How to hire a senior research manager

How to hire a senior research manager, step by step

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

What does a senior research manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The senior research manager 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 senior research manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior research managers 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.

   Here's a comparison of senior research manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Senior Research Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Research Manager	Market research analysts study market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price.	$31-78
   Marketing Department Internship	A marketing department internship is a marketing degree program requirement in most colleges. This is the work experience period where interns get to apply the knowledge they acquire in the real world... Show more	$12-18
   Marketing Consultant	A marketing consultant is responsible for utilizing their extensive retail expertise to develop strategies on how to strengthen client base and achieve better sales. Furthermore, a marketing consultant must perform research and analysis to determine opportunities for financial gains, devise plans to improve client satisfaction, assess the competition, look out for any risks, and develop its brand and image... Show more	$21-53

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • Data Collection
   • PowerPoint
   • Research Studies
   • FDA
   • Data Analysis
   • SPSS
   • Quantitative Research
   • Research Design
   • Visualization
   • Research Findings
   • Clinical Trials
   • Statistical Analysis
   • Primary Research

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead a team of researchers in data visualization, gamification, and medication adherence.
   • Lead a team of three, including one direct report, for distributing daily Nielsen ratings results.
   • Achieve high quality deliverables evident by sponsor company feedback, FDA deliverables and balance budgets, scope and timely delivery.
   • Manage all top and regional accounts, ensuring all multi-asset classes of research are included and building relationships for the future.
   • Manage SAS programming staff, participate in hardware/software specifications and acquisition
   • Manage research department employees and resources, operational budget preparation and oversight.

   More senior research manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior research manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A senior research manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, senior research managers' average salary in mississippi is 53% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior research managers 60% less than senior-level senior research managers.
   • Certifications. A senior research manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a senior research manager's salary.

   Average senior research manager salary

   $104,701yearly

   $50.34 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior research manager salary

   $66,000 yearly salary

   Updated February 1, 2026

   Average senior research manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$141,043	$68
   2	California	$131,969	$63
   3	Delaware	$126,765	$61
   4	New Jersey	$120,609	$58
   5	Oregon	$106,628	$51
   6	Minnesota	$104,345	$50
   7	Texas	$101,364	$49
   8	New York	$100,101	$48
   9	Massachusetts	$99,769	$48
   10	District of Columbia	$96,997	$47
   11	North Carolina	$95,869	$46
   12	Michigan	$95,311	$46
   13	Georgia	$94,511	$45
   14	Arizona	$93,163	$45
   15	Illinois	$92,214	$44
   16	Colorado	$87,916	$42
   17	Ohio	$84,189	$40
   18	Pennsylvania	$84,134	$40
   19	Maryland	$79,969	$38
   20	Utah	$79,607	$38

   Average senior research manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Macerich	$217,570	$104.60
   2	Flexport	$208,205	$100.10
   3	Aspiration	$195,327	$93.91
   4	Apple	$191,577	$92.10	70
   5	NVIDIA	$189,067	$90.90	34
   6	eBay	$188,448	$90.60
   7	Match Group	$176,992	$85.09	2
   8	Didi Chuxing	$176,928	$85.06
   9	Bain & Company	$173,446	$83.39	2
   10	Marin Software	$172,920	$83.13
   11	Microsoft	$169,257	$81.37	192
   12	Adobe	$166,332	$79.97	16
   13	Palo Alto Networks	$166,284	$79.94	1
   14	Amazon	$165,542	$79.59	64
   15	The Walt Disney Company	$164,788	$79.22	6
   16	ZipRecruiter	$162,272	$78.02
   17	Qualtrics	$158,419	$76.16
   18	New Relic	$156,264	$75.13
   19	Grainger	$154,882	$74.46
   20	Electronic Arts	$154,407	$74.23

4. Writing a senior research manager job description

   A senior research manager 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. Below, you can find an example of a senior research manager job description:

   Senior research manager job description example

   The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is seeking a dynamic candidate to fill the role of Sr. Research and Grants Manager to work under minimal supervision on all financial aspects of the Principal Investigators assigned to the work unit they support. This includes a large volume and diverse set of federal and non-federal sponsored research projects, involving multiple sub-awards, principal investigators, and/or cross-school initiatives.
   
   The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine places high importance on advancing science and integrating our mission with those of clinical innovation and service, educational excellence, community engagement and commitment, and professionalism and leadership development. This approach allows us to change future understanding and practices in our fields of science, the health professions, and society at large. It is an approach that stretches the traditional boundaries of an academic department and acknowledges the interdependent nature of the five missions with which we are entrusted. For us, the vision affirms the diverse activities, past successes, and distinct career paths of our multidisciplinary faculty. It establishes a mindset that will help draw our people together to collaborate and combine efforts that are necessary in moving forward this full academic portfolio. Finally, it is a vision that provides an authentic rationale for growth in a number of critical areas arising in fields from basic science to public policy.
   Duties include: • Obtain cost sharing commitment and support. Serve as liaison and active partner between principal investigators, Office of Sponsored Research, research groups, and other departments; respond to sponsor inquiries; advise of new regulations.
   • Collaborate with Office of Sponsored Research to ensure awards are set up properly and cost-sharing requirements are fulfilled; initiate cost transfers.
   • Review and approve expenditures, advise on post award spending and commitment activity, and oversee compliance related to fund and revenue.
   • Develop and communicate reports supporting project status; create forecasting models, scenarios, and decision aides.
   • Manage contract closeout process and audit inquiries; submit final reports and certificates.
   • Interpret complex university and government policies (FAR, Cost Accounting Standards, Office of Management and Budget circulars, sponsored guidelines, etc.) for project and university personnel and help guide other staff in interpreting complex policies.
   • Identify and implement process improvements. Participate in and lead cross campus projects. Train and advise on issues requiring specific technical expertise.
   • Oversee and review work of other staff. May supervise, train and mentor other staff.
   • Serve as a resource on subject area to principal investigator staff.
   Other duties may also be assigned DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
   • MA/MS/MBA
   EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (REQUIRED ): Bachelor's degree and five years of job related experience, or combination of education and experience. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (REQUIRED): • Expert knowledge and fluency of governmental regulations (e.g. FAR, A-21, A-110, A-133, CAS).
   • Knowledge and ability to understand, interpret, and communicate university policies and procedures. Excellent oral, written, and communication skills.
   • Excellent analytical skills; demonstrated proficiency in Excel and web-based tools. Strong accounting skills; knowledge of accounting principles.
   • Knowledge of procurement needs, including sole-sourcing, cost analyses, vendor requirements, and small business reporting • Strong knowledge of property management requirements related to Stanford or non-Stanford title of equipment and fabrications.
   • Expert in project management, including managing international collaborations and complex multi-sub award contracts.
   • Knowledge of personnel management, including proposing effort for and training and hiring of students, post-doctorals, academic appointments, regular staff, bargaining unit staff, and consultants, along with the circumstances appropriate for each type of position.
   • Extreme attention to detail.
   • Ability to review a proposal or manage a project with understanding of the overall scope and goal of each sponsored project.
   • Excellent time management and organizational skills. CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSES:
   • Cardinal Curriculum I and II must be completed to remain in this position.
   • Certified Accountant or Auditor, MBA, project management certification, or similar credential desired. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*: • Frequently sit, grasp lightly, use fine manipulation and perform desk-based computer tasks, lift, carry, push and pull objects weighing up to ten pounds.
   • Occasionally stand, walk, grasp forcefully, use a telephone, write by hand and sort and file paperwork or parts.
   • Rarely lift, carry, push and pull objects weighing 11-20 pounds. * - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to per f or m the essential functions of his or her job.
   WORKING CONDITIONS: Remote and/or hybrid working arrangement available. ** - COVID VACCINE COMPLIANCE: Stanford University requires all faculty, staff, postdocs, and students coming on-site to work at a Stanford location to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. If you are offered and accept a position with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, proof of vaccination documentation must be provided upon hire and all members of the department are expected to comply with all appropriate safety protocols.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find senior research managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior research manager job on Zippia to find and recruit senior research manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as swipe files, exit five, marketinghire, american marketing association.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with senior research manager 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 research manager

   Once you've selected the best senior research manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing 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 senior research manager. 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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