How to become a research and development manager

Official title: Research and development manager

Also called: Agricultural research director, Engineering research manager, Manufacturing research director, Research and development (R&D) director, Scientific research department manager, Technical and research director, Technical and research manager, Assistant Research Director, Chief Engineer/Fellow, Chief Research and Development Officer, Product Development Manager, R&D Manager

Research and development manager plans, directs and coordinates the research and development activities of an enterprise or organisation or of enterprises that provide related services to other enterprises and organisations. He/she may implement processes for innovation and intellectual property management, including technology incubation, licensing and contract management.

Main tasks

• Planning, directing and coordinating research and development activities, in-house or commissioned from external research organisations, to develop new or improved technical processes, products or utilisation of materials
• Planning the overall research and development programme of an enterprise or organisation, specifying goals and budgetary requirements
• Leading and managing the activities of research and development staff

Ways in

• University: Science degrees, Offered by 4 universities in Singapore
• University: Engineering degrees, Offered by 4 universities in Singapore

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $130,752 a year. The middle half earn $84,732 to $206,268 a year.
• Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

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• Sales manager
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Questions people ask

How do I become a research and development manager?

Ways in include: Science degrees; Engineering degrees.

How much does a research and development manager earn in Singapore?

Median full-time pay is $130,752 a year (Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg)). The middle half earn $84,732 to $206,268.

Will AI change the work of a research and development manager?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

• Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg): Resident Occupational Wages (Occupational Wage Survey) (June 2024 (data.gov.sg update 2026-04-01)), Singapore Open Data Licence v1.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
• International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026