A research manager is in charge of overseeing investigative activities related to a company’s product and service development. This may entail gathering data, creating reports, and making recommendations based on the data gathered. The job requirements vary depending on the employer and the nature of the work, but they may include a college diploma and, in some cases, a master’s degree in business administration. Job openings can be found in trade magazines as well as internal company job postings.
The development and implementation of research is one aspect of this work. This may entail conducting field studies, surveys, or other data collection methods. Legal requirements, as well as the needs of the client, may be taken into account by research managers. In clinical trials, for example, the company must administer the trial and report the results to a regulatory agency according to strict guidelines. In some cases, a lead researcher oversees smaller teams that work on specific aspects of the study.
The research manager enters information as it comes in and compiles it into reports. Internal company updates that provide information on the progress of a study, as well as formal reports intended for public consumption, are examples of these. Research managers can test products and services in different markets, experiment with different designs and slogans, and collect other data to see who and how people respond to products. Understanding and interpreting the research results may necessitate knowledge in fields such as psychology.
A research manager may be involved in the early stages of product development within a company to make recommendations based on existing research. Customers may be given a high priority if they repeatedly request a particular product or feature. A research manager can provide feedback as products progress through development and testing. This aids the company in developing the most effective and appropriate product, right down to the packaging color, in order to increase the likelihood of a successful launch.
The research manager may supervise a large number of employees. Contractors and consultants can also be hired for specific projects. Organizational and communication skills are typically beneficial in this field. On the basis of their strong resumes, people with established reputations and skill sets may be able to advance within a company or seek better positions at other firms. As they advance in the company, higher-ranking employees may be able to take advantage of a variety of benefits or compare competing offers.