Director, Research

Plexus-Worldwide; Scottsdale (AZ); On-site; USD 190,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive medical plans

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Plexus Worldwide, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, seeks a Director of Research to lead clinical studies, substantiation, and publications. You will translate product priorities into a research roadmap, oversee human studies to protocol, and develop education for Brand Ambassadors and staff.

Your leadership will shape evidence-informed product strategy, manage external partnerships, and build a publication pipeline that supports regulatory and commercial goals across markets.

Qualifications

• PhD in a life science field; postdoctoral experience or clinical credential preferred.
• Extensive experience designing and leading human clinical studies.
• Strong understanding of DSHEA, FTC substantiation, and regulatory needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical research and substantiation across products and claims.
• Direct scientific education and training for Brand Ambassadors and staff.
• Manage partnerships with CROs and academic institutions.
• Build and maintain a robust publication pipeline and external communications.
• Oversee study designs, timelines, budgets, and regulatory reviews.

Skills

Scientific leadership

Clinical research

Team management

Contract research orgs

Regulatory knowledge

Publication planning

Strategic roadmap

Stakeholder communication

Data management

Budget management

Education

PhD in Nutritional Sciences / Microbiology / Physiology / Food Science / Biochemistry

Job description

Lead the science behind Plexus products and the education that brings it to life. The Director, Research owns clinical research, scientific substantiation, publications, external research partnerships, and product training. This leader turns product and claim priorities into a practical research roadmap, designs and delivers human studies, and ensures Plexus can clearly explain the evidence supporting its products.

Working closely with Product Development, Product Marketing, Sales, Regulatory, and Legal, you will lead the Research Scientist and Product Training team, guide contract research organizations and academic partners, support the Scientific Advisory Board, and represent Research to executive leadership. You will take ownership of the committed 2027 study slate while building processes that make research findings, claim decisions, and training materials accurate, traceable, and useful across markets.

Employee Value Proposition

This is an opportunity to shape an established company’s research program from study design through publication and product education. You will have direct influence over research priorities, external partnerships, scientific standards, and how Plexus communicates its science to Brand Ambassadors, employees, and other audiences. Your work will help build the evidence base for current products and inform future innovation.

Key Performance Objectives

• Deliver the clinical research program. Establish clear ownership of the committed 2027 study slate, align study designs with product and claim priorities, and deliver studies to protocol, schedule, and approved budget.
• Build a forward-looking research roadmap. Identify evidence gaps across current and future product lines, prioritize studies and material needs, and recommend investments using the approved ROI framework.
• Strengthen scientific substantiation. Maintain claim dossiers tied to supporting evidence and formula versions, and provide Regulatory, Legal, and Product Marketing with clear guidance on what the evidence supports.
• Raise the standard of product education. Set a scientific curriculum for Brand Ambassadors and employees, review field-facing materials and training content, and keep education aligned with current science and approved claims.
• Build an effective research function. Develop the team, improve research and documentation processes, strengthen external partnerships, and establish a publication pipeline that shares credible findings.

Performance Accountabilities

Lead clinical research and scientific substantiation

• Plan, design, and oversee human clinical studies, including protocols, endpoints, research partners, timelines, budgets, data analysis, and reporting.
• Translate product priorities into a sequenced research plan that supports existing claims and future product development.
• Build and maintain substantiation dossiers that connect claims to evidence and the applicable product formula version.
• Partner with Regulatory and Legal to review claims for the United States and international markets, identify evidence gaps, and recommend additional research.
• Evaluate evidence presented by ingredient suppliers and other partners, distinguishing substantiated findings from marketing claims.

Direct scientific education and communication

• Lead the Product Training function and set the scientific curriculum for Brand Ambassador and employee product education.
• Serve as the scientific reviewer of record for product training, field-facing scientific materials, and Product Marketing claim language.
• Partner with Sales and Field Development to deliver clear, accurate education that reflects current research and approved claims.
• Communicate research findings and limitations to executive leaders, the Scientific Advisory Board, and external scientific audiences.

Manage partnerships, publications, and intellectual property

• Serve as technical owner of relationships with contract research organizations, academic institutions, and specialized research platforms, including scopes of work, performance, data ownership, and intellectual property terms.
• Support the VP, Product Innovation in preparing Scientific Advisory Board briefings, incorporating advisor input into study design, and following through on recommendations.
• Build a publication pipeline that includes peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference abstracts, and white papers; represent Plexus at relevant scientific and industry events.
• Identify findings with intellectual property potential and work with Legal to protect the company’s rights in study designs, data, and research agreements.

Build team capability and research discipline

• Lead, coach, and develop the Research Scientist and Product Training team, setting expectations, development plans, and scientific standards.
• Establish documentation, data management, and record-keeping practices that make studies, findings, and substantiation decisions traceable and audit ready.
• Manage research and training budgets, departmental procedures, and competing priorities across studies and product launches.
• Monitor emerging science in gut health, the microbiome, metabolic health, and personalized nutrition; bring relevant opportunities and risks into product roadmap and stage-gate discussions.
• Work occasional evenings, weekends, or holidays as business needs require.

Performance Qualifications

• Education: PhD in Nutritional Sciences, Microbiology, Physiology, Food Science, Biochemistry, or a related life science field. Postdoctoral research experience or an additional clinical credential, such as MD or RD, is preferred.
• Research experience: At least eight years of research experience in dietary supplements, functional foods, or consumer health, including four years designing and leading human clinical studies on the sponsor side. Ten years in dietary supplement research, a record of peer-reviewed publications, and a focus on gut, microbiome, or digestive health are preferred.
• People leadership: At least three years leading scientists or scientific staff, with demonstrated ability to develop a team and maintain high scientific standards. Five years of leadership experience is preferred.
• Clinical research expertise: Strong command of study design, endpoint selection, sample size and power, randomization and blinding, IRB submission, protocol writing, statistical analysis planning, and interpretation of results. Experience managing contract research organizations and academic partners is preferred.
• Claims and regulatory knowledge: Working knowledge of DSHEA, FTC substantiation standards, and evidence requirements for U.S. structure/function claims. Familiarity with FSANZ, EFSA, or Health Canada frameworks is preferred.
• Scientific communication: Ability to write for publication and present complex findings clearly to executives, Brand Ambassadors, advisors, and external researchers, including an accurate account of the evidence’s limitations.
• Business and operational judgment: Experience managing research budgets, timelines, contracts, and multiple concurrent studies in alignment with commercial product plans.
• Scientific focus: Deep understanding of gut microbiome science, short-chain fatty acid biology, and metabolic health, with a strong commitment to scientific integrity.
• Preferred credentials and industry experience: Clinical research professional certification through ACRP or SOCRA, or equivalent Good Clinical Practice training; direct selling or direct-to-consumer experience.

About Plexus

Founded in gut health. Experts in microbiome. Plexus Worldwide®, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a renowned direct-selling company recognized as a top employer. Over the past 18 years, Plexus has dedicated itself to promoting hope, health, and happiness through its scientifically backed, innovative dietary supplements, weight management products, and personal care products, sold primarily through Plexus Brand Ambassadors. As a six-time Best Places to Work awardee, Blue Zone-approved employer, and an AZ Most Admired Company, Plexus prides itself on its robust organizational culture and commitment to community support and philanthropy. Our team is driven by a shared mission to empower individuals to achieve their health and wellness goals while offering additional income through the sale of products. Join us to be part of a team that values people, innovation, wellness, and community impact.

• Highly rated and competitive medical plans.
• 401 (k) with company match and immediate vesting.

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