Profession research and development manager
Research and development managers coordinate the efforts of scientists, academical researchers, product developers, and market researchers towards the creation of new products, the improvement of current ones or other research activities, including scientific research. They manage and plan research and development activities of an organisation, specify goals and budget requirements and manage the staff.
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Personality Type
- Enterprising / Investigative
- Investigative / Enterprising
Knowledge
- Innovation processes
The techniques, models, methods and strategies which contribute to the promotion of steps towards innovation.
- Corporate social responsibility
The handling or managing of business processes in a responsible and ethical manner considering the economic responsibility towards shareholders as equally important as the responsibility towards environmental and social stakeholders.
- Marketing principles
The principles of managing the relationship between consumers and products or services for the purpose of increasing sales and improving advertising techniques.
- Market research
The processes, techniques, and purposes comprised in the first step for developing marketing strategies such as the collection of information about customers and the definition of segments and targets.
- Project management
Understand project management and the activities which comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.
- Intellectual property law
The regulations that govern the set of rights protecting products of the intellect from unlawful infringement.
Skills
- Manage research and development projects
Plan, organise, direct and follow up on projects aimed at developing new products, implementing innovative services, or further developing existing ones.
- Seek innovation in current practices
Search for improvements and present innovative solutions, creativity and alternative thinking to develop new technologies, methods or ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
- Carry out strategic research
Research long term possibilities for improvements and plan steps to achieve them.
- Report analysis results
Produce research documents or give presentations to report the results of a conducted research and analysis project, indicating the analysis procedures and methods which led to the results, as well as potential interpretations of the results.
- Represent the organisation
Act as representative of the institution, company or organisation to the outside world.
- Work in an economically efficient manner
Perform work processes as efficiently as possible, avoiding the waste of materials, time, and energy as much as possible.
- Manage budgets
Conduct cost estimates and budget planning. Monitor the budget, as well as costs and expenses. Forecast the budget development continuously. Report on the budget.
- Analyse external factors of companies
Perform research and analysis of the external factor pertaining to companies such as consumers, position in the market, competitors, and political situation.
- Analyse business objectives
Study data according to business strategies and objectives and make both short-term and long-term strategic plans.
- Analyse internal factors of companies
Research and understand various internal factors that influence the operation of companies such as its culture, strategic foundation, products, prices, and available resources.
- Assess the feasibility of implementing developments
Study developments and innovation proposals in order to determine their applicability in the business and their feasibility of implementation from various fronts such as economic impact, business image, and consumer response.
- Manage staff
Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
- Identify new business opportunities
Pursue potential customers or products in order to generate additional sales and ensure growth.
- Perform market research
Gather, assess and represent data about target market and customers in order to facilitate strategic development and feasibility studies. Identify market trends.
Optional knowledge and skills
analyse market financial trends contact scientists collaborate with engineers manage product testing plan product management ensure finished product meet requirements sales strategies keep up with trends assist scientific research commercial law provide improvement strategies create a financial plan analyse consumer buying trends conduct research interview funding methods interview people integrate shareholders' interests in business plans develop product policies identify customer's needs analyse production processes for improvement analyse financial risk marketing management apply scientific methods risk management analyse economic trends cost management keep updated on innovations in various business fields develop product design interview techniquesCommon job titles
- Program and support manager
- Manager - knits fabric research and development
- Manager, development research and prospect management
- Engineering/r&d manager
- Research and development - regulatory affairs manager
- Planning and development manager
- Development and outreach manager
- Manager - advanced development
- Manager, research and development - life science
- Document manager and archivist, r&d