How to hire a vice president of research and development

How to hire a vice president of research and development, step by step

Here's a step-by-step vice president 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 vice president 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 vice president of research and development
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a vice president of research and development do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the vice president of research and development you need to hire. Certain vice president of research and development roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A vice president of research and development's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, vice presidents of research and development 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of vice presidents of research and development.

   Type of Vice President Of Research And Development	Description	Hourly rate
   Vice President Of Research And Development	Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.	$54-121
   Manufacturing Engineering Manager	Manufacturing engineering managers manage manufacturing process development and enforcement. The managers maintain the proper functionality of a product and the efficiency of cost... Show more	$38-74
   Engineering Manager	An engineering manager is responsible for managing the overall concept of engineering and construction projects, ensuring that the plan meets the budget goals and the client's specifications. Engineering managers approve designs, plan strategic procedures to follow the project's timetable, analyze current market trends, hire the best and efficient contractors, and coordinate with the clients for any changes and adjustments as needed... Show more	$47-93

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • R
   • Product Development
   • Project Management
   • Strategic Plan
   • Intellectual Property
   • Regulatory Affairs
   • FDA
   • Business Development
   • Direct Reports
   • Due Diligence
   • Emerging Technologies
   • Architecture
   • Technology Development
   • Research Projects

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Assist in the development of the quality and design control system in compliance with FDA device development regulation.
   • Provide clinical data for FDA submissions on instrumentation and clinical utility claims.

   More vice president of research and development duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your vice president of research and development job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A vice president of research and development salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, vice presidents of research and development' average salary in hawaii is 38% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level vice presidents of research and development earn 55% less than senior-level vice presidents of research and development.
   • Certifications. A vice president of research and development with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a vice president of research and development's salary.

   Average vice president of research and development salary

   $170,226yearly

   $81.84 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level vice president of research and development salary

   $114,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average vice president of research and development salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$181,029	$87
   2	Connecticut	$180,473	$87
   3	Nevada	$179,496	$86
   4	Minnesota	$172,246	$83
   5	Pennsylvania	$167,887	$81
   6	Arizona	$161,747	$78
   7	Texas	$156,586	$75
   8	Idaho	$153,594	$74
   9	Massachusetts	$152,487	$73
   10	Michigan	$151,674	$73
   11	New York	$151,427	$73
   12	Colorado	$150,590	$72
   13	Virginia	$148,726	$72
   14	Georgia	$147,725	$71
   15	Florida	$143,378	$69
   16	Illinois	$141,295	$68
   17	Nebraska	$140,056	$67
   18	Alabama	$139,790	$67
   19	Kansas	$139,568	$67
   20	Wisconsin	$138,702	$67

   Average vice president of research and development salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Organon	$203,514	$97.84
   2	BD	$195,386	$93.94	3
   3	AstraZeneca	$194,681	$93.60	10
   4	Abbott	$192,444	$92.52	21
   5	Estée Lauder	$191,911	$92.26	19
   6	Benefit Cosmetics	$186,506	$89.67
   7	FlexSteel Pipeline Technologies	$185,855	$89.35
   8	Daltile	$182,987	$87.97	1
   9	Flowserve	$182,298	$87.64	1
   10	Colorado Boxed Beef Company	$181,972	$87.49
   11	Glaxosmithkline	$181,935	$87.47
   12	Canberra	$180,961	$87.00
   13	Aveda	$180,730	$86.89
   14	Decibel Therapeutics	$177,373	$85.28
   15	HyperScience	$177,303	$85.24
   16	Harris Local Government	$177,220	$85.20
   17	Health-Ade	$177,213	$85.20
   18	TriPlay	$177,209	$85.20
   19	Keywee	$177,209	$85.20
   20	The Independent Traveler	$177,198	$85.19	36

4. Writing a vice president of research and development job description

   A good vice president of research and development job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a vice president of research and development job description:

   Vice president of research and development job description example

   Quantitative Researchers (QR) are key part of JP Morgan's markets business, developing and maintaining sophisticated mathematical models, cutting-edge methodologies and infrastructure to value and risk manage financial transactions. We develop these in Athena, which is a next generation risk, pricing, and trade management platform built in-house at JP Morgan
   
   Athena is designed to enable rapid innovation on the desk by offering Quantitative Analysts, Risk Managers and Technologists a consistent, cross-asset portfolio of models, frameworks and tools to use in building financial applications.
   
   The power of the Athena platform derives from several key technical innovations: a powerful Dependency Graph implementation, a ubiquitous data store called Hydra, a Real-Time Risk Reporting framework, a robust Deal Model, and a forward propagating, event-driven graph called Reactive.
   
   We are looking for a new member to join the Quantitative Research Athena Risk team focusing on cross-asset infrastructure making it easier to develop risk, PnL, and stress management computations while avoiding errors and duplicated effort.
   Key responsibilities could include:
   Working on our declarative framework for generating risk computations. Optimizing large scale distributed calculations. Driving interoperability in calculations across our businesses.
   Essential skills:
   Strong software design skills (Object oriented, or functional, or ... ). Experience with at least one scripting language (Python, Perl, Scheme/Guile, ...). Experience with at least one compiled programming language (C++, Java, Lisp, Haskell, ...). Excellent communication skills. A strong interest in learning about our businesses, models, and infrastructure.
   Desired skills:
   Python especially with NumPy, SciPy, or Pandas. Parallel/distributed/high-performance computing. Declarative or functional programming. Cloud computing experience Implementation of compilers or interpreters. Language design.
   
   JPMorgan Chase & Co., one of the oldest financial institutions, offers innovative financial solutions to millions of consumers, small businesses and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Our history spans over 200 years and today we are a leader in investment banking, consumer and small business banking, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management.
   
   We recognize that our people are our strength and the diverse talents they bring to our global workforce are directly linked to our success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.
   
   The health and safety of our colleagues, candidates, clients and communities has been a top priority in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. JPMorgan Chase was awarded the "WELL Health-Safety Rating" for all of our 6,200 locations globally based on our operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment.
   
   As a part of our commitment to health and safety, we have implemented various COVID-related health and safety requirements for our workforce. Employees are expected to follow the Firm's current COVID-19 or other infectious disease health and safety requirements, including local requirements. Requirements include sharing information including your vaccine card in the firm's vaccine record tool, and may include mask wearing. Requirements may change in the future with the evolving public health landscape. JPMorgan Chase will consider accommodation requests as required by applicable law.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veterans

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right vice president of research and development for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with vice presidents of research and development they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit vice presidents of research and development who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your vice president of research and development job on Zippia to find and recruit vice president of research and development candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit vice presidents of research and development, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 vice president of research and development

   Once you have selected a candidate for the vice president of research and development position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new vice president 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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