Natural Sciences Manager

Also called: Agricultural Research Director, Agriculture Research Director, Chemical Laboratory Chief, Chemical Plant Technical Director, Clinical Trial Manager

Natural Sciences Manager

Varies

estimated salary

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

 

 

 

  • Confer with scientists, engineers, regulators, or others to plan or review projects or to provide technical assistance.
  • Develop client relationships and communicate with clients to explain proposals, present research findings, establish specifications, or discuss project status.
  • Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
  • Review project activities and prepare and review research, testing, or operational reports.
  • Determine scientific or technical goals within broad outlines provided by top management and make detailed plans to accomplish these goals.
  • Develop or implement policies, standards, or procedures for the architectural, scientific, or technical work performed to ensure regulatory compliance or operations enhancement.
  • Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
  • Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
  • Recruit personnel or oversee the development or maintenance of staff competence.
  • Prepare project proposals.
  • Conduct own research in field of expertise.
  • Prepare and administer budgets, approve and review expenditures, and prepare financial reports.
  • Make presentations at professional meetings to further knowledge in the field.
  • Develop innovative technology or train staff for its implementation.
  • 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.
  • Advise or assist in obtaining patents or meeting other legal requirements.
Work Context
  • Electronic Mail — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 81% responded "Every day".
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 81% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Telephone — 77% responded "Every day".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 68% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 68% responded "Every day".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 60% responded "Extremely important".
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Work Activities
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Coordinate operational activities with external stakeholders.
  • Communicate organizational information to customers or other stakeholders.
  • Establish interpersonal business relationships to facilitate work activities.
  • Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures.
  • Manage operations, research, or logistics projects.
  • Direct organizational operations, projects, or services.
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Knowledge

Administration and Management
  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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Skills

Writing
  • Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Inductive Reasoning
  • The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Deductive Reasoning
  • The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Written Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop Hot Technology
  • Microsoft Visio Hot Technology
  • Graphics software
Analytical or scientific software
  • The MathWorks MATLAB Hot Technology
  • SAS Hot Technology
  • IBM SPSS Statistics Hot Technology
  • STATISTICA
  • StataCorp Stata
  • Laboratory information management system LIMS
Data base user interface and query software
  • Structured query language SQL Hot Technology
  • Microsoft Access Hot Technology
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