Director of Research

The AI Business Solutions (ABS) team is looking for a Director of Research to help drive future of work thought leadership and marketing communications. This is a unique opportunity to help every person and every organization evolve with a rapidly changing world and not get left behind as Artificial Intelligence (AI) reshapes every aspect of work and business. 

The Director of Research plays a critical role in our research team, responsible for driving day-to-day execution of research projects and ensuring methodological rigor. The Senior Researcher will develop detailed research plans, conduct primary research activities, coordinate with cross-functional partners (including academic and customer stakeholders), and uphold high standards in documentation, analysis, and ethical compliance.

The ideal candidate is an experienced researcher with impactful qualitative and quantitative skills, effective organizational abilities, and a passion for translating complex findings into practical insights. This role provides an exciting opportunity to work at the cutting edge of organizational research, shaping how companies adopt new technologies and ways of working, in partnership with world-class academic researchers and industry leaders.

The Director of Research will be a driving force in transforming rigorous research findings into real-world impact within our organization and for our customers.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

Responsibilities

Research Planning & Documentation: Draft detailed research plans outlining objectives, hypotheses, methodologies, and timelines.

Day-to-Day Research Execution: Oversee the daily progress of research activities to meet project milestones. Serve as a key partner to external collaborators in refining experiment designs and protocols.

Experiment Design & Support: Work closely with the Lead Researcher, Lead Data Scientist and external partners to design rigorous experiments. Contribute to developing and setting up research protocols (e.g., defining control vs. treatment groups, randomization schemes, measurement metrics) that align with business needs and scientific standards.

Primary Research Activities: Carry out core research tasks, including literature reviews, qualitative and quantitative research, hypothesis generation and pattern analysis.

Customer Research Engagement: Support and lead conversations with customer participants involved in the research.

Experiment Materials Creation: Develop all supporting materials required for experiments and for sharing insights with stakeholders. Tailor communication of complex experimental concepts into understandable content for non-research audiences (e.g., customer sponsors or executives).

Blueprint Co-Design: Collaborate in co-designing “blueprint” materials that translate research outcomes into practical frameworks or recommendations.

Data Science Peer Review: Act as a peer reviewer and thought partner to the team’s Lead Data Scientist. Review data collection plans, analysis code, and preliminary results to ensure accuracy and validity. Provide feedback on statistical methods, suggest improvements or alternative analyses, and help interpret data outcomes in the context of the research questions.

Privacy & Legal Compliance: Lead the preparation of materials and discussions needed for research protocol sign-off with Privacy and Legal teams. This includes ensuring all research activities comply with data privacy regulations and ethical standards. Draft research protocols that detail how data will be collected, used, stored, and protected. Coordinate Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications or internal ethics reviews if required. Work with Microsoft privacy/legal stakeholders to address any concerns and secure necessary approvals before research deployment. Maintain participant confidentiality and data security throughout the project.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as a liaison between the research team and other stakeholders (e.g., program managers, product teams, or leadership). Provide regular updates on research progress, preliminary insights, and final results. Incorporate feedback from various perspectives while maintaining research integrity. Help integrate research findings into broader project deliverables and strategic decisions.

Embody our culture and values.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years experience in data science, research, marketing or business-related roles
• 5+ years of hands-on research experience including designing and executing complex research projects from start to finish.
• OR Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, Social Sciences, Statistics, or related field AND 6+ years experience in data science, research, marketing or business-related roles
• OR Master's Degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, Social Sciences, Statistics, or related field AND 4+ years experience in data science, research, marketing or business-related roles.

Additional or preferred qualifications

• 9+ years experience in data science, research, marketing or business-related roles
• 3+ years project management experience.
• 4+ years experience working with decision makers to define need and scope research to answer questions.
• 4+ years creating content that conveys a simple, clear message.
• 7+ years of hands-on research experience including designing and executing complex research projects from start to finish, preferably within a marketing organization.
• Background in behavioral research, social science experiments, user experience research, or market research.
• Experience with qualitative data analysis software (such as NVivo, Dedoose or similar) or willingness to learn, for coding and analyzing interview transcripts and notes.
• Familiarity with quantitative analysis or statistical software (such as SPSS, R, Python/Pandas, or Excel’s advanced functions). While the role is not primarily a data scientist, the ability to run or understand basic statistical analyses and to interpret data outputs is important.
• Experience with survey tools (e.g., Microsoft Forms, Qualtrics) to design and analyze surveys.
• Proficient understanding of research ethics and privacy requirements. Knowledge of GDPR and data protection principles in research, as well as experience preparing IRB submissions or following informed consent procedures. Track record of respecting confidentiality and handling sensitive data responsibly.
• Comfortable working with advanced AI tools, such as Copilot for M365, to carry out AI-empowered research processes.
• OR Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, Social Sciences, Statistics, or related field AND 8+ years experience in data science, research, marketing or business-related roles
• OR Master's Degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, Social Sciences, Statistics, or related field AND 7+ years experience in data science, research, marketing or business-related roles
• OR Doctorate in Business, Marketing, Economics, Social Sciences, Statistics, or related field AND 5+ years experience in data science, research, marketing or business-related roles.

Market Research IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $130,900 - $251,900 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $165,600 - $272,300 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.

Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until October 16th, 2025.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.