Research Manager Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Research Manager roles qualify for H-1B visa and O-1 visa sponsorship when the position requires a relevant advanced degree and involves directing research programs. Employers in academia, biotech, pharma, and policy organizations sponsor these roles regularly, though sponsorship rates vary by sector. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsSUMMARY
Perform the day-to-day administrative activities of the clinical research trials program. Provide support to the team to facilitate the achievement of the program’s goals.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Recruit, screen, enroll and obtain consent from program participants. Conduct or coordinate training for program participants.
- Coordinate research protocols including arranging necessary appointments and procedures, working collaboratively with other departments and institutions, and maintaining contact with study participants.
- Collect, analyze, and disseminate program data. Report program data and progress to program stakeholders.
- Identify problems or obstacles in the system/procedures related to implementation of the research protocols and communicate to the study investigators.
- Assure compliance with all relevant IRB and other regulatory agency requirements.
- Assist in the preparation of IRB documents and reports. Assist in the evaluation and writing of research protocols.
- Collaborate on the development of program materials including educational materials, marketing materials, websites, forms, and reports.
- Work with Principal Investigator to develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive databases and files related to the program.
- Maintain program timeline including tracking deadlines for program components.
- Coordinate program outreach activities including acting as a liaison with community organizations.
- Other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE – SKILLS – ABILITIES
- Knowledge of biology, chemistry, mathematics, documentation, and records management.
- Data utilization, complex problem solving, critical thinking, resource management, and writing skills.
QUALIFICATIONS
Appropriate experience may be substituted for education on an equivalent basis.
Minimum Required Education: Associate's Degree
Minimum Required Experience: 1 year
Required Certification/Licensure(s): CITI training within 90 days of hire
Physical Requirements
Work requires occasionally lifting moderate weight materials, standing, or walking continuously.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Occasional exposure to dust, noise, temperature changes, or contact with water or other liquids. Work is performed in an environmentally controlled environment.
SENSORY ACUITY
Ability to detect and translate speech or other communication required. May occasionally require the ability to distinguish colors and perceive relative distances between objects.
WHY MCW?
- Outstanding Healthcare Coverage, including but not limited to Health, Vision, and Dental. Along with Flexible Spending options
- 403B Retirement Package
- Competitive Vacation and Paid Holidays offered
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Paid Parental Leave
- Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
- Pet Insurance
- On campus Fitness Facility, offering onsite classes
- Additional discounted rates on items such as: Select cell phone plans, local fitness facilities, Milwaukee recreation and entertainment etc.
For a brief overview of our benefits see: Benefits Overview
For a full list of positions see: MCW Careers
At MCW all of our endeavors, from our internal operations to our interactions with our partners, are driven by our shared organizational values: Caring – Collaborative – Curiosity – Inclusive – Integrity – Respect. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives through merit-based processes and in alignment with all applicable laws. We believe that embracing human differences is critical to realize our vision of a healthier world, and we recognize that a healthy and thriving community starts from within. Our values define who we are, what we stand for and how we conduct ourselves at MCW. If you believe in embracing individuality and working together according to these principles to improve health for all, then MCW is the place for you. For more information, please visit our institutional website.
MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination:
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.
SUMMARY
Perform the day-to-day administrative activities of the clinical research trials program. Provide support to the team to facilitate the achievement of the program’s goals.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Recruit, screen, enroll and obtain consent from program participants. Conduct or coordinate training for program participants.
- Coordinate research protocols including arranging necessary appointments and procedures, working collaboratively with other departments and institutions, and maintaining contact with study participants.
- Collect, analyze, and disseminate program data. Report program data and progress to program stakeholders.
- Identify problems or obstacles in the system/procedures related to implementation of the research protocols and communicate to the study investigators.
- Assure compliance with all relevant IRB and other regulatory agency requirements.
- Assist in the preparation of IRB documents and reports. Assist in the evaluation and writing of research protocols.
- Collaborate on the development of program materials including educational materials, marketing materials, websites, forms, and reports.
- Work with Principal Investigator to develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive databases and files related to the program.
- Maintain program timeline including tracking deadlines for program components.
- Coordinate program outreach activities including acting as a liaison with community organizations.
- Other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE – SKILLS – ABILITIES
- Knowledge of biology, chemistry, mathematics, documentation, and records management.
- Data utilization, complex problem solving, critical thinking, resource management, and writing skills.
QUALIFICATIONS
Appropriate experience may be substituted for education on an equivalent basis.
Minimum Required Education: Associate's Degree
Minimum Required Experience: 1 year
Required Certification/Licensure(s): CITI training within 90 days of hire
Physical Requirements
Work requires occasionally lifting moderate weight materials, standing, or walking continuously.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Occasional exposure to dust, noise, temperature changes, or contact with water or other liquids. Work is performed in an environmentally controlled environment.
