Director, Research

GoodRx; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 211,000 - 337,000; Full time

Job summary

GoodRx is seeking a Director, Research to lead our research function. You will set strategy, build a high-performing team, and personally lead key research projects from question to publication.

The role emphasizes health economics, drug pricing expertise, and the ability to translate complex findings for non-technical audiences.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in research/analytics/health economics or related field with Master’s; PhD preferred.
• 4+ years of people management and building high-performing teams.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. healthcare, prescription drug markets, or drug pricing.
• Proficiency with R/SQL/Python; ability to validate analytical work.

Responsibilities

• Set research strategy, roadmap, and prioritization for high-impact work.
• Lead and develop the Research team and establish KPIs and processes.
• Own high-priority projects end-to-end; frame questions, design methods, analyze data, publish findings.

Skills

Health economics

Drug pricing

Quantitative research

Data storytelling

Cross-functional collaboration

Written communication

Judgment and prioritization

Education

Master’s degree in economics/quantitative field

PhD preferred

Tools

R

SQL

Python

Excel

Looker/Tableau

Job description

GoodRx is the leading prescription savings platform in the U.S. Trusted by more than 25 million consumers and 750,000 healthcare professionals annually, GoodRx provides access to savings and affordability options for generic and brand-name medications at more than 70,000 pharmacies nationwide, as well as comprehensive healthcare research and information. Since 2011, GoodRx has helped consumers save nearly $75 billion on the cost of their prescriptions.

Our goal is to help Americans find convenient and affordable healthcare. We offer solutions for consumers, employers, health plans, and anyone else who shares our desire to provide affordable prescriptions to all Americans.

The GoodRx Research team combines internal and external data to uncover insights about medicine, drug pricing, and the U.S. healthcare system. We turn those insights into rigorous research, data-rich content, new products, and stories that help millions of people understand their medication options. Our work has been featured by leading media organizations and developed in collaboration with researchers at institutions including Stanford, Harvard, and Duke.

About The Role

GoodRx is seeking a Director, Research to lead our research function and team. This is a balanced player/coach role: you will set the function’s strategy and operating rhythm, develop and support a high-performing team, and personally lead important research projects from question definition through publication and impact measurement.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in health economics, drug pricing, and quantitative research; sound judgment about how to answer complex and ambiguous questions; and the ability to explain rigorous methods and nuanced findings clearly to non-technical audiences. You will partner with team leads across the company to identify the questions that matter most, translate company priorities into a focused research roadmap, and ensure that our work informs decisions across GoodRx and beyond.

Core Responsibilities

• Set the vision, strategy, and quarterly roadmap for the Research function, translating GoodRx priorities and external developments into a focused portfolio of high-impact work. This research will include both consumers as well as healthcare professionals.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Research team, including setting expectations, supporting performance and growth, and building the capabilities needed for the function’s next stage.
• Establish team goals, KPIs, and operating processes that make progress, quality, and impact visible to cross-functional partners and leaders across the company.
• Serve as a hands-on research leader by owning some high priority projects end-to-end, from framing the question and designing the methodology to analyzing data, communicating findings, and measuring impact.
• Apply health economics, statistical, and data science methods to investigate issues and trends in healthcare, medication access, and drug pricing.
• Use internal and external data sources to develop analyses, models, visualizations, and research products that are accurate, useful, and compelling.
• Define research scope, methods, and standards; make sound tradeoffs among rigor, speed, and relevance.
• Identify opportunities to improve existing datasets, partnering with cross-functional teams or with external vendors/partners.
• Translate complex findings into clear narratives, including articles, blog posts, recurring reports, white papers, briefings, and other content for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Partner effectively with PR, Editorial, Marketing, Government Affairs, Strategy, Sales, B2B Marketing, Product, and other teams to identify priority Research opportunities and extend impact.
• Advise senior leaders on research findings, implications, limitations, and recommended actions.
• Represent GoodRx externally with journalists, academic collaborators, industry stakeholders, and other audiences; build credibility through transparent methods and thoughtful communication.
• Manage the Research budget, vendors, contracts, and renewals, allocating resources to maximize the function’s impact.
• Help quantify GoodRx’s impact and relevance through credible research and clear measurement.

