Associate Director, People Research (Boston, MA)

Vertex Pharmaceuticals • Boston, MA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a visionary People Research Associate Director to lead the design and execution of high-impact research initiatives that shape workforce strategy and elevate organizational effectiveness. This role demands deep expertise in experimental methods, program evaluation, and storytelling with data. The People Research Associate Director will hold a PhD in a relevant field and bring a strong track record of translating complex research into actionable insights for senior leadership.

Requirements

• PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Behavioral Economics, Sociology, or a related field is required.
• 8–10 years of experience in HR analytics, workforce research, or organizational development.
• Knowledge of the latest trends and best practices in people research.
• Experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., R, Python, SPSS, SAS) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
• Familiarity with HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday) and data governance frameworks.
• Exceptional analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to distill complex concepts into simple, impactful messages.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage, prioritize and lead numerous projects simultaneously
• Excellent communication skills (to technical and non-technical audiences) and thought leadership experience
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong cross-functional partnerships and maintain a sound sense of purpose and direction in a changing organization
• Deep understanding of data mining, machine learning, data modeling and ONA
• Experience with visualization tools and statistical packages (SAS, R, Tableau, PowerBI) and SQL
• Ability to travel up to 25%

Responsibilities

• Lead End-to-End Research Design Architect and execute research studies to evaluate the effectiveness of HR programs, policies, and interventions.
• Plan, design and conduct experiments to understand employee sentiment, behaviors and motivation
• Drive Evidence-Based Decision Making Translate research findings into actionable insights that inform strategic decisions across HR and business units.
• Influence policy and program design through data-driven recommendations grounded in behavioral science and organizational psychology.
• Collaboration: Partner with cross-functional teams, including People Business Partners, to provide evidence-based consultation and support decision-making.
• Knowledge Management: Stay current with the latest developments in people science, research methods, and relevant technologies to ensure the rigor of the work.
• Foster a Culture of Inquiry Serve as a thought leader and internal consultant on research methodology, experimental design, and causal inference.
• Mentor analysts and HR partners in research best practices, elevating the organization’s analytical maturity
• Strategic Analytics & Reporting This role will also serve as a strategic partner in translating data into workforce insights:
• Workforce Planning & Predictive Modeling Develop and maintain predictive models to forecast headcount, attrition risk, internal mobility, and talent pipeline health.
• Collaborate with workforce planning teams to align modeling outputs with business strategy.
• Integrated Reporting Ecosystem Design and deliver dashboards, scorecards, and executive-level reports that synthesize data from HRIS, survey platforms, and external benchmarks.
• Ensure reporting is timely, accurate, and tailored to stakeholder needs.
• Data Storytelling & Executive Communication Distill complex analytical findings into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with senior leaders.
• Use visualization tools and storytelling techniques to make data accessible and actionable.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with HRBPs, Talent COEs, Finance, and Strategy teams to embed analytics into decision-making processes.
• Act as a bridge between technical teams and business leaders to ensure insights are understood and applied.
• Governance & Data Integrity Champion data quality, privacy, and ethical use of employee data.
• Collaborate with HR Technology and Compliance teams to uphold governance standards and ensure responsible analytics practices.

Benefits

• This role is eligible for an annual bonus and annual equity awards.
• medical, dental and vision benefits
• generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter)
• educational assistance programs including student loan repayment
• a generous commuting subsidy
• matching charitable donations
• 401(k)
• inclusive market-leading benefits to meet our employees wherever they are in their career, financial, family and wellbeing journey while providing flexibility and resources to support their growth and aspirations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees