M5M5 — Senior Director
R&D Senior Director
Leads multiple R&D departments or a broad functional area; second-highest R&D leader.
What this level means
Leads multiple functions or a large department; drives multi-year strategy.
- Scope
- Multiple functions or a large department
- Autonomy
- Owns multi-year strategy for the area
- Complexity
- Org-level trade-offs and investment
- Impact
- Multi-function results
- Decision rights
- Owns investment and org design across functions
- Leadership
- Leads directors and managers
- Typical experience
- 12–18 yrs
What you'd do
- Oversee multiple R&D departments or a broad portfolio of R&D programs.
- Formulate and execute the R&D strategy in alignment with the company’s growth plans.
- Make high-level decisions on project portfolio management.
- Serve as a key liaison to executive leadership for all R&D matters.
- Strengthen the innovation culture.
- Oversee R&D departments
- Formulate R&D strategy
- Manage portfolio
Skills, knowledge & tools
- Department oversight
- Strategy formulation
- Portfolio management
- Executive liaison
- Innovation culture
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Leadership
- Department oversight
- Strategy formulation
- Portfolio management
- Executive liaison
- Innovation culture
- 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
- Graduate degree required (PhD, or MS plus MBA/management credentials).
- ~15+ years in R&D with significant leadership tenure.
Common titles
Senior Director, Client Project ManagementClient Project Management Senior DirectorSenior Director, Client Project ManagerClient Project Manager Senior DirectorSenior Director, Internal Innovation InitiativesInternal Innovation Initiatives Senior DirectorR&D Senior 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)