How to hire a research and development director

How to hire a research and development director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step research and development director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a research and development director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new research and development director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a research and development director do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The research and development director hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A research and development director's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, research and development directors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents research and development director salaries for various positions.

   Type of Research And Development Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Research And Development Director	Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.	$45-96
   Engineering Operations Manager	Engineering Operations Managers are responsible for managing mechanical or electrical repair and maintenance activities. Their duties include supervising the facility's daily operations, directing engineers, contractors, and subcontractors in executing a project, forecasting maintenance, and operation costs, preparing an annual budget, and leading strategic sourcing initiatives... Show more	$45-76
   Engineering Program Manager	As an engineering program manager in the world of technology, it is their main responsibility to lead the development of important modules of new technology such as display, camera, touch ID, etc. It is their job to ensure that modules are correctly built according to specifications and given timeline... Show more	$45-75

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • R
   • Product Development
   • Project Management
   • FDA
   • Oversight
   • Business Development
   • Direct Reports
   • Strategic Direction
   • Due Diligence
   • Intellectual Property
   • Clinical Trials
   • C++
   • Development Projects
   • Pharmaceutical Industry

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead company through the UL mark validation.
   • Manage all UL, CSA, VDE and CUL safety agency approvals for new and existing products.
   • Manage a team of 20 developers, database architects, QA and process managers in two divisions.
   • Manage software application implementation for time reporting/project-costing system to aid in understanding project spending and improve portfolio prioritization and execution.
   • Prepare ISO documents and procedures to obtain ISO-9001 certification.
   • Prepare documentation for technical files require for ISO 13485 and CE marking.

   More research and development director duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the research and development director job description is a good way to get more applicants. A research and development director salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a research and development director in Kansas may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level research and development director. Additionally, a research and development director with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average research and development director salary

   $137,944yearly

   $66.32 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level research and development director salary

   $94,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average research and development director salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$165,556	$80
   2	Connecticut	$149,129	$72
   3	Virginia	$147,967	$71
   4	Massachusetts	$146,434	$70
   5	New York	$145,763	$70
   6	New Jersey	$145,490	$70
   7	Missouri	$130,120	$63
   8	Pennsylvania	$128,735	$62
   9	Arizona	$128,735	$62
   10	Ohio	$125,258	$60
   11	Minnesota	$124,426	$60
   12	Georgia	$120,870	$58
   13	Texas	$118,213	$57
   14	Illinois	$117,111	$56
   15	Florida	$113,887	$55
   16	Colorado	$113,308	$54
   17	District of Columbia	$112,259	$54
   18	Maryland	$111,903	$54
   19	North Carolina	$107,400	$52
   20	Kansas	$105,774	$51

   Average research and development director salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Western Digital	$175,900	$84.57	115
   2	VMware	$170,535	$81.99
   3	Exelixis	$162,811	$78.27	7
   4	Ardent Mills	$161,868	$77.82	8
   5	Oshkosh	$160,538	$77.18	12
   6	ON Semiconductor	$160,404	$77.12
   7	BD	$159,644	$76.75	4
   8	Benefit Cosmetics	$158,292	$76.10
   9	Gopher Resource	$155,491	$74.76
   10	Daiichi Sankyo	$155,275	$74.65	12
   11	Koch Industries	$154,300	$74.18
   12	WorldQuant	$151,623	$72.90	1
   13	Gap Inc.	$151,447	$72.81
   14	SolidWorks Russia	$151,413	$72.79
   15	Marzetti	$149,547	$71.90
   16	Cleveland Clinic	$149,136	$71.70	54
   17	AbbVie	$148,738	$71.51	67
   18	Edwards Lifesciences	$148,722	$71.50	42
   19	Barrel O'Fun Snack Foods	$148,123	$71.21	3
   20	EAB	$147,937	$71.12	16

4. Writing a research and development director job description

   A research and development director job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a research and development director job description:

