Research Director Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Research Director roles qualify for H-1B visa, O-1A, and EB-1 sponsorship. Employers regularly sponsor this position because it requires a graduate degree in a specialized field and demonstrates the advanced expertise USCIS looks for in specialty occupation and extraordinary ability petitions. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Description:
Providing for loved ones, planning rewarding retirements, saving enough for whatever lies ahead – our policyholders count on us to be there when it matters most. It’s a big ask, but it’s one that we have the power to deliver when we work together. We collaborate and innovate – pushing one another to transform not just Pacific Life, but the entire industry for the better. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do. Pacific Life is more than a job, it’s a career with purpose. It’s a career where you have the support, balance, and resources to make a positive impact on the future – including your own.
We’re actively seeking a talented Director of Fundamental Research to join Pacific Life Fund Advisors in Newport Beach, CA. Relocation assistance may be provided.
As the Director of Fundamental Research, you’ll play a key role in Pacific Life’s growth and long-term success by generating investment decisions for the Pacific Life Fund Advisors (PLFA) managed strategies ($30 billion) and providing investment expertise to the divisions to drive company-wide initiatives. The Director will join the asset allocation team responsible for managing over 15 multi-asset portfolios—primarily fund-of-funds—as well as six portable alpha strategies. The role will focus primarily on equity allocations within the multi-asset portfolios, with secondary responsibilities supporting macro/strategic and other intra-asset positioning.
How you’ll help move us forward:
- Act as a Domestic Equity Portfolio Manager within a Multi-Asset Framework
- Serve as a U.S. equities specialist, bringing a clear, differentiated point of view across sectors, styles, and factors (growth, value, quality, momentum)
- Perform industry-leading research to formulate investment views
- Implement views through dynamic asset allocation, portfolio tilts, and position sizing within domestic equities
- Drive Asset Allocation & Portfolio Performance
- Play a key role in asset allocation and portfolio construction decisions across 15+ multi-asset portfolios
- Maintain accountability for risk-adjusted returns and benchmark outperformance, continuously reassessing exposures based on market developments, data, and evolving investment theses
- Contribute across asset classes (international equity, fixed income, alternatives), while maintaining a core focus on U.S. equity alpha generation
- Operate as a Senior Investor & Investment Committee Member
- Present, defend, and implement high-conviction investment views as a voting member of the Investment Committee, directly influencing firm-wide capital allocation decisions
- Partner cross-functionally to support investment communication, strategy positioning, and product development
- Contribute to firm-wide thinking on markets, portfolio construction, and risk management, helping shape the overall investment framework and process
The experience you bring:
- 7–10+ years of experience in fundamental research, portfolio management, or trading
- A deep understanding of U.S. equities, with the ability to connect micro insights to macro context
- Proven ability to form, express, and defend investment views
- Strong grounding in macroeconomics, policy, and market cycles
- Experience with multi-asset frameworks or asset allocation thinking (preferred, not required)
- Comfort working with data; Python or quantitative toolkit is a plus
- Familiarity with mutual funds, ETFs, or 40-Act structures is helpful
- Clear communicator who can translate complex ideas into actionable insights
You can be who you are.
People come first here. We’re committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Learn more about how we create a welcoming work environment through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at www.pacificlife.com. What’s life like at Pacific Life? Visit Instagram.com/lifeatpacificlife.
LI-KP1
Base Pay Range:
The base pay range noted represents the company’s good faith minimum and maximum range for this role at the time of posting. The actual compensation offered to a candidate will be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to experience, qualifications and geographic location. Also, most employees are eligible for additional incentive pay.
$203,760.00 - $249,040.00
Your Benefits Start Day 1
Your wellbeing is important to Pacific Life, and we’re committed to providing you with flexible benefits that you can tailor to meet your needs. Whether you are focusing on your physical, financial, emotional, or social wellbeing, we’ve got you covered.
