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 JobsAbout Our Company
We’re a diversified financial services leader with more than $1.5 trillion in assets under management, administration and advisement as of year-end 2024. Our team of 22,000 people across 19 countries serves more than 3.5 million individual, small business and institutional clients. We are a longstanding leader in financial planning and advice, a global asset manager and an insurer. Our unwavering focus on our clients and strong financial foundation connects each of our unique businesses – Ameriprise Financial, Columbia Threadneedle Investments and RiverSource Insurance and Annuities. Here, we foster meaningful careers, invest in the future, and make a difference for clients, institutions and communities around the world.
Job Description
The Vice President, Equity Research position will lead and evolve the equity research function supporting Wealth Management Solutions and the Investment Research Group. The role sets research standards, manages analyst coverage, develops research talent, and ensures research output directly supports portfolio construction, security selection, monitoring, model changes, and advisor-facing communication. In this highly visible leadership role, you will shape research strategy, develop a high-performing team of analysts, and ensure investment insights directly influence portfolio construction, security selection, and advisor guidance. You will play a critical role helping build scalable research capabilities that support growth, investment excellence, and client outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, coach, and develop the equity research team, establishing clear expectations for research quality, coverage responsibilities, performance, and professional growth.
- Define and oversee research methodologies, standards, and quality controls across investment recommendations, financial models, valuation frameworks, and written research publications.
- Direct equity coverage strategy, including sector assignments, analyst onboarding, succession planning, and continuity of coverage during the transition to the new portfolio management structure.
- Partner closely with portfolio managers and cross-functional stakeholders to align research priorities with portfolio construction, governance, compliance, product, and advisor engagement needs.
- Lead recruiting, onboarding, and talent pipeline efforts to build a scalable research organization capable of supporting future business growth.
- Oversee advisor-facing research content, market commentary, webinars, and investment communications to ensure consistency, relevance, and regulatory alignment.
Qualifications
- 12+ years of equity research experience, including expertise in fundamental analysis, financial modeling, valuation, and investment thesis development, with 5+ years leading research analysts or investment professionals.
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Business, or a related field; Master of Business Administration, Chartered Financial Analyst designation, or advanced degree preferred.
- Series 86/87, 65, 66, or other applicable licensing/registration, or ability to obtain required licenses within an established timeframe.
- Experience within asset management, investment advisory, separately managed account, institutional investment, or equity research environments; experience supporting portfolio implementation structures is preferred.
- Strong ability to scale research processes, establish governance standards, and drive high-quality investment decision support across a growing platform.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders, portfolio managers, advisors, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Base Pay Salary
The estimated base salary for this role is $196,700 – $270,000 per year. We have a pay-for-performance compensation philosophy. Your initial total compensation may vary based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographical work location. In addition, most of our roles are eligible for variable pay in the form of bonus, commissions, and/or long-term incentives depending on the role. We also have a competitive and comprehensive benefits program that supports all aspects of your health and well-being, including but not limited to vacation time, sick time, 401(k), and health, dental and life insurances.
Full-Time/Part-Time
Full time
Exempt/Non-Exempt
Exempt
Job Family Group
Business Support & Operations
Line of Business
FPPS Wealth Management Solutions
Ameriprise Financial is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, military status, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship, disability status, marital status, family status or any other basis prohibited by law.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, speak to your recruiter to discuss how we can support you.
About Our Company
We’re a diversified financial services leader with more than $1.5 trillion in assets under management, administration and advisement as of year-end 2024. Our team of 22,000 people across 19 countries serves more than 3.5 million individual, small business and institutional clients. We are a longstanding leader in financial planning and advice, a global asset manager and an insurer. Our unwavering focus on our clients and strong financial foundation connects each of our unique businesses – Ameriprise Financial, Columbia Threadneedle Investments and RiverSource Insurance and Annuities. Here, we foster meaningful careers, invest in the future, and make a difference for clients, institutions and communities around the world.
Job Description
The Vice President, Equity Research position will lead and evolve the equity research function supporting Wealth Management Solutions and the Investment Research Group. The role sets research standards, manages analyst coverage, develops research talent, and ensures research output directly supports portfolio construction, security selection, monitoring, model changes, and advisor-facing communication. In this highly visible leadership role, you will shape research strategy, develop a high-performing team of analysts, and ensure investment insights directly influence portfolio construction, security selection, and advisor guidance. You will play a critical role helping build scalable research capabilities that support growth, investment excellence, and client outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, coach, and develop the equity research team, establishing clear expectations for research quality, coverage responsibilities, performance, and professional growth.
- Define and oversee research methodologies, standards, and quality controls across investment recommendations, financial models, valuation frameworks, and written research publications.
- Direct equity coverage strategy, including sector assignments, analyst onboarding, succession planning, and continuity of coverage during the transition to the new portfolio management structure.
- Partner closely with portfolio managers and cross-functional stakeholders to align research priorities with portfolio construction, governance, compliance, product, and advisor engagement needs.
- Lead recruiting, onboarding, and talent pipeline efforts to build a scalable research organization capable of supporting future business growth.
- Oversee advisor-facing research content, market commentary, webinars, and investment communications to ensure consistency, relevance, and regulatory alignment.
Qualifications
- 12+ years of equity research experience, including expertise in fundamental analysis, financial modeling, valuation, and investment thesis development, with 5+ years leading research analysts or investment professionals.
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Business, or a related field; Master of Business Administration, Chartered Financial Analyst designation, or advanced degree preferred.
- Series 86/87, 65, 66, or other applicable licensing/registration, or ability to obtain required licenses within an established timeframe.
- Experience within asset management, investment advisory, separately managed account, institutional investment, or equity research environments; experience supporting portfolio implementation structures is preferred.
- Strong ability to scale research processes, establish governance standards, and drive high-quality investment decision support across a growing platform.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders, portfolio managers, advisors, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Base Pay Salary
The estimated base salary for this role is $196,700 – $270,000 per year. We have a pay-for-performance compensation philosophy. Your initial total compensation may vary based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographical work location. In addition, most of our roles are eligible for variable pay in the form of bonus, commissions, and/or long-term incentives depending on the role. We also have a competitive and comprehensive benefits program that supports all aspects of your health and well-being, including but not limited to vacation time, sick time, 401(k), and health, dental and life insurances.
Full-Time/Part-Time
Full time
Exempt/Non-Exempt
Exempt
Job Family Group
Business Support & Operations
Line of Business
FPPS Wealth Management Solutions
Ameriprise Financial is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, military status, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship, disability status, marital status, family status or any other basis prohibited by law.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, speak to your recruiter to discuss how we can support you.
See all 29,386+ 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.