Research Director

Dartmouth College; Hanover (NH); On-site; USD 88,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Polarization Research Lab at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH seeks a Research Director to lead research programs, mentor postdocs and predocs, and ensure scientific and operational excellence. The role oversees study design, data collection, and quantitative analysis, with emphasis on rigorous, timely outputs.

We value strong writing, collaboration, and experience managing large, grant-funded projects. This is a 12-month term, 40 hours per week, onsite position in Hanover.

Qualifications

• PhD in Political Science, Economics, Statistics, or Computer Science.
• Advanced statistical and AI skills; substantial coding experience.
• 5+ years of research management experience and leading complex projects.
• Strong writing, with peer‑reviewed publications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Polarization Research Lab’s research programs and portfolio, ensuring scientific quality and staff development.
• Develop research questions and study designs; oversee data collection and analysis.
• Design survey instruments; supervise data collection and checking of code; ensure rigor in analyses.
• Publish findings in peer‑reviewed journals, reports, and public summaries; mentor postdocs and predocs.

Skills

Advanced statistical and AI skills

Coding experience

Strong writing ability

Research management experience

Mentoring / collaboration

Education

PhD in Political Science, Economics, Statistics, or CS

3–5 years' experience or equivalent

Job description

Position Details

Position Information

Posting date

11/09/2026

Open Until Filled

Yes

Position Number

1129696

Position Title

Research Director

Hiring Range Minimum

$87,700

Hiring Range Maximum

$109,600

Union Type

Not a Union Position

SEIU Level

Not an SEIU Position

FLSA Status

Exempt

Employment Category

Regular Full Time w/end date

Scheduled Months per Year

12

Scheduled Hours per Week

40

Location of Position

Hanover, NH

Remote Work Eligibility?

Onsite only

Is this a term position?

Yes

If yes, length of term in months.

12

Is this a grant funded position?

Yes

Position Purpose

The Research Director manages the lab’s research programs function, providing professional leadership for research operations, staff development, and scientific excellence. This person will oversee the lab’s research pipeline from developing new research projects and survey instruments through data analysis and writing, and will manage and mentor our postdoctoral and predoctoral researchers, ensuring the team runs smoothly and produces rigorous, timely work. We’re looking for a strong quantitative researcher, a clear writer, and a good collaborator.

Description

The Polarization Research Lab ( PRL ), led by Associate Professor of Government Sean Westwood, is seeking a Research Director. PRL is a cross-university social science research lab founded in 2022. Our work examines democratic attitudes, political trust, elite rhetoric, and governance. We combine rigorous survey research, experimental methods, and public engagement to produce findings that inform scholars, policymakers, journalists, and the public.

The Research Director manages the lab’s research programs function, providing professional leadership for research operations, staff development, and scientific excellence. This person will oversee the lab’s research pipeline from developing new research projects and survey instruments through data analysis and writing, and will manage and mentor our postdoctoral and predoctoral researchers, ensuring the team runs smoothly and produces rigorous, timely work.

We’re looking for a strong quantitative researcher, a clear writer, and a good collaborator.

Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp

PhD plus 3-5 years' experience or equivalent combination of education and experience

Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Ph.D. required, in Political Science, Economics, Statistics, or Computer Science.
• Advanced statistical and AI skills; substantial experience with writing code.
• Strong writing experience, with a preference for a track record of peer-reviewed journal articles.
• 5+ years of research management experience, including managing complex research projects.
• A collaborative, team-oriented approach, with the ability to support and mentor junior researchers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing research programs at a major research university.
• Experience managing or mentoring postdocs or predocs.
• Experience with large-scale surveys or panel studies.
• Experience with research budgets, grant compliance, and sponsor reporting.
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications.

Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries

Sean Westwood

Department Contact Phone Number

[e-mail]

Department Contact for Cover Letter and Title

Sean Westwood, Associate Professor of Government

Department Contact's Phone Number

[e-mail]

Equal Opportunity Employer

Dartmouth College is an equal opportunity employer under federal law. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Applications are welcome from all.

