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What is a senior manager of research and development and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

Research and Development Senior Managers are responsible for directing the research and development operations of an organization. Their duties include monitoring process development projects, developing cost-efficiency and operational capability, increasing new product categories, and facilitating market trends research. They also assist in processing procedures, packaging processes, and ensuring products are created to meet the health, safety, and quality regulations. Research and Development Senior Managers conduct approvals for new product launches, undertake technical support for issues related to production, and provide work training sessions to junior research and development team members.

ScoreSenior Manager Of Research And DevelopmentUS Average
Salary
8.8

Avg. Salary $145,411

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.4

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.16%

Asian 18.33%

Black or African American 2.71%

Hispanic or Latino 7.42%

Unknown 4.45%

White 66.93%

Gender

female 26.58%

male 73.42%

Age - 48
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 - 48
Stress level
7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Senior manager of research and development career paths

Key steps to become a senior manager of research and development

  1. Explore senior manager of research and development education requirements

    Most common senior manager of research and development degrees

    Bachelor's

    62.8 %

    Master's

    22.4 %

    Doctorate

    8.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior manager of research and development skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Project Management12.10%
    Portfolio7.71%
    SR5.50%
    Product Development4.57%
    C++4.39%
  3. Complete relevant senior manager of research and development training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior managers of research and development 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 senior manager of research and development based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior manager of research and development resumes.
  4. Research senior manager of research and development duties and responsibilities

    • Direct and manage the overall GUI development and maintenance of the Java/J2EE base IPCC contact centre product.
    • Manage Montreal-based speech auto attendant development, documentation & QA.
    • Manage two FDA inspections for design and manufacturing of disposable infusion devices resulting in zero written observations.
    • Manage electronics, software and mechanical engineers responsible for the development of the electromechanical system and disposable treatment catheters.
  5. Get senior manager of research and development experience

    Generally, it takes more than 10 years to become a senior manager of research and development. The most common roles before becoming a senior manager of research and development include research and development manager, senior manager team lead and manager.
  6. Prepare your senior manager of research and development resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior manager of research and development resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior manager of research and development resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable senior manager of research and development resume templates

    Build a professional senior manager of research and development resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior manager of research and development resume.
    Senior Manager Of Research And Development Resume
    Senior Manager Of Research And Development Resume
    Senior Manager Of Research And Development Resume
    Senior Manager Of Research And Development Resume
    Senior Manager Of Research And Development Resume
    Senior Manager Of Research And Development Resume
    Senior Manager Of Research And Development Resume
    Senior Manager Of Research And Development Resume
    Senior Manager Of Research And Development Resume
  7. Apply for senior manager of research and development jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior manager of research and development job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first senior manager of research and development job

Zippi

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Average senior manager of research and development salary

The average senior manager of research and development salary in the United States is $145,411 per year or $70 per hour. Senior manager of research and development salaries range between $104,000 and $201,000 per year.

Average senior manager of research and development salary
$145,411 Yearly
$69.91 hourly

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Senior manager of research and development reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

Being able to solve technical problems and manage staff for work


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Cons

Indecisive colleagues and related problems because if their lack of ability and skills


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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Cons

The amount of time spent in the office


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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