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What is a vice president of research and development and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

Companies that manufacture products on a large scale usually have a research and development (R&D;) department. This department helps in keeping the current product line up-to-date by continuously improving the production process or various components of the product itself. Moreover, they also research and develop new products. As a vice president of research and development, you will serve the purpose of leading the team in the R&D; department.

Some of the duties and responsibilities that you will be performing in this capacity include recruiting product development team leaders, approving budgets for the R&D; department, and manage various deadlines of products. Moreover, you will also be collaborating with other departments, such as sales and marketing, to bring new products from your department to the market. Essential skills required to successfully complete these tasks include communication, leadership, time management, interpersonal, organizational, and analytical thinking.

To qualify for this role, you will need at least a bachelor's degree in science, technology, engineering, or an industry-related discipline. However, a master's degree is preferred. Moreover, prior work experience of ten or more years is also essential. The average hourly pay for this position is $78.65, which amounts to $163,599 annually. This career is also projected to grow in the next few years and create new opportunities across the United States.

ScoreVice President Of Research And DevelopmentUS Average
Salary
9.4

Avg. Salary $170,226

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.4

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.16%

Asian 14.23%

Black or African American 3.05%

Hispanic or Latino 8.68%

Unknown 4.64%

White 69.23%

Gender

female 15.04%

male 84.96%

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

Vice president of research and development career paths

Key steps to become a vice president of research and development

  1. Explore vice president of research and development education requirements

    Most common vice president of research and development degrees

    Bachelor's

    61.8 %

    Master's

    19.1 %

    Doctorate

    12.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific vice president of research and development skills

    SkillsPercentages
    R33.50%
    Product Development10.18%
    Project Management3.76%
    Strategic Plan3.47%
    Intellectual Property3.14%
  3. Complete relevant vice president of research and development training and internships

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

    • Manage initial implementation of GMP procedures.
    • Manage and direct OEM manufacturing partner.
    • Manage software application implementation for time reporting/project-costing system to aid in understanding project spending and improve portfolio prioritization and execution.
    • Isolate malignant free cells using GMP methodology suitable for regulatory approval and clinical use in cancer patients.
  5. Get vice president of research and development experience

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

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your vice president 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 vice president 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 vice president of research and development resume templates

    Build a professional vice president 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 vice president of research and development resume.
    Vice President Of Research And Development Resume
    Vice President Of Research And Development Resume
    Vice President Of Research And Development Resume
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    Vice President Of Research And Development Resume
    Vice President Of Research And Development Resume
    Vice President Of Research And Development Resume
    Vice President Of Research And Development Resume
    Vice President Of Research And Development Resume
  7. Apply for vice president of research and development jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a vice president 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 vice president of research and development job

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Average vice president of research and development salary

The average vice president of research and development salary in the United States is $170,226 per year or $82 per hour. Vice president of research and development salaries range between $114,000 and $253,000 per year.

Average vice president of research and development salary
$170,226 Yearly
$81.84 hourly

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Vice president of research and development reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022
Cons

I am responsible for everything be it any side of the business


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019
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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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