Research manager

Research managers oversee the research and development functions of a research facility or program or university. They support the executive staff, coordinate work activities, and monitor staff and research projects. They may work in a wide array of sectors, such as the chemical, technical and life sciences sector. Research managers can also advise on research and execute research themselves.

The following job titles also refer to research manager:

head of laboratory
research scientist
head laboratory analyst
reserach managers
scientific research director
principal research scientist
scientific director
chief science officer

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as research manager. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Research manager is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to research manager.

museum scientist
collection manager
art restorer
conservation scientist
exhibition curator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of research manager. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of research manager with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of research manager.

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.
Scientific research methodology: The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.

These skills are necessary for the role of research manager.

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.
Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
Manage operational budgets: Prepare, monitor and adjust operational budgets together with the economical/administrative manager/professionals in the arts institute/unit/project.
Provide project information on exhibitions: Provide information on the preparation, execution and evaluation of exhibitions and other artistic projects.
Discuss research proposals: Discuss proposals and projects with researchers, decide on resources to allocate and whether to move forward with the study.
Study topics: Carry out effective research on relevant topics to be able to produce summary information appropriate to different audiences. The research may involve looking at books, journals, the internet, and/or verbal discussions with knowledgeable persons.
Respect cultural differences in the field of exhibition: Respect cultural differences when creating artistic concepts and exhibitions. Collaborate with international artists, curators, museums and sponsors.
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.
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.
Cope with challenging demands: Maintain a positive attitude towards new and challenging demands such as interaction with artists and handling of artistic artefacts. Work under pressure such as dealing with last moment changes in time schedules and financial restraints.
Work independently on exhibitions: Work autonomously on the development of a framework for artistic projects such as locations and workflows.
Study a collection: Research and trace the origins and the historical significance of collections and archive content.
Estimate duration of work: Produce accurate calculations on time necessary to fulfil future technical tasks based on past and present information and observations or plan the estimated duration of individual tasks in a given project.
Communicate in english in a competent way: Competent use of English; R351refers to level C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of research manager. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Project management principles: Different elements and phases of project management.
Physics: The natural science involving the study of matter, motion, energy, force and related notions.
Laboratory techniques: Techniques applied in the different fields of natural science in order to obtain experimental data such as gravimetric analysis, gas chromatography, electronic or thermic methods.
Biology: Tissues, cells, and functions of plant and animal organisms and their interdependencies and interactions with each other and the environment.
Chemistry: The composition, structure, and properties of substances and the processes and transformations that they undergo; the uses of different chemicals and their interactions, production techniques, risk factors, and disposal methods.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of research manager. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Liaise with cultural partners: Establish and maintain sustainable partnerships with cultural authorities, sponsors and other cultural institutions.
Use ict recources to solve work related tasks: Ability to choose and use ICT recources in order to solve related tasks
Conduct quantitative research: Execute a systematic empirical investigation of observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques.
Direct an artistic team: Lead and instruct a complete team with the required cultural expertise and experience.
Interact with an audience: Convey the artistic values of the art form(s). Respond to the reactions of your audience and involve them.
Present exhibition: Present an exhibition and give educational lectures in a comprehensible way that is attractive to the public.
Perform project management: Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project’s progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.
Conduct qualitative research: Gather relevant information by applying systematic methods, such as interviews, focus groups, text analysis, observations and case studies.

1223 – Research and development managers

 

 

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References

1. Research manager – ESCO