How to hire a senior manager of research and development

How to hire a senior manager of research and development, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior manager of 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 senior manager of research and development job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior manager of research and development
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a senior manager of research and development do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your senior manager of research and development job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a senior manager of research and development for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

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   Hiring the perfect senior manager of research and development also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of senior managers of research and development.

   Type of Senior Manager Of Research And Development	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Manager Of Research And Development	Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.	$50-96
   Engineering Supervisor	An engineering supervisor is responsible for monitoring the engineering operations of an organization, developing strategic processes and techniques to improve staff's performance, and facilitating training and programs to maximize productivity. Engineering supervisors evaluate technology procedures and reports to identify and design new opportunities that would generate more resources for revenues and profits... Show more	$34-62
   Engineering Director	An engineering director or director of engineering is a professional who manages a team of engineering managers and coordinates all the engineering activities within the organization. Engineering directors work closely with the organization's executives to develop new strategies to reduce unnecessary costs and time to complete their projects... Show more	$52-114

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • Portfolio
   • SR
   • Product Development
   • C++
   • Medical Devices
   • Software Development
   • FDA
   • Cloud
   • Development Process
   • Business Development
   • Java
   • Development Projects
   • Process Improvement

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Manage software application implementation for time reporting/project-costing system to aid in understanding project spending and improve portfolio prioritization and execution.
   • Work with the IP and legal department on clearance and IP sharing/ownership agreements with suppliers.

   More senior manager of research and development duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior manager of research and development job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A senior manager of 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 senior manager of research and development in Iowa may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level senior manager of research and development usually earns less than a senior-level senior manager of research and development. Additionally, a senior manager of 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 senior manager of research and development salary

   $145,411yearly

   $69.91 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior manager of research and development salary

   $104,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average senior manager of research and development salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$176,190	$85
   2	California	$172,807	$83
   3	Oregon	$143,758	$69
   4	North Carolina	$134,482	$65
   5	Massachusetts	$131,311	$63
   6	Georgia	$131,166	$63
   7	Connecticut	$129,427	$62
   8	Florida	$127,417	$61
   9	Minnesota	$125,618	$60
   10	New York	$124,201	$60
   11	Texas	$123,182	$59
   12	Colorado	$120,561	$58
   13	Utah	$120,104	$58
   14	Illinois	$120,009	$58
   15	Pennsylvania	$119,129	$57
   16	Missouri	$113,031	$54

   Average senior manager of research and development salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Eventbrite	$174,384	$83.84
   2	Genentech	$172,387	$82.88	21
   3	Accenture	$170,727	$82.08	1,029
   4	Exelixis	$170,573	$82.01
   5	VMware	$168,368	$80.95
   6	Western Digital	$166,343	$79.97	7
   7	Biogen	$165,923	$79.77	4
   8	Myriad Genetics	$164,384	$79.03	3
   9	Broadcom	$162,648	$78.20	51
   10	Koch Industries	$162,587	$78.17	1
   11	AstraZeneca	$160,218	$77.03	7
   12	Jazz Pharmaceuticals	$159,415	$76.64
   13	Amd	$155,333	$74.68	14
   14	New York University	$152,845	$73.48	32
   15	Horizon Pharma USA, Inc.	$152,036	$73.09
   16	Micron Technology	$150,840	$72.52	9
   17	Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.	$150,714	$72.46	45
   18	LSI	$150,291	$72.26
   19	ICU Medical	$148,862	$71.57	3
   20	BMC Software	$148,637	$71.46	2

4. Writing a senior manager of research and development job description

   A senior manager of 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 senior manager of research and development job description:

   Senior manager of research and development job description example

   Hardy Diagnostics a 100% employee owned company is growing and is now hiring!
   
   We are looking for another dedicated person to join us. We have an immediate opening for a full time Senior Research and Development Manager at our headquarters in Santa Maria, CA. If you have a passion for excellence and would like to join one of Santa Barbara County's top employers then we would like to talk to you.
   
   The Senior R&D Manager is responsible for directing and coordinating new product design, development, verification and validation. Other responsibilities include but are not limited to; business development activities including setting up and managing strategic relationships and alliances with other third-party companies, sharing responsibilities for the implementation of the strategic business plan through the identification and analysis of opportunities for the acquisition/divestiture of technologies, products and companies. This position works in partnership with senior management to set up and manage strategic relationships and alliances with other third party companies to develop, manufacture, sell or purchase products and technologies. A minimum of a master's degree in microbiology or related field; or five years related experience and/or training is required; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Project and fiscal management experience is highly desired. College courses in medical microbiology, food/industrial microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, word processing and spreadsheet software are desirable. Membership in relevant industry recognized professional organizations (ASM, IAFP, AOAC, PDA, etc.) and completion of a minimum of 12 hours of documented continuing education annually is also desired.
   
   Hardy Diagnostics is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Minorities / Females / Veterans / Disability
   
   Benefits We Offer
   
   If you are unable to open the links above, please try using Google Chrome, Firefox, or the most up to date version of Internet Explorer.
   
   Hardy Diagnostics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. We promote a drug-free work environment.
   
   Request an Accommodation | Applicant Privacy | EEO is the Law Poster | Hardy Policy on EEO, Affirmative Action and Harassment
   
   Hardy participates in E-Verify. Details in English and Spanish.
   
   Right to Work Statement in English and Spanish.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit senior managers of research and development, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up 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 senior manager of research and development

   Once you've decided on a perfect senior manager of research and development candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new senior manager of 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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