- Prioritization of your health and well-being including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Wellbeing Reimbursement Account that can be used on yourself or your eligible dependents
- Generous paid time off options including: Paid Time Off, Holiday Schedules, and Financial Planning Time Off
- Paid Parental Leave as well as an Adoption Assistance Program
- Competitive 401k savings plan with company match and an additional contribution regardless of participation
You Can Be Who You Are
We are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion that embraces the authenticity of all employees, partners and communities. We support all employees to thrive and achieve their fullest potential.
What’s life like at Pacific Life? Visit Instagram.com/lifeatpacificlife
EEO Statement:
Pacific Life Insurance Company is an Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer, M/F/D/V. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact a Human Resources Representative at Pacific Life Insurance Company.
Job Description:
Providing for loved ones, planning rewarding retirements, saving enough for whatever lies ahead – our policyholders count on us to be there when it matters most. It’s a big ask, but it’s one that we have the power to deliver when we work together. We collaborate and innovate – pushing one another to transform not just Pacific Life, but the entire industry for the better. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do. Pacific Life is more than a job, it’s a career with purpose. It’s a career where you have the support, balance, and resources to make a positive impact on the future – including your own.
We’re actively seeking a talented Director of Fundamental Research to join Pacific Life Fund Advisors in Newport Beach, CA. Relocation assistance may be provided.
As the Director of Fundamental Research, you’ll play a key role in Pacific Life’s growth and long-term success by generating investment decisions for the Pacific Life Fund Advisors (PLFA) managed strategies ($30 billion) and providing investment expertise to the divisions to drive company-wide initiatives. The Director will join the asset allocation team responsible for managing over 15 multi-asset portfolios—primarily fund-of-funds—as well as six portable alpha strategies. The role will focus primarily on equity allocations within the multi-asset portfolios, with secondary responsibilities supporting macro/strategic and other intra-asset positioning.
How you’ll help move us forward:
- Act as a Domestic Equity Portfolio Manager within a Multi-Asset Framework
- Serve as a U.S. equities specialist, bringing a clear, differentiated point of view across sectors, styles, and factors (growth, value, quality, momentum)
- Perform industry-leading research to formulate investment views
- Implement views through dynamic asset allocation, portfolio tilts, and position sizing within domestic equities
- Drive Asset Allocation & Portfolio Performance
- Play a key role in asset allocation and portfolio construction decisions across 15+ multi-asset portfolios
- Maintain accountability for risk-adjusted returns and benchmark outperformance, continuously reassessing exposures based on market developments, data, and evolving investment theses
- Contribute across asset classes (international equity, fixed income, alternatives), while maintaining a core focus on U.S. equity alpha generation
- Operate as a Senior Investor & Investment Committee Member
- Present, defend, and implement high-conviction investment views as a voting member of the Investment Committee, directly influencing firm-wide capital allocation decisions
- Partner cross-functionally to support investment communication, strategy positioning, and product development
- Contribute to firm-wide thinking on markets, portfolio construction, and risk management, helping shape the overall investment framework and process
The experience you bring:
- 7–10+ years of experience in fundamental research, portfolio management, or trading
- A deep understanding of U.S. equities, with the ability to connect micro insights to macro context
- Proven ability to form, express, and defend investment views
- Strong grounding in macroeconomics, policy, and market cycles
- Experience with multi-asset frameworks or asset allocation thinking (preferred, not required)
- Comfort working with data; Python or quantitative toolkit is a plus
- Familiarity with mutual funds, ETFs, or 40-Act structures is helpful
- Clear communicator who can translate complex ideas into actionable insights
You can be who you are.
People come first here. We’re committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Learn more about how we create a welcoming work environment through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at www.pacificlife.com. What’s life like at Pacific Life? Visit Instagram.com/lifeatpacificlife.
LI-KP1
Base Pay Range:
The base pay range noted represents the company’s good faith minimum and maximum range for this role at the time of posting. The actual compensation offered to a candidate will be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to experience, qualifications and geographic location. Also, most employees are eligible for additional incentive pay.
$203,760.00 - $249,040.00
Your Benefits Start Day 1
Your wellbeing is important to Pacific Life, and we’re committed to providing you with flexible benefits that you can tailor to meet your needs. Whether you are focusing on your physical, financial, emotional, or social wellbeing, we’ve got you covered.
