Skip to main content

Research Manager (Sciences)

Science

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

ScienceBusiness

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
  2. 2Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
  3. 3Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
  4. 4Provide for stewardship of plant or animal resources or habitats, studying land use, monitoring animal populations, or providing shelter, resources, or medical treatment for animals.
  5. 5Review project activities and prepare and review research, testing, or operational reports.
  6. 6Confer with scientists, engineers, regulators, or others to plan or review projects or to provide technical assistance.
  7. 7Develop client relationships and communicate with clients to explain proposals, present research findings, establish specifications, or discuss project status.
  8. 8Determine scientific or technical goals within broad outlines provided by top management and make detailed plans to accomplish these goals.
  9. 9Prepare project proposals.
  10. 10Develop or implement policies, standards, or procedures for the architectural, scientific, or technical work performed to ensure regulatory compliance or operations enhancement.
  11. 11Recruit personnel or oversee the development or maintenance of staff competence.
  12. 12Prepare and administer budgets, approve and review expenditures, and prepare financial reports.
  13. 13Conduct own research in field of expertise.
  14. 14Develop innovative technology or train staff for its implementation.
  15. 15Make presentations at professional meetings to further knowledge in the field.
  16. 16Advise or assist in obtaining patents or meeting other legal requirements.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Lab Manager
  • Lab Director
  • R & D Manager
  • Gravity Manager
  • R and D Director
  • Research Manager
  • Quarrying Manager
  • Research Director
  • Water Team Leader
  • Wild Life Manager

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. Typical entry

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

BiologyDraws directly on Biology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional ScienceDraws directly on Biology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
BusinessDraws directly on Administration and Management — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EconomicsDraws directly on Administration and Management — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Biology81%

    BiologyAdditional Science

  • English Language80%

    English

  • Administration and Management76%

    BusinessEconomics

  • Computers and Electronics73%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Administrative71%

    Business

  • Chemistry70%

    Chemistry

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleContact most of the time
  • Dealing with customers or the publicHigh
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentAlmost never

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

37%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Matriculation

One or two years, heavily subsidised with allowance. Competitive, quota-based entry.

12–24 months

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Related careers

If this interests you, these are worth a look too.

About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Natural Sciences Managers

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org