Roles and missions of the R&D project manager / R&D project leader
An R&D project manager is a key person in a research and development project. They are responsible for managing the design, planning, implementation and evaluation of R&D projects. They are responsible for the success of the project, and for coordinating teams at every stage of the product life-cycle. The main roles and missions of an R&D Project Manager are as follows:
- Define project objectives and develop a detailed project plan in line with customer requirements;
- Ensure compliance with project deadlines and costs, and manage human and financial resources;
- Manage team members and supervise their work;
- Collaborate with other R&D project managers and support departments to ensure smooth integration of projects;
- Identify potential risks and draw up action plans to counter them;
- Evaluate risks and benefits at each stage of the project and ensure consistency;
- Participate in meetings and lead discussions with customers to define their requirements and expectations;
- Ensure communication between project members and consistency of information;
- Make presentations at events and seminars to promote the project and results;
- Provide updates on progress and problems encountered, ensure the quality of results and propose solutions to problems that may arise.
The R&D Project Manager must be a motivated and organized individual, with excellent communication and teamwork skills, and extensive experience of research and development projects.
R&D project manager salary and career development
An R&D Project Manager's salary can vary considerably depending on location and type of company. On average, an R&D Project Manager can expect a gross annual salary of between 45,000 and 65,000 euros. There are several factors involved in determining the salary of an R&D Project Manager, such as professional experience, type of project and sector of activity. Evolution of gross annual salary according to experience for an R&D Project Manager / R&D Project Manager :
- 0 to 2 years: between 35,000 and 45,000 euros
- 2 to 5 years: between 45,000 and 55,000 euros
- 5 to 10 years: between 55,000 and 65,000 euros
- 10 to 15 years: between 65,000 and 85,000 euros
- Over 15 years: between 85,000 and 105,000 euros
Career prospects for an R&D project manager :
- R&D Director
- Director of digital transformation
- Project Manager
- Product manager
- R&D Consultant
