As a research and development manager, you could be using scientific research and innovation to create and improve products. Read our career guide to see what the job involves and how to get into the profession.
To start in this career, you’ll need to progress from a scientific or technical degree relevant to the field you want to work in.
You could begin in a structured graduate scheme or junior role where you learn from more experienced team members. Or you could start in a slightly different profession and get involved in a company’s R&D activities from there.
Your employer should give you training opportunities to develop your professional and R&D skills. With time, you could become a specialist in a particular area for a company, lead projects and manage teams.
With enough experience and a strong network of professional contacts, you could become self-employed and work as a consultant for several clients.
Depending on the company you work for, you might be given several opportunities to continue learning. For example, if you need specialised training for a particular project, you could learn from a more expert team member or by completing an external training course.
There will always be new technical skills for you to learn or research methods you could improve on. You could study for a higher qualification, such as a PhD or management certification.
You might have to take control of your learning yourself. If you join a professional body like the British Science Association or the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, you’ll benefit from chartered status, career development and networking opportunities. You can also keep up to date with sector developments by following industry publications and going to conferences and events.
Use our Career Matcher to see which industries and roles align best with your interests.