Background Check

Employment in this position is contingent upon consent to and successful completion of a pre-employment background check, which may include a criminal background check, reference checks, verification of work history, conduct review, and verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, with results acceptable to Dartmouth College. A criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

Special Instructions to Applicants

This position is funded by a grant. Continuation is based upon available funds.

This position is a 12-month term position.

Dartmouth College has a Tobacco-Free Policy. Smoking and the use of tobacco-based products (including smokeless tobacco) are prohibited in all facilities, grounds, vehicles or other areas owned, operated or occupied by Dartmouth College with no exceptions. For details, please see our policy. https://policies.dartmouth.edu/policy/tobacco-free-policy

Additional Instructions

Applicants will be asked to respond to three supplemental questions regarding years of direct experience, indirect experience, and people management experience. Responses will be reviewed alongside application materials. Your response will be cross-referenced with your application materials to verify accuracy and, for finalists, to inform salary placement.

Please ensure your resume and work history clearly reflect the full scope of your work, including position titles, employment dates, responsibilities, and supervisory duties. Incomplete or inconsistent information may affect how your experience is evaluated.

Key Accountabilities

Description

Manage the Polarization Research Lab’s research programs and project portfolio, overseeing research operations, scientific quality, and staff development across the lab’s work on democratic attitudes, political trust, elite rhetoric, and governance.

• Develop research questions and study designs.
• Design survey instruments and oversee data collection, ensuring methodological rigor.
• Conduct and oversee quantitative analysis of survey and experimental data, including writing and checking code.
• Write up findings for peer-reviewed publications, reports, and public-facing summaries.

Percentage Of Time

40%

Description

Develop and implement the lab’s research operational standards, compliance frameworks, and research support service models, including survey and experimental protocols, human subjects (IRB) compliance, data management and security, and reproducibility practices.

Percentage Of Time

20%

Description

Manage the lab’s research program budgets, grant compliance, and sponsor reporting, including contributing to grant proposals and funder reports.

Percentage Of Time

20%

Description

Lead professional development for the lab’s postdoctoral and predoctoral researchers and undergraduate RAs, foster a collaborative, supportive team culture while ensuring deadlines are met, and contribute to the lab’s research strategic plan.

Percentage Of Time

20%

Demonstrates professionalism and collegiality through actions, interactions, and communications with others appropriate to an environment that is welcoming to all.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Supplemental Questions

1. * How many years of indirect experience do you have in related or transferable work that supports this role? Please briefly describe this indirect experience, including specific positions held and the number of years of indirect experience acquired while in these roles.

   (Open Ended Question)

2. * How many years of formal supervisory experience do you have, including direct responsibility for staff (e.g., hiring, performance management, terminations)? Please briefly describe your people management experience, including the positions held, number of direct reports, and the number of years of people management experience acquired while in these roles.

   (Open Ended Question)

3. * How many years of direct experience do you have in work closely aligned with the key accountabilities of this role? Please briefly describe your direct experience, including specific positions held and the number of years of direct experience acquired while in these roles.

   (Open Ended Question)

4. * How did you learn about this employment opportunity?

   • Current Dartmouth employee (Please specify full name below)
   • Word of mouth
   • Mentioned on social, digital, or print media (e.g. LinkedIn feed, VOX, Valley News, listserv)
   • [e-mail] email outreach (includes Job Alert notifications, marketing emails from Talent Acquisition)
   • Recruiter (Please specify full name or event below)
   • abilityJOBS
   • Chronicle of Higher Education
   • Glassdoor
   • Handshake
   • HigherEdJobs
   • HigherEdMilitary
   • Indeed
   • Inside Higher Ed
   • LinkedIn’s Job Board
   • Recruit Military
   • Dartmouth’s Job Board (searchjobs.dartmouth.edu)
   • Other (Please specify below)

5. If you would like to add more information to your answer, please specify here:

   (Open Ended Question)

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents

1. Additional Document #1