research manager
Snapshot
Are you passionate about scientific advancement and leading teams? As a research manager, you’ll be at the forefront of innovation, guiding research projects and ensuring impactful outcomes across diverse sectors.
Research managers are vital leaders within research facilities, universities, and various industries like chemical, technical, and life sciences. Your role involves overseeing the entire research and development process, from initial planning to final execution. You’ll work closely with executive staff, coordinate team activities, and monitor progress to ensure projects stay on track and achieve their goals. You may also be involved in conducting research yourself and providing expert advice on research strategies.
- • Planning and coordinating research projects, defining scope, timelines, and budgets.
- • Managing and mentoring research teams, fostering a collaborative and productive environment.
- • Monitoring research progress, identifying and resolving challenges, and ensuring adherence to ethical and regulatory guidelines.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Administrative and commercial managers — 69 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and 2 more.
Longest-running shortage: Netherlands, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person's chances. It describes a market.
Explore More
Find your career path and explore the science behind our recommendations.
Could research manager fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Attention to Detail?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Persistence?
Future Outlook for research manager
The outlook for research manager reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could research manager change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could research manager change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- cope with challenging demands
- manage budgets
- manage staff
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- perform scientific research
- study topics
- respect cultural differences in the field of exhibition
Tasks most exposed to automation
- report analysis results
- estimate duration of work
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Management & Entrepreneurship
A typical day as a research manager
09 09:00 · Morning cope with challenging demands
10 10:30 · Mid-morning provide project information on exhibitions
12 12:00 · Midday respect cultural differences in the field of exhibition
14 14:00 · Afternoon study a collection
15 15:30 · Late afternoon work independently on exhibitions
17 17:00 · Wrap-up study topics
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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project management
The discipline of project management, the activities which comprise this area and the variables implied in it, such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.
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computational chemistry
The branch of chemistry that aims at addressing complex chemical problems through computer simulations.
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urban sustainability
The branch of urban planning that aims to improve, social, economic and environmental conditions of a city.
- multidisciplinary research
- research design
- scientific research methodology
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perform scientific research
Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
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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.
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study a collection
Research and trace the origins and the historical significance of collections and archive content.
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manage budgets
Plan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.
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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.
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provide project information on exhibitions
Provide information on the preparation, execution and evaluation of exhibitions and other artistic projects.
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discuss research proposals
Discuss proposals and projects with researchers, decide on resources to allocate and whether to move forward with the study.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Where does research manager fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of educational background is typically needed to become a research manager?
- A strong academic foundation is essential. Most research managers hold a master’s degree or doctorate in a relevant scientific field. Experience in research, often gained through previous roles as a researcher or scientist, is also highly valued.
- Are research managers typically employed, or do they often work independently?
- This role is primarily an employment-based position. Research managers are usually part of a larger organization, contributing to their research and development efforts.
- How do the key work styles (leadership, strategic thinking, detail-oriented) impact the daily work of a research manager?
- These work styles are crucial. Leadership allows you to motivate and guide your team. Strategic thinking helps in planning projects and adapting to changing priorities. Attention to detail ensures accuracy in data analysis and adherence to protocols, all contributing to successful research outcomes.
- Research Manager — is there a shortage in Europe?
- Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 6 of the 11 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and 2 more. Netherlands has reported one for 4 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Research Manager — what does it pay in the United States?
- $161,180 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $107,810 to $267,290. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.