M4M4 — Director
R&D Director
Leads an R&D department or major functional area.
What this level means
Leads a function or department; owns strategy, budget, and outcomes for the area.
- Scope
- A function or department
- Autonomy
- Owns area strategy and budget
- Complexity
- Strategic priorities and cross-functional alignment
- Impact
- Function-level results
- Decision rights
- Owns strategy, budget, and org design for the area
- Leadership
- Leads managers; sets direction for the function
- Typical experience
- 10–15 yrs
What you'd do
- Lead an entire R&D department or a significant technical domain.
- Develop the R&D portfolio strategy for their area of responsibility.
- Ensure that all projects under their department meet technical specifications.
- Coordinate high-level cross-functional efforts.
- Manage senior R&D staff.
- Lead R&D department
- Develop portfolio strategy
- Ensure project compliance
Skills, knowledge & tools
- Department leadership
- Portfolio strategy development
- Technical specification management
- Cross-functional coordination
- Staff management
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Leadership
- Department management
- Portfolio strategy
- Technical specifications
- Cross-functional coordination
- Staff management
- Regulatory compliance
- Innovation strategies
- Client relationship management
- Technical and Domain Expertise
- Leadership & Team Development
- Strategic Thinking
- Communication & Influence
- Problem Solving & Decision-Making
- Project & Program Management
- Innovation & Continuous Improvement
- Regulatory & Quality Mindset
- Client Focus and Relationship Management
What good looks like
- Advanced degree (PhD in a scientific field or a Master’s with an MBA) strongly preferred.
- ~12–15 years of experience in R&D, with 5+ years in leadership roles.
Common titles
Director, Client Project ManagementClient Project Management DirectorDirector, Client Project ManagerClient Project Manager DirectorDirector, Internal Innovation InitiativesInternal Innovation Initiatives DirectorR&D Director
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)