How To Become A Manager, Research Projects: What It Is and Career Path

What is a manager, research projects and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Heather Tanner Ph.D.

Research project managers are responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing assigned research projects. They may also need to lead the research team to complete projects within allotted timelines and budgets, develop and enforce research policies and procedures, address project issues, and escalate complex issues to management.

A bachelor's degree is generally required to qualify for a research project management position. Many employers prefer candidates with advanced academic degrees, such as master's in business administration (MBA), master's in Science, or doctorate in philosophy (Ph.D.).

Research and development project managers in the United States make an average salary of $98,000 per year or $47.12 per hour. They can make more if they work for media industries or engineering or tech companies. If they diligently perform day-to-day management of the project team and promptly address any team issues, they may be in for a raise.

What general advice would you give to a manager, research projects?

Heather Tanner Ph.D.

Associate Professor, The Ohio State University

Most entry-level jobs have lots of boring elements, which is frustrating when you can't wait to jump in and tackle exciting challenges. However, it would help if you showed your immediate supervisor and the company/institution that you are a good team member, capable, and willing to take on tasks (challenging and boring). Routinely ask your supervisor for new jobs or projects to expand your skillset and knowledge of the company/institution. It would help if you also manage your expectations about how quickly you'll be promoted; it can be frustratingly slow. Finally, it's essential to recognize that you need to manage your reputation - this is a workplace where you need to be perceived as a responsible and competent professional. Therefore, only share information about your personal life and leisure time as if talking to your grandparents.

ScoreManager, Research ProjectsUS Average

Salary

5.5

Avg. Salary $70,818

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.9

Growth rate 19%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.13%

Asian 13.91%

Black or African American 4.69%

Hispanic or Latino 11.16%

Unknown 4.88%

White 65.23%

Gender

female 54.29%

male 45.71%

Age - 34

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 34

Stress level

4.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a manager, research projects

Explore manager, research projects education requirements

Most common manager, research projects degrees

Bachelor's

66.9 %

Master's

22.2 %

Doctorate

5.8 %

Start to develop specific manager, research projects skills

Skills	Percentages
Project Management	11.34%
Data Collection	9.67%
Patients	8.37%
IRB	7.40%
Public Health	5.21%

Complete relevant manager, research projects training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New managers, research projects learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a manager, research projects based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real manager, research projects resumes.

Research manager, research projects duties and responsibilities

Manage compliance issues with IRB, radiation safety, quality assurance, JCAOH, state and federal regulatory agencies.
Lead social path-to-purchase study, incorporating social media analytics into insight community to identify spectrum of social engagement among customers.
Analyze nutrition data using SPSS software.
Develop SPSS framework to enter / clean data.

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