Director of Research
- Set research direction and priorities with organisational leaders
- Design hiring and team structures for a stable research function
- Develop research leaders and represent user needs in organisational decisions
Director of Research
- Abilities
- 10
- Core
- 5
- Skills
- 26
What the role expects
Each ability shows how far this role takes it: from Understanding, to Achievement in real work, to Demonstration, where you help others.
People3 abilities · 7 skills
-
Coach researchersCoreDemonstration
Help other teams use effective people-development approaches and supporting materials. Mentor their leaders in developing their own teams, so support for growth extends beyond your direct reports.
3 skills · 2 practice tasks · your starting point in the app -
Hire researchers fairlyCoreDemonstration
Own research hiring and team organisation end to end, considering candidate experience and long-term fit, and coach others to select fairly.
4 skills · 2 practice tasks · your starting point in the app -
Lead research teamsCoreDemonstration
Own fair research team leadership, address obstacles and support other managers to leave room for researchers' judgement and growth.
4 skills · 2 practice tasks · your starting point in the app
Communication2 abilities · 4 skills
-
Align stakeholders on questionsCoreDemonstration
Own alignment on contested research requests and coach others to address difficult expectations without concealing limitations.
4 skills · 2 practice tasks · your starting point in the app -
Explain research decisionsElectiveDemonstration
Communicate changes across the wider business, making their impact on others' work clear. Help surrounding teams improve their communication so cross-team decisions and delivery remain aligned.
3 skills · 2 practice tasks · your starting point in the app
Insight1 ability · 4 skills
-
Bring user needs into decisionsCoreDemonstration
Own how user evidence informs decisions across teams and coach colleagues to challenge assumptions without overstating findings.
4 skills · 2 practice tasks · your starting point in the app
Collaboration2 abilities · 7 skills
-
Build inclusive relationshipsElectiveDemonstration
Help others uphold respectful, safe working practices and share effective approaches beyond the team, so a healthy working culture is sustained by more than one leader.
3 skills · 2 practice tasks · your starting point in the app -
Respect participants and peersElectiveDemonstration
Own constructive resolution of research disagreements and coach others to represent perspectives absent from a decision.
4 skills · 2 practice tasks · your starting point in the app
Delivery2 abilities · 4 skills
-
Adapt research to changeElectiveDemonstration
Own how research assumptions and plans are revisited and coach colleagues to adapt studies without moving the question to suit the results.
3 skills · 2 practice tasks · your starting point in the app -
Progress open questionsElectiveDemonstration
Own progress through ambiguous research work and coach others to balance investigation with realistic commitments.
3 skills · 2 practice tasks · your starting point in the app
Where it leads
See where you stand against Director of Research.
Confirm your starting point, see your exact gaps and find a mentor who’s done it. Join the pilot waitlist and we’ll be in touch as places open.