   Research and development director job description example

   1. Strengthen Yale's competitiveness by identifying new opportunities for limited submissions. 2. Enhance competitiveness by working with leadership to develop and implement better approaches to promoting and selecting the most competitive internal and external award applicants. 3. Become knowledgeable on major initiatives to appropriately align efforts to Yale's areas of focus. 4. Execute and enhance review processes for sponsored awards including, but not limited to, the Scholar Awards Program, Browne-Cox Fellowship, and other external programs with limitations on the number of applications Yale may submit (collectively "limited submissions") as well as internal funding competitions and special opportunities. 5. Identify, maintain and proactively disseminate information related to external sponsorship of research and training activities for which Yale may submit a limited number of applications and other identified opportunities and keep processes to the defined timelines. 6. In coordination with other offices and leadership on campus, establish, maintain and enhance an institutional software tool for managing limited submissions, internal funding opportunities, special opportunities that are offered at the institutional and unit level. 7. Work with the Office of Sponsored Projects and the Vice Provost for Research teams in developing and maintaining a communication plan for proposal submissions targeted to multiple constituencies both within and external to Yale University. 8. Manage and enhance new and existing training to increase strategic proposal development skills for multiple audiences including faculty, postdocs, staff and students. 9. Develop annual reporting with goal to improve overall funding metrics. 10. Staff and provide support for the University Scholar Awards; Funds and Fellowships; and External Recognitions Committees and for ad hoc review committees as requested. 11. In consultation with the VPR team and as needed, assist in professional editing of select, high-stakes proposals. 12. Coordinating with the Office of Development and the Provost research team, serve as primary liaison with appropriate funding agencies for policy and procedural matters related to these limited programs including but not limited to special authorizations for submission and post award processes. 13. Consult with appropriate University personnel on program matching commitments and exceptions to University policy. 14. Perform additional functions, activities or projects as assigned.
   Required Education and Experience
   
   1. Bachelor's degree, with a minimum of four (4) years related professional/managerial work experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. 2. Knowledge of or operated in a sponsor funded environment.
   
   Background Check Requirements
   
   All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.
   
   Position Focus:
   
   The inaugural Director of Research Development at Yale will cultivate a team that will provide strategic and catalytic support for proposal development, enhancing Yale researchers' competitiveness in their efforts to obtain Center, Program, Network, and special funding opportunities that support Yale's world-class research and training missions. The Director will also monitor state, federal, and industry funding trends, and coordinate and facilitate responses to emerging funding opportunities by Yale faculty. The Director, Research Development will: Build and manage a team that will promote and support collaborative research across disciplines, schools, and institutions by assisting project teams with the development of select large-scale or strategically important grant funding proposals. Collaborate with School and University leadership to identify and support campus research priority areas. Manage the process of identifying new and recurring limited submissions or special funding opportunities and ensure these opportunities are communicated broadly to the Yale community. Develop and coordinate competitive grants activities, facilitating and building a community of practice that supports research development and provides a wide range of services to faculty in support of successful grant-seeking. Develop strategic relationships with granting agencies and foundations. Introduce and foster relationship building between faculty and grant officers, program managers, and other agency representatives. Develop research development metrics and goals. Working with science leaders across the University, execute and improve upon existing strategies related to selecting our best internal candidates and teams for specific funding opportunities. Build on and enhance a training curriculum to increase strategic proposal development skills for faculty, postdocs, staff and students. Be a key point of contact and communicator related to these unique funding opportunities. Generally, support and enhance our ability to compete in this area.
   
   Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:
   
   Advanced degree or PhD in research field. Working knowledge of communication planning and techniques and educational program design and development. Knowledge of Yale financial and administrative policies & procedures relating to sponsored programs. Familiarity with electronic learning management systems, Microsoft Office Suite and electronic proposal systems.
   
   Posting Disclaimer
   
   The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the particular position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring departments.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find research and development directors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any research and development directors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level research and development directors with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your research and development director job on Zippia to find and recruit research and development director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit research and development directors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new research and development director

   Once you have selected a candidate for the research and development director position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new research and development director. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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