and Heritage University.
2. Upholds the Heritage University Mission Statement.
3. Handles confidential information with tact, discretion and in compliance with FERPA regulations.
4. Collects, analyzes, and interprets all institutional data and is the only source of official institutional data for all
interested parties.
5. Coordinates with the Associate Vice President of Information Technology to assure data is reliably entered and
securely stored.
6. Assures that all federal, state, and other reporting requirements are submitted in a timely fashion.
7. Provides information of a general nature about the University through the publication of a yearly Factbook and
maintenance of a data dashboard.
8. Provides ad hoc information as requested by senior administration.
9. Is an active participant in strategic planning and responsible for its data needs. Serves as central resource for
institutional data and assists in the development and monitoring of strategic indicators.
10. Coordinates with Vice-presidents, the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, CILT, and Chairpersons to assure
all reporting needs are met accurately and in a timely fashion.
11. Assesses institutional outcomes and contributes to reporting for accreditations in coordination with the Associate
Vice President of Academic Affairs.
12. Coordinates the administration and utilization of institution-wide surveys and studies related to institutional
assessment.
13. Consults and/or collaborates with faculty and staff, departments, offices, and/or programs to include: routine or
special projects to develop and design tools for data collection; survey administration; and summarization and
analysis of the findings.
14. Maintains the University’s webpage in the area of Institutional Research.
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:
1. A Bachelor degree with demonstrated understand of social science research (Master degree preferred).
2. Minimum of two years of experience with research and data analytics, preferably in a leadership role
3. Functional knowledge of statistical software packages such as SPSS, R, SAS, or STATA and mainframe databases
for data retrieval.
4. The ability to navigate and understand databases and extract data from systems.
5. The ability to write concise analytical reports that are directed to specific readership is required.
6. The ability to interact with many levels of personnel in a congenial, courteous manner is required.
7. Excellent interpersonal/written communication skills; strong customer service/public relations orientation.
8. Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
9. Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
10. Sensitivity to various cultures and the ability to work as a collaborative team member.
11. Initiative, commitment to accomplishment, and adaptability when needed.
12. Walk across campus; sit for long periods of time; type on a keyboard for extended periods of time; lift reams of
papers.
• Health Benefits - medical, dental, and vision
- No cost life insurance.
- Paid Time Off
- 21 Paid Holidays
- Matching 403(b) Contribution after a year of service.
- Tuition Waiver Program
- Additional plans are available for purchase. This includes AFLAC and additional life & ADD insurance.
- Many other employee engagement programs.
APPLICATION INFORMATION AND DEADLINE: Applications should include the following:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- List of References (names, addresses & phone numbers of 3-5 current professional references).
- HU Employment Application LINK: HU Application
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
To apply, please email application material to: HumanResources@heritage.edu OR Heritage University
Office of Human Resources 3240 Fort Road Toppenish, WA 98948
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Heritage University is an equal opportunity/ equal access/ affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse
workforce and complies with all Federal and State laws, regulations, and executive order regarding non-discrimination and affirmative
action.
2
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Where Washington roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Director Job Market in Washington
A snapshot from current Washington openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
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What Washington Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research director jobs across Washington.
- Advanced degree (master's or doctorate) in a relevant research discipline required
- Substantial experience leading multidisciplinary research teams and managing study portfolios
- Demonstrated ability to secure and oversee federal, state, or private research grants
- Proficiency with research compliance frameworks including IRB protocols and federal regulations
- Record of peer-reviewed publication, technical reporting, or policy research contributions
- Strong communication skills for presenting findings to executive stakeholders and external partners
Research Director Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research director in Washington?
Most research directors in Washington hold a master's degree or doctorate in a field aligned with their research domain, such as public health, life sciences, social science, or engineering. Washington does not issue a state license specifically for research directors, but roles in clinical or human-subjects research require demonstrated IRB compliance competency and, for health-adjacent roles, familiarity with Washington State Department of Health research standards. Employers typically require progressive experience leading research teams before considering candidates at the director level.
How much do research directors make in Washington?
Research directors in Washington earn a median of about $182,480 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $117,590 for the lowest 10% to over $324,740 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire research directors in Washington?
Employers hiring research directors in Washington right now include University Of Washington, REI, and Amazon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Washington's concentration of biotech firms, large technology companies, federally funded research institutions, and major public universities makes it one of the more active states for research director recruitment.
Which Washington cities have the most research director jobs?
Seattle, Bellevue, and Kirkland account for the largest share of research director openings in Washington. Seattle leads due to its dense cluster of academic medical centers, biotechnology companies, and technology firms, while Bellevue and other Puget Sound communities add volume through corporate R&D operations and health system campuses with active research programs.
Are there remote research director jobs in Washington?
Yes, and more than many senior roles, since research directors often spend significant time on strategy, grant writing, and stakeholder reporting rather than hands-on lab or fieldwork. About 50% of research director openings tied to Washington are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting employer flexibility for the administrative and analytical dimensions of the role. Roles tied to wet-lab, clinical trial oversight, or on-site team management are most likely to require a regular physical presence.
How can I get hired as a research director in Washington with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a research manager or principal investigator role at a Washington university, health system, or government-funded institute and building a portfolio of funded projects and publications from there. Institutions like the University of Washington, Washington State University, and Seattle Children's Research Institute run postdoctoral and research scientist programs that regularly advance into director-track positions. Transitioning from a senior analyst, research scientist, or program manager role with grant management responsibility is the most common lateral move that opens the door.
Where can I find and apply to research director jobs in Washington?
You can find and apply to research director jobs in Washington on Migrate Mate, which lists current Washington openings across biotechnology, public health, technology, academia, and government-funded research. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the employer through the listing.
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