What Success Looks Like:

In your first year, you will:

• Establish a clear research strategy and roadmap aligned to GoodRx’s highest-priority questions.
• Build a consistent operating model for prioritization, quality review, delivery, and impact measurement.
• Deliver a portfolio of high-quality research that advances understanding of healthcare and drug pricing and earns trust with internal and external audiences.
• Strengthen the team through coaching, thoughtful hiring or capability building, and clear expectations.
• Increase the influence of research in business, product, communications, policy, and consumer-impact decisions.

Skills & Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in research, health economics, analytics, data science, or a closely related field with a Master’s degree, 8+ years with a Ph.D., or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Graduate training in economics, health economics, statistics, public health, data science, or another quantitative field; a Ph.D. is preferred.
• 4+ years of experience directly managing and developing people, with a track record of building high-performing teams.
• Strong knowledge of the U.S. healthcare system, prescription drug markets, medication access, or drug pricing.
• Proficiency with quantitative tools such as R, SQL, and/or Python, and the ability to complete and evaluate analytical work for methodological soundness.
• Demonstrated ability to turn complex data into credible insights, research products, and recommendations.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills, including the ability to explain research methods, assumptions, limitations, and conclusions to non-expert and non-technical audiences.
• Strong judgment about research design, prioritization, data quality, and the tradeoffs between speed and rigor.
• Experience creating clear and compelling data visualizations; proficiency with Excel is required, and experience with Looker, Tableau, or an equivalent tool is a plus.
• Strong cross-functional communication and stakeholder-management skills, including the ability to align diverse perspectives and influence without authority.
• Comfort representing research externally, or the willingness and ability to develop that skill.
• Curiosity, intellectual honesty, attention to detail, and a passion for using evidence to improve people’s health and financial outcomes.
• LA preferred; remote also considered.

Engineering teams are responsible for supporting appropriate security controls, including management, operational, and technical controls in addition to general GoodRx best practices, such as reading and adhering to the security policies and procedures, being vigilant and observant of potential security threats, etc.

At GoodRx, pay ranges are determined based on work locations and may vary based on where the successful candidate is hired. The pay ranges below are shown as a guideline, and the successful candidate’s starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and other relevant business and organizational factors. These pay zones may be modified in the future. GoodRx also offers additional compensation programs such as annual cash bonuses or commission, and annual equity grants for most positions as well as generous benefits. Our great benefits offerings include medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with a company match, an ESPP, unlimited vacation, 13 paid holidays, and 72 hours of sick leave. GoodRx also offers additional benefits like mental wellness and financial wellness programs, fertility benefits, generous parental leave, pet insurance, supplemental life insurance for you and your dependents, company-paid short-term and long-term disability, and more!

We’re committed to growing and empowering a more inclusive community within our company and industry. That’s why we hire and cultivate diverse teams of the best and brightest from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that true innovation happens when everyone has a seat at the table and the tools, resources, and opportunities to excel.

With that said, research shows that women and other underrepresented groups apply only if they meet 100% of the criteria. GoodRx is committed to leveling the playing field, and we encourage women, people of color, those in the LGBTQ+ communities, individuals with disabilities, and Veterans to apply for positions even if they don’t necessarily check every box outlined in the job description.

GoodRx is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities during our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please reach out to us at [e-mail].

We prioritize candidate safety. Please be aware that all official communication will only be sent from @goodrx.com or [e-mail] addresses.

GoodRx is America's healthcare marketplace. The company offers the most comprehensive and accurate resource for affordable prescription medications in the U.S., gathering pricing information from thousands of pharmacies coast to coast, as well as a tele-health marketplace for online doctor visits and lab tests. Since 2011, Americans with and without health insurance have saved $60 billion using GoodRx and million consumers visit goodrx.com each month to find discounts and information related to their healthcare. GoodRx is the #1 most downloaded medical app on the iOS and Android app stores. For more information, visit www.goodrx.com.

San Francisco And Seattle Offices

$253,000.00 - $404,000.00

New York Office

$232,000.00 - $371,000.00

Santa Monica Office

$211,000.00 - $337,000.00

Other Office Locations

$190,000.00 - $303,000.00