. . . Is bringing people together
Whether scientists work alone or in teams, a project
manager's job is to bring people together to achieve
a common goal. So says Jeff Richardson, program
development leader at the Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory in California. This role is becoming
increasingly important because now more people
are involved in research projects than in the
past. "The biggest transition we're seeing
in science" says Richardson, "is a move
away from pure, curiosity-driven work and towards
an emphasis on applications. We have to start
taking into consideration what the impact of a
product will be, what kind of return on investment
will it bring, who will pay for it, and how to
commercialize it". A single project can employ
hundreds of people directly and even more indirectly
in jobs ranging from developing and testing samples
to manufacturing and commercializing the product.
A project manager's role is also to ensure consistency
in the quality of work at every step.
. . . Is a career choice
Richard Fuentes, a laboratory director at the
advanced materials electronics lab at Dow Chemical,
spends his day receiving one-on-one updates from
his scientists and managers, putting together
self-directed teams, allocating available resources
to different projects, and strategizing about
the best direction for research with business
managers. The R&D managers' role of interacting
with business managers has been catalyzed by the
commercial approach to developing new products.
"Early in my career, I expressed an interest
in management," says Fuentes. "Some
people are natural managers; I wasn't seen as
a natural manager right off the bat. My path to
management was created through experience and
mutual discussion of my career goals".
Few chemists go to school to become R&D managers,
but many receive management training through their
employers. R&D management is a position scientists
move into over the course of their careers. Richardson
says there is a critical time in almost every
scientist career when he or she must choose either
a technical career in research or a management
career path involving directing larger programs,
bringing in more money for research, and mentoring
the careers of others. Some companies allow scientists
to make these career choices at the time of employment.
. . . Requires a broad perspective
The R&D manager must have a strong foundation
in his or her scientific discipline as well as
the ability to understand and work with scientists
in other disciplines. Bill Huffman, director in
the department of medicinal chemistry at SmithKline
Beecham, says R&D managers in the pharmaceutical
industry must know, for example, biology, molecular
modeling, and the principles that allow drugs
to be orally active.
The pharmaceutical industry works to fill unmet
medical needs. Huffman spends a good deal of time
finding ways for SmithKline Beecham to apply its
expertise to developing new drug molecules. Part
of his job involves interacting with scientists
outside the company, at universities, and at companies
with whom his company has strategic alliances.
Though the bulk of his day is spent with scientists-particularly
with the people who are making new drug molecules-Huffman,
like Fuentes and Richardson, spends some of his
time working with business managers and making
decisions about how financial resources will be
spent. He says an R&D manager should have
the ability to grasp other disciplines, to be
objective, and to see problems outside of his
own area of expertise. "Being a good chemist
is critical to being a good R&D manager, but
that's just the entry card to a career in management."
. . . Is seeing the big picture
R&D managers indicate they were attracted
to careers in management because it offered them
an opportunity to look at the big picture and
to set strategy and direction in research discoveries
and new products. "My name may not be on
papers or patents, but I know I was part of the
work that contributed to their success,"
says Richardson.
Copyright 1997 American Chemical Society
WORK DESCRIPTION
A project manager's job is to take broad responsibility
for the scientific aspects of a research project
or research team and marry its efforts with the
strategic and business goals of his or her company.
Time is spent working with other scientists in
the lab, planning directions for research, putting
together self-directed teams of scientists, obtaining
in and allocating monies, and meeting with business
managers.
WORKING CONDITIONS
The workday tends to be longer for managers than
for bench chemists and lab scientists; managers
stress that if you are working for a global organization,
you must be available at all hours of the day.
In companies that are downsizing, some R&D
managers say they have more work than they can
realistically accomplish. Pressure to shorten
R&D cycles and prove a new product or molecule's
feasibility in three to seven years may add stress
to the job. Managers may also have to be willing
to consider relocating.
PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT
Research patterns are changing. Most companies
and technology-driven organizations employ self-directed
research teams. But R&D managers this does
not decrease the need for management skills. This
shift simply means that R&D managers must
now lead groups of chemists who are themselves
working under new conditions. Managers at national
laboratories and government agencies tend to have
longer development times (could use a brief explanation)
than industry, but being an R&D manager anywhere
generally involves similar levels of responsibility
and reward.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
It is not always true that the best chemists will
be the best managers. People who don't have to
do everything themselves and can derive satisfaction
from the process of bringing others together tend
to be the best managers. A broad perspective and
the ability to integrate chemistry with other
disciplines is important. R&D managers say
being a mentor, cheerleader, delegator and good
listener are the key job descriptors.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Few chemists go to school to become R&D managers,
though many companies provide management training
to their scientists. The best training is first
to master your field and then to broaden your
perspective with knowledge of other disciplines
such as biology, chemical engineering, materials
science, and biotechnology. R&D managers strongly
urge students to take courses in total synthesis
if offered at their schools, because these courses
offer the best academic level exposure to a project's
management from start to finish.
JOB OUTLOOK
Demand always exists for individuals willing to
assume positions of leadership in scientific projects.
Managers today say they are on the lookout for
at new recruits with the ability to proceed in
either direction-management or research.
SALARY RANGE
R&D management is one of the highest paying
career tracks for chemists
holding any degree. In 1995, a chemist with a
bachelor's degree and 10-years experience as an
R&D manager earned about $47,000. M.S. chemists
with 10 years experience earned about $53,000
as R&D managers. Ph.D. chemists with 10 years
experience as R&D managers earned a base salary
of about $80,000. In addition, as about half of
industrial chemists earn bonuses; managers are
apt to earn higher bonuses than non-managers.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Generally, chemists spend a few years working
in their field of study before moving on to management
positions. However, it is always a good idea to
stay current with trends and changes in your discipline
as you position yourself for a career in management.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
Managers need a solid grounding in their discipline.
Interacting with people and the ability to present
work to business mangers and peer scientists is
also important. Develop interpersonal skills working
with others in the lab and learn to present work
with clear expository prose. These skills will
prepare you well to be a manager.
American Chemical Society, Education Division,
1155 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036;
(202) 452-2113. Production of career material
was funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
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