Research and development manager
Also known as: market research manager, researcher, research and development supervisor, research and development associate, research and development director, product research development manager
About this occupation
Research and development managers coordinate the efforts of scientists, academical researchers, product developers, and market researchers towards the creation of new products, the improvement of current ones or other research activities, including scientific research. They manage and plan research and development activities of an organisation, specify goals and budget requirements and manage the staff.
Essential skills and knowledge
- intellectual property law
- represent the organisation
- analyse business objectives
- innovation processes
- market research
- manage budgets
- marketing principles
- project management
- perform market research
- seek innovation in current practices
- analyse external factors of companies
- analyse internal factors of companies
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Natural Sciences Managers (O*NET 11-9121.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
- Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
- Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
- Review project activities and prepare and review research, testing, or operational reports.
- Confer with scientists, engineers, regulators, or others to plan or review projects or to provide technical assistance.
- Develop client relationships and communicate with clients to explain proposals, present research findings, establish specifications, or discuss project status.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Investigative, Enterprising, Conventional
Top skills: Science, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Writing
US median pay: US$167,220 a year (2025), 108,690 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- BiologyO*NET: BiologyVery important (4.0)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.0)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (3.8)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (3.7)
- ChemistryO*NET: ChemistryVery important (3.5)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.5)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
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O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.