- Prioritization of your health and well-being including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Wellbeing Reimbursement Account that can be used on yourself or your eligible dependents
- Generous paid time off options including: Paid Time Off, Holiday Schedules, and Financial Planning Time Off
- Paid Parental Leave as well as an Adoption Assistance Program
- Competitive 401k savings plan with company match and an additional contribution regardless of participation
You Can Be Who You Are
We are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion that embraces the authenticity of all employees, partners and communities. We support all employees to thrive and achieve their fullest potential.
What’s life like at Pacific Life? Visit Instagram.com/lifeatpacificlife
EEO Statement:
Pacific Life Insurance Company is an Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer, M/F/D/V. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact a Human Resources Representative at Pacific Life Insurance Company.
See all 803+ Research Director jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Research Director roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Research Director Jobs
Lead with your publication and citation record
USCIS officers weigh scholarly output heavily for Research Director petitions. A strong publication record with measurable citations strengthens both H-1B specialty occupation arguments and O-1A extraordinary ability claims significantly.
Ensure your degree field matches the research domain
Your graduate degree must align specifically with the research area you'll be directing. A PhD in molecular biology won't support a Research Director role in economics. The field match is a core specialty occupation requirement USCIS scrutinizes.
Document your leadership over research teams and budgets
Research Director petitions benefit from evidence of organizational leadership. Offer letters and employer support letters should specify staff headcount, grant funding managed, and institutional scope to distinguish the role from individual contributor researcher positions.
Target employers with established immigration infrastructure
Universities, research hospitals, national laboratories, and large pharmaceutical or technology firms routinely sponsor Research Directors. These institutions have in-house immigration counsel and understand the documentation requirements, which reduces delays and RFE risk considerably.
Consider the O-1A if you have exceptional credentials
Research Directors with peer-reviewed publications, grants awarded, judging or reviewing experience, or press coverage may qualify for O-1A status. This path bypasses the H-1B lottery entirely and can be filed at any time of year.
Prepare for peer review and judging evidence requests
If applying for O-1A or EB-1A, document any conference peer reviewing, grant panel participation, or editorial board service. These activities satisfy the USCIS criterion for judging others' work, one of the most accessible criteria for senior researchers.
Research Director jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Research Director JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does the Research Director title qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes. Research Director is a recognized specialty occupation because it requires at minimum a bachelor's degree, and typically a master's or PhD, in a specific field directly related to the research domain. USCIS has consistently approved H-1B petitions for this title across academia, biotech, government contractors, and private industry.
What visa options exist for Research Directors beyond the H-1B?
Research Directors with a strong scholarly record often qualify for the O-1A extraordinary ability visa, which has no lottery and can be filed year-round. Those pursuing permanent residence may be strong EB-1A or EB-2 NIW candidates, particularly if their research serves a national interest. Browse Research Director roles on Migrate Mate to filter by employers who sponsor multiple visa types.
What degree level does USCIS expect for a Research Director petition?
Most approved Research Director H-1B petitions involve a master's degree or PhD in the relevant discipline. A bachelor's degree alone can work if it's in a highly specific field and the role description clearly requires that specialization, but expect closer scrutiny. Employers typically require a graduate degree in job postings, which supports the specialty occupation argument.
How does the EB-1A path work for Research Directors?
The EB-1A requires meeting at least three of ten USCIS criteria demonstrating extraordinary ability. Research Directors commonly satisfy criteria through prizes or awards, peer-reviewed publications, high citation counts, judging roles, and leading or critical roles at distinguished institutions. USCIS approved approximately 56% of EB-1A petitions in FY 2024, and the category is current for most nationalities.
Do Research Director roles at universities sponsor differently than private sector roles?
Universities and nonprofit research institutions are cap-exempt for H-1B purposes, meaning they can file H-1B petitions at any time of year without entering the lottery. This is a significant practical advantage. Private sector Research Director roles are cap-subject and must go through the annual April lottery registration, making the O-1A or TN an important backup depending on your nationality.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Research Director jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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