Director, Research

The Role 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. <span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"