Occupation

Natural Sciences Managers

Human Advantage 76%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.1 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

Also Known As: Agricultural Research Director, Agriculture Research Director, Analytical Services Manager, Chemical Engineer Supervisor, Chemical Plant Technical Director, Chemical Process Exploration Manager, Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager +25 more

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Core Tasks

  1. Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
  2. Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
  3. Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
  4. Review project activities and prepare and review research, testing, or operational reports.
  5. Confer with scientists, engineers, regulators, or others to plan or review projects or to provide technical assistance.
  6. Develop client relationships and communicate with clients to explain proposals, present research findings, establish specifications, or discuss project status.
  7. Determine scientific or technical goals within broad outlines provided by top management and make detailed plans to accomplish these goals.
  8. Prepare project proposals.
  9. Develop or implement policies, standards, or procedures for the architectural, scientific, or technical work performed to ensure regulatory compliance or operations enhancement.
  10. Recruit personnel or oversee the development or maintenance of staff competence.
  11. Prepare and administer budgets, approve and review expenditures, and prepare financial reports.
  12. Conduct own research in field of expertise.
  13. Develop innovative technology or train staff for its implementation.
  14. Make presentations at professional meetings to further knowledge in the field.

Supplemental Tasks (2)

  1. Provide for stewardship of plant or animal resources or habitats, studying land use, monitoring animal populations, or providing shelter, resources, or medical treatment for animals.
  2. Advise or assist in obtaining patents or meeting other legal requirements.

Education & Training

Job Zone 5 Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Bachelor's Degree
35%
Post-Doctoral Training
27%
Master's Degree
15%
Doctoral Degree
14%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
7%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.
2%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • IBM SPSS Statistics
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Word
  • Oracle Database
  • R
  • SAP software
  • SAS
  • Structured query language SQL
  • The MathWorks MATLAB

Software (29)

  • Clinical trial management software
  • Graphics software
  • IBM Lotus 1-2-3
  • Integrated development environment IDE software
  • Laboratory information management system LIMS
  • SAP Business Objects
  • STATISTICA
  • StataCorp Stata
  • Web browser software
  • Word processing software

Tools & Equipment (6)

  • Color plotters
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Liquid crystal display LCD video projectors
  • Personal computers
  • Universal serial bus USB flash drives

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Biotechnology Research & Development Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 5
Natural Sciences Managers You are here

Conservation & Land Management Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 5
Natural Sciences Managers You are here

Ecological Research & Development Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 5
Natural Sciences Managers You are here

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