SENSORY ACUITY
Ability to detect and translate speech or other communication required. May occasionally require the ability to distinguish colors and perceive relative distances between objects.
WHY MCW?
- Outstanding Healthcare Coverage, including but not limited to Health, Vision, and Dental. Along with Flexible Spending options
- 403B Retirement Package
- Competitive Vacation and Paid Holidays offered
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Paid Parental Leave
- Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
- Pet Insurance
- On campus Fitness Facility, offering onsite classes
- Additional discounted rates on items such as: Select cell phone plans, local fitness facilities, Milwaukee recreation and entertainment etc.
For a brief overview of our benefits see: Benefits Overview
For a full list of positions see: MCW Careers
At MCW all of our endeavors, from our internal operations to our interactions with our partners, are driven by our shared organizational values: Caring – Collaborative – Curiosity – Inclusive – Integrity – Respect. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives through merit-based processes and in alignment with all applicable laws. We believe that embracing human differences is critical to realize our vision of a healthier world, and we recognize that a healthy and thriving community starts from within. Our values define who we are, what we stand for and how we conduct ourselves at MCW. If you believe in embracing individuality and working together according to these principles to improve health for all, then MCW is the place for you. For more information, please visit our institutional website.
MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination:
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.
See all 25,904+ Research Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Research Manager roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Research Manager
Target research-heavy industries first
Biotech, pharmaceuticals, universities, and think tanks sponsor Research Managers at higher rates than generalist industries. These employers have established immigration processes and are accustomed to filing H-1B petitions for research-focused roles requiring advanced degrees.
Clarify your degree alignment early
H-1B eligibility requires your degree to directly relate to the research domain you'll manage. A public health degree supporting an epidemiology research role is a strong fit. A business degree for a clinical research role creates ambiguity USCIS will scrutinize.
Lead with research output in your application
Publications, grants managed, conference presentations, and research program outcomes are the credentials employers use to justify sponsorship. Quantify the scope of research you've overseen, including team size, budget managed, and measurable study outcomes.
Consider O-1A if you have exceptional credentials
Research Managers with peer-reviewed publications, major grant awards, editorial board roles, or invitations to review others' work may qualify for O-1A. This avoids the H-1B lottery entirely and can be filed at any time of year.
Confirm the employer has filed for research roles before
Ask whether the employer has previously sponsored H-1B workers in research or scientific roles. Employers with existing immigration counsel and a history of petitions for similar positions move significantly faster and with fewer complications than first-time sponsors.
Frame your role as requiring specialized knowledge
USCIS evaluates whether the position genuinely requires a specific degree, not just any bachelor's. Emphasize that the research domain, methodology, and oversight responsibilities demand disciplinary expertise, not general management skills transferable across industries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Research Manager role qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, Research Manager positions generally qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when the role requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field such as biology, public health, economics, or psychology. USCIS looks closely at whether the degree requirement is genuine and tied directly to the research domain, so job descriptions that list a specific field rather than any degree strengthen the petition considerably.
Which employers most commonly sponsor Research Managers?
Universities, research hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, federal contractors, and policy think tanks sponsor Research Managers most consistently. These organizations typically have in-house immigration counsel or established relationships with law firms. Biotech and pharma firms in particular file large volumes of H-1B petitions annually for research and scientific roles. You can browse currently sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate, filtered specifically for research-related positions.
Can a master's degree in a different but related field support an H-1B petition for this role?
It depends on how closely the degree relates to the research area you'll be managing. USCIS generally accepts adjacent fields if a logical connection exists, but the employer's petition must explain that connection clearly. A master's in biostatistics supporting a clinical research management role is defensible. A master's in marketing supporting a neuroscience research role would face rejection. Immigration counsel typically review degree-to-role fit before filing.
What are the H-1B approval rates for Research Manager petitions?
USCIS doesn't publish approval rates broken down by job title, but research and science occupations broadly see approval rates above 85% for initial petitions with clean documentation. Requests for Evidence are more common when the employer is filing for the first time or when the job description is vague about degree requirements. Well-documented petitions from experienced sponsors in academic or life sciences settings tend to clear without issue.
Could I qualify for an O-1A visa as a Research Manager instead of going through the H-1B lottery?
Possibly, if your career includes demonstrable recognition beyond typical professional achievement. O-1A requires meeting at least three of eight criteria, including published research, significant grants or prizes, peer review of others' work, or a high salary relative to peers. Research Managers with strong publication records or who have led nationally recognized studies are reasonable O-1A candidates. An immigration attorney can assess your profile against the specific criteria before you apply.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Research Manager 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.