M2M2 — Manager II
R&D Product Development Manager (Mid-Level Manager)
The M2 role is a mid-level R&D management position accountable for a broader scope of product development activities than M1, overseeing multiple projects or an entire product development program.
What this level means
Manages an established team or sub-function; owns planning and performance for the group.
- Scope
- An established team or sub-function
- Autonomy
- Owns planning for the group
- Complexity
- Cross-project coordination and priorities
- Impact
- Group delivery and development
- Decision rights
- Owns staffing, priorities, performance for the group
- Leadership
- Manages a team; sometimes manages leads
- Typical experience
- 5–8 yrs
What you'd do
- Oversee a portfolio of R&D projects or a major program.
- Manage multiple teams and allocate resources across projects.
- Provide high-level technical oversight across projects.
- Coordinate with other functions for project alignment.
- Contribute to R&D roadmapping and product strategy.
- Manage risks at a program level.
- Provide leadership to direct reports and develop their skills.
- Oversee project portfolios
- Align projects with strategic goals
- Manage program-level risks
Skills, knowledge & tools
- Project portfolio management
- Resource allocation
- Technical oversight
- Cross-functional coordination
- Strategic planning
- Risk management
- Leadership development
- Decision-making
- Project management
- Strategic planning
- Resource management
- Technical oversight
- Risk management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- R&D roadmapping
- Product strategy
- Broader Management Span
- Greater Strategic Role in Execution
- Decision-Making Authority
- Policy and Process Input
- Comprehensive Department Knowledge
- Impact and Visibility
- Inter-Team Influence
What good looks like
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related scientific field.
- Experience managing multiple projects or a major program.
- Advanced degree in a relevant field.
- Experience in strategic planning and resource allocation.
Common titles
R&D Product Development Manager
What it pays
Market-pay benchmarks for this family × level are being recalibrated across all survey sources and will return shortly.
O*NET / SOC: 19-0000 — Life, Physical, & Social Science Occupations (inferred)