What does a social science manager do?
A social science manager supports social scientists in conducting experiments, analyzing results, and preparing for publication. They develop graphs and tables based on provided data. They also observe past events, gather data, and ensure protocols are upheld.
Social science manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real social science manager resumes:
- Work with internal users to identify business needs and pro-actively manage the department s SharePoint application portfolio.
- Develop a GIS database using ArcGIS to map, organize and analyze information about living shorelines projects.
- CSR-Sustainability-Developed CSR program, including performing GHG inventory and analysis, working with operations team on facilitating energy reduction strategies.
- Liaise with FAA, FBI, DMORT, DHS, and DHHS regarding NTSB issues.
- Develop and write protocols and guidelines for DHHS and FBI to follow during an aviation accident with regards to NTSB procedures.
- Provide assessment, treatment planning, and case management to homeless and/or at risk veterans.
Social science manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Social Science Managers are proficient in Social Science, Business Development, and QA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Business skills, Leadership skills, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Social Science Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Social Science, 25%
Procured funding and equipment for the social science program.
- Business Development, 23%
Provide technical support to marketing and business development.
- QA, 13%
Managed technical projects for up to 350 commercial accounts, communicating with customer principals/managers and internal reporting analysts and QA managers.
- Performance Metrics, 12%
Established corporate-wide processes for continuous improvement and performance metrics.
- Clinical Trials, 9%
Monitored all aspects of site clinical imaging data for pharmaceutical clinical trials from project start-up to project close-out.
- FDA, 9%
Prepared FDA and European Union documentation on products under development for approval.
Common skills that a social science manager uses to do their job include "social science," "business development," and "qa." You can find details on the most important social science manager responsibilities below.
Business skills. One of the key soft skills for a social science manager to have is business skills. You can see how this relates to what social science managers do because "it managers must develop and implement strategic plans to reach the goals of their organizations." Additionally, a social science manager resume shows how social science managers use business skills: "provided leadership and direction for the moscow based business development team comprising 6 professionals. "
Leadership skills. Another essential skill to perform social science manager duties is leadership skills. Social science managers responsibilities require that "it managers must lead and motivate it teams or departments so that workers are efficient and effective." Social science managers also use leadership skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "managed and maintained a long term client relationships at microsoft through exceptional communication and leadership. "
Analytical skills. social science managers are also known for analytical skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to social science manager responsibilities, because "it managers must analyze problems and consider and select the best ways to solve them." A social science manager resume example shows how analytical skills is used in the workplace: "developed a gis database using arcgis to map, organize and analyze information about living shorelines projects. "
Communication skills. A big part of what social science managers do relies on "communication skills." You can see how essential it is to social science manager responsibilities because "it managers must explain their work to top executives and give clear instructions to their subordinates." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical social science manager tasks: "manage correspondence including editing documents, memos, spreadsheets, powerpoint presentations, and general communications. "
The three companies that hire the most social science managers are:
Compare different social science managers
Social science manager vs. Project administrator
A project administrator is an individual who assists the project manager in the preparation, reporting, and analysis of projects. Project administrators are given tasks with administrative responsibilities such as managing the budget for supply orders, coordinating meetings with contractors, and doing site visits. They are involved with hiring staff members for a project and creating employee guidelines based on talents, skills, and abilities. Project administrators are also responsible for providing reports on the project's progress to the top management.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a social science manager are more likely to require skills like "social science," "business development," "qa," and "performance metrics." On the other hand, a job as a project administrator requires skills like "project management," "purchase orders," "customer service," and "powerpoint." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Project administrators earn the highest salaries when working in the construction industry, with an average yearly salary of $66,237. On the other hand, social science managers are paid more in the real estate industry with an average salary of $112,589.The education levels that project administrators earn slightly differ from social science managers. In particular, project administrators are 9.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a social science manager. Additionally, they're 7.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Social science manager vs. Project director
A project director is an individual responsible for supervising workers from various departments given specific tasks to complete a given project. They create a budget to complete a job while monitoring the amount of money spent to ensure that overspending is avoided. They provide presentations to investors, business partners, and company executives to inform them about their progress and development. Project directors must have several years of experience and obtain at least a bachelor's degree in business economics or a related field to be hired.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that social science manager responsibilities requires skills like "social science," "performance metrics," "clinical trials," and "fda." But a project director might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "project management," "oversight," "customer satisfaction," and "hr."
Project directors may earn a higher salary than social science managers, but project directors earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $106,707. On the other hand, social science managers receive higher pay in the real estate industry, where they earn an average salary of $112,589.project directors earn similar levels of education than social science managers in general. They're 2.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 7.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Social science manager vs. Management associate
A management associate is responsible for assisting the management operations, supporting administrative and clerical tasks, and coordinating with other departments for project support to meet the organization's objectives and profitability goals. Management associates often respond to clients' inquiries and concerns on behalf of the executives, documenting their needs, and immediately escalating high-level complaints to appropriate personnel. They also meet with suppliers and other third-party vendors, negotiating contracts for business needs. A management associate must have excellent communication, be organized, and have time-management skills to perform duties in a fast-paced environment.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from social science manager resumes include skills like "social science," "performance metrics," "clinical trials," and "r," whereas a management associate is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "portfolio," "risk management," and "patients. "
Management associates earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $93,348. Social science managers earn the highest pay from the real estate industry, with an average salary of $112,589.When it comes to education, management associates tend to earn lower degree levels compared to social science managers. In fact, they're 7.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 6.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Social science manager vs. Associate director
An associate director oversees the daily activities and business operations within a particular area. They are primarily responsible for devising strategies that aim for growth in profit and customer satisfaction, implementing policies and standards, evaluate the workforce, providing support to various departments, and setting goals in terms of budget and sales. Furthermore, they must regularly report progress to the director and coordinate with managers and supervisors in the joint effort to reach the vision and mission of the company.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between social science managers and associate directors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a social science manager might have more use for skills like "social science," "performance metrics," "intellectual property," and "performance reports." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of associate directors require skills like "patients," "healthcare," "project management," and "oversight. "
The pharmaceutical industry tends to pay the highest salaries for associate directors, with average annual pay of $143,618. Comparatively, the highest social science manager annual salary comes from the real estate industry.In general, associate directors hold similar degree levels compared to social science managers. Associate directors are 2.8% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 3.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of social science manager
Updated January 8, 2025