Education:
35%
Bachelor's Degree
27%
Post-Doctoral Training
Natural Sciences Manager
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Job Outlook:
Faster than average
Education:
Bachelor's degree
Salary
High:
$210,330.00
Average:
$163,610.00
Hourly
Average:
$78.66
What they do:
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
On the job, you would:
- Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
- Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
- Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
Important Qualities
Communication skills. Natural sciences managers must be able to communicate clearly with a variety of audiences, such as scientists, policymakers, and the public. Both written and oral communication are important.
Critical-thinking skills. Natural sciences managers must carefully evaluate the work of others. They must determine if their staff’s methods and results are based on sound science.
Interpersonal skills. Natural sciences managers lead research teams and therefore need to work well with others in order to reach common goals. Managers routinely deal with conflict, which they must be able to turn into positive outcomes for their organization.
Leadership skills. Natural sciences managers must be able to organize, direct, and motivate others. They need to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their workers and create an environment in which the workers can succeed.
Problem-solving skills. Natural sciences managers use scientific observation and analysis to find answers to complex technical questions.
Time-management skills. Natural sciences managers must be able to perform multiple administrative, supervisory, and technical tasks while ensuring that projects remain on schedule.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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91% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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87% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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85% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
|
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85% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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84% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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84% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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83% | Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. | |
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83% | Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. | |
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83% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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82% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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79% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
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78% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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78% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
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69% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. | |
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67% | Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
100% | Enterprising - Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law. | |
|
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72% | Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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83% | Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. | |
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81% | Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. | |
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72% | Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. | |
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72% | Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. | |
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67% | Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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78% | Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. | |
|
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75% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |
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75% | Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. | |
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75% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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75% | Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. | |
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75% | Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). | |
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75% | Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). | |
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72% | Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. | |
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72% | Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. | |
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72% | Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. | |
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69% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |
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69% | Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. | |
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60% | Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem. | |
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56% | Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity). | |
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56% | Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem. | |
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53% | Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly. | |
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53% | Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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71% | Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. | |
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71% | Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. | |
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70% | Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. | |
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68% | Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. | |
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68% | Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. | |
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66% | Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job. | |
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63% | Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. | |
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61% | Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively. | |
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61% | Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. | |
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59% | Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. | |
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59% | Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. | |
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59% | Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others. | |
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57% | Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. | |
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57% | Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems. | |
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55% | Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system. | |
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55% | Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things. | |
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55% | Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. | |
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55% | Instructing - Teaching others how to do something. | |
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55% | Operations Analysis - Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design. | |
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55% | Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes. | |
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54% | Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior. | |
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52% | Management of Financial Resources - Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Coordinate operational activities with external stakeholders.
Communicate organizational information to customers or other stakeholders.
Establish interpersonal business relationships to facilitate work activities.
Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures.
Manage operations, research, or logistics projects.
Direct organizational operations, projects, or services.
Prepare proposals or grant applications to obtain project funding.
Develop organizational methods or procedures.
Direct organizational operations, projects, or services.
Analyze data to inform operational decisions or activities.
Prepare operational progress or status reports.
Evaluate employee performance.
Supervise employees.
Hire personnel.
Develop organizational goals or objectives.
Implement organizational process or policy changes.
Develop organizational policies or programs.
Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures.
Develop organizational methods or procedures.
Conduct employee training programs.
Monitor animal behavior or condition.
Advise others about land management or conservation.
Conduct research of processes in natural or industrial ecosystems.
Conduct research to gain information about products or processes.
Manage human resources activities.
Recruit personnel.
Advise others on legal or regulatory compliance matters.
Approve expenditures.
Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
Prepare operational budgets.
Present information to the public.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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100% | Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job? | |
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97% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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96% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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92% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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86% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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86% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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85% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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81% | Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers? | |
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78% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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77% | Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting? | |
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77% | Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? | |
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76% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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76% | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? | |
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72% | Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job? | |
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69% | Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures? | |
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64% | Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? | |
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60% | Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets? | |
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57% | Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? | |
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56% | Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? | |
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54% | Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos? | |
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53% | Consequence of Error - How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable? | |
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78% | Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
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90% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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90% | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
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89% | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. | |
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89% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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89% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
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89% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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87% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
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87% | Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. | |
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86% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
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85% | Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. | |
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83% | Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. | |
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82% | Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. | |
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82% | Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. | |
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81% | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. | |
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80% | Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. | |
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80% | Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. | |
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80% | Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. | |
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78% | Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. | |
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76% | Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. | |
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76% | Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. | |
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73% | Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money. | |
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72% | Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. | |
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70% | Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. | |
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69% | Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. | |
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67% | Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity. | |
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65% | Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization. | |
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64% | Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. | |
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63% | Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. | |
|
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61% | Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics. | |
|
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60% | Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork. | |
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53% | Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others. |
What Natural Sciences Managers Do
Natural sciences managers direct research and development projects.
Natural sciences managers supervise the work of scientists, including chemists, physicists, and biologists. They direct activities related to research and development, and coordinate activities such as testing, quality control, and production.
Duties
Natural sciences managers typically do the following:
- Work with top executives to develop goals and strategies for researchers and developers
- Budget resources for projects and programs by determining staffing, training, and equipment needs
- Hire, supervise, and evaluate scientists, technicians, and other staff members
- Review staff members’ methodology and the accuracy of their research results
- Monitor the progress of projects, review research performed, and draft operational reports
- Ensure that laboratories are stocked with equipment and supplies
- Provide technical assistance to scientists, technicians, and support staff
- Establish and follow administrative procedures, policies, and standards
- Communicate project proposals, research findings, and the status of projects to clients and top management
Natural sciences managers direct scientific research activities and direct and coordinate product development projects and production activities. The duties of natural sciences managers vary with the field of science (such as biology or chemistry) or the industry they work in. Research projects may be aimed at improving manufacturing processes, advancing basic scientific knowledge, or developing new products.
Some natural sciences managers are former scientists and, after becoming managers, may continue to conduct their own research as well as oversee the work of others. These managers are sometimes called working managers and usually have smaller staffs, allowing them to do research in addition to carrying out their administrative duties.
Managers who are responsible for larger staffs may not have time to contribute to research and may spend all their time performing administrative duties.
Laboratory managers need to ensure that laboratories are fully supplied so that scientists can run their tests and experiments. Some specialize in the management of laboratory animals.
During all stages of a project, natural sciences managers coordinate the activities of their unit with those of other units or organizations. They work with higher levels of management; with financial, production, and marketing specialists; and with equipment and materials suppliers.
Work Environment
Natural sciences managers held about 86,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of natural sciences managers were as follows:
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 38% |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 14 |
| Manufacturing | 8 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 8 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 5 |
Most of the time, they work in offices, but they also may spend time in laboratories. Like managers in other fields, natural sciences managers may spend a large portion of their time using computers and talking to other members of their organization.
Natural sciences managers have different requirements based on the size of their staff. Managers with larger staffs spend their time primarily in offices performing administrative duties and spend little time doing research or working in the field or in laboratories. Working managers who have research responsibilities and smaller staffs may need to work