How to hire a scientist senior, research and development

How to hire a scientist senior, research and development, step by step

Here's a step-by-step scientist senior, research and development hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the scientist senior, research and development you need to hire. Certain scientist senior, research and development roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a scientist senior, research and development to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a scientist senior, research and development that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of scientist seniors, research and development and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Scientist Senior, Research And Development	Description	Hourly rate
   Scientist Senior, Research And Development	Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.	$36-67
   Chemist	Chemists are generally responsible for observing and investigating chemical substances to create new and safe compounds essential for practical applications. They are often grouped depending on a particular area of specialization to focus and understand the complexities of the matter... Show more	$22-43
   Quality Control Chemist	A Quality Control Chemist uses chemistry lab skills to test and measure materials, usually in a manufacturing or pharmaceutical field. They analyze samples using scientific equipment, prepare study protocols, collect data, and identify and investigate abnormal test results.	$21-36

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • GMP
   • Product Development
   • HPLC
   • Method Development
   • FDA
   • ICH
   • API
   • Regulatory Submissions
   • Analytical Methods
   • Data Analysis
   • CMC
   • RNA
   • Laboratory Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage data entry, review and approval of all sample testing results in LabWare (LIMS).
   • Forge and manage collaborative relationships with DoD and academia.
   • Develop specifications for API's and drug products and write spec justifications.
   • Perform preventative and corrective maintenance on HPLC and LC/MS systems.
   • Collaborate on development of an ELISA assay; increase reliability of data.
   • Initiate and conduct stability study for drug substance and drug product using HPLC.

   More scientist senior, research and development duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your scientist senior, research and development job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A scientist senior, research and development salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a scientist senior, research and development in Missouri may be lower than in California, and an entry-level scientist senior, research and development usually earns less than a senior-level scientist senior, research and development. Additionally, a scientist senior, research and development with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average scientist senior, research and development salary

   $103,295yearly

   $49.66 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level scientist senior, research and development salary

   $75,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average scientist senior, research and development salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$141,596	$68
   2	Connecticut	$111,831	$54
   3	Massachusetts	$106,196	$51
   4	New Jersey	$106,101	$51
   5	Illinois	$102,982	$50
   6	Delaware	$100,659	$48
   7	Oregon	$95,952	$46
   8	Pennsylvania	$94,828	$46
   9	Minnesota	$92,885	$45
   10	Ohio	$91,902	$44
   11	Virginia	$91,632	$44
   12	New York	$89,733	$43
   13	Colorado	$84,730	$41
   14	North Carolina	$81,701	$39
   15	New Mexico	$81,461	$39
   16	Texas	$80,311	$39
   17	Florida	$76,259	$37
   18	Kansas	$75,331	$36
   19	Georgia	$75,175	$36
   20	Idaho	$74,779	$36

   Average scientist senior, research and development salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Clorox Company	$115,589	$55.57	21
   2	Sandia National Labs	$114,343	$54.97	88
   3	Kelly Services	$114,157	$54.88	66
   4	Edwards Lifesciences	$113,230	$54.44	29
   5	Afton Chemical	$113,057	$54.35
   6	Boehringer Ingelheim	$111,149	$53.44	17
   7	The Judge Group	$109,170	$52.49	1
   8	Abbott	$109,120	$52.46	43
   9	Entegris	$109,023	$52.41	15
   10	AstraZeneca	$108,414	$52.12	30
   11	Foundation Medicine	$108,152	$52.00	1
   12	BD	$107,716	$51.79	9
   13	FMC	$107,676	$51.77
   14	Ingevity	$106,006	$50.96	4
   15	W. R. Grace & Co	$105,979	$50.95
   16	Siemens	$105,790	$50.86	41
   17	Catalent Pharma Solutions	$104,940	$50.45	40
   18	Nephron Pharmaceuticals	$104,775	$50.37
   19	CEM Business Solutions	$104,473	$50.23
   20	Corning Incorporated	$104,394	$50.19	25

4. Writing a scientist senior, research and development job description

   A scientist senior, research and development 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 scientist senior, research and development job description:

   Scientist senior, research and development job description example

   Senior Scientist, Pet R&D Quality, Food Safety, & HSEORRVILLE, OH
   
   Your Opportunity
   In this role you will lead, develop, and maintain the Food Safety & Defense Program for our Smucker Pet Research and Development work. You will act as a food safety team leader, coordinate and lead the Food Safety Team while also overseeing the food safety management system and management review. You will also be the leader of the Pet R&D HSE Steering Team to review any HSE incidents and implement action plans and corrective actions as necessary. You will also directly supervise 2 team members.
   
   In this role your primary responsibilities will include:
   Coach and mentor, the Key Element TeamsCoach, Mentor, and Lead continued education programs for Pet R&D related to the Key Element Programs.Involvement of sanitation training upon employee hiring, as needed, and annually while ensuring completion, understanding, and follow-through of material Assist with internal assessments as well as federal and state agency audits to ensure plant compliance in both HSE and QA systems Create, document, and implement criteria and procedures.Back up to Developers, Engineers, and the Process Lab Team with all activities necessary to ensure they are able to execute Production & Sanitation in an R&D Production Environment.Complete necessary Inspections and Audits that align with the Key Element Program and Trackability expectations set by Corporate Quality Assurance.Collaborate and communicate with R&D Peers, Corporate Quality, and Pet Production Quality Teams to ensure food safety activities are implemented in an effective and efficient manner Reviewing, trending, and communicating departmental results to leadership as well as Pet R&D
   
   Is this the Role for You?
   Are you a passionate leader motivated by the opportunity to drive meaningful change? Are you excited for the chance to work with a productive team and support their continued growth and development? Do you share in our dedication to continuous improvement and growth? If so, you are the type of professional we want to add to our Company!
   What we are looking for:
   Bachelor's or higher degree, Food Science, Science, Engineering or Microbiology preferred or related experience Minimum 7 years of R&D or Manufacturing, HSE, and QA experience Be comfortable working proactively and independently in an agile environment.Proficient experience and understanding of human and pet allergen programs, microbial inhibition and contamination, chemical safety, sanitation, quality systems, and HACCP / food safety plans Preventative Controls Qualified Individual trained, or become quickly trained Excellent communication (presentation, written and verbal) and listening skills Display strong computer skills across multiple software environments. We use O365 as our core business communications tool.Other duties may be assigned related to a hybrid of R&D and Operations Role.
   
   Why Smucker is the Place for You
   You deserve a positive and encouraging work environment. One that allows you to deliver your best work and become your best professional self. That is exactly what you will find at Smucker.
   Inspired by our unique culture, we are determined to support every employee holistically by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs through:
   Our Total Reward benefits program - includes competitive health and financial benefits that reflect your needs at different life stages, and a continued commitment to empower flexible work schedules and remote work opportunities to help you thrive. Continuous opportunities to learn, grow and develop - beyond functional job-based education, we promote well-rounded development and encourage a spirit of continuous learning as part of our commitment to help you realize your professional goals.Our continued progress on the journey to become the inclusive and diverse organization we expect to be supporting equity across our communities. We firmly believe that an inclusive environment and diverse organization strengthens our Company and enables every employee to reach their full potential.
   Learn More About Working at Smucker
   Our Total Rewards Benefits ProgramOur Thriving Together Philosophy Supporting All Impacted by Our BusinessOur Continued Progress on Inclusion, Diversity and Equity
   Follow us on LinkedIn
   #LI-MR1
   #INDSA

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find scientist seniors, research and development 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 scientist seniors, research and development they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level scientist seniors, research and development 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 scientist senior, research and development job on Zippia to find and recruit scientist senior, research and development candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with scientist senior, research and development candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 scientist senior, research and development

   Once you've found the scientist senior, research and development candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new scientist senior, research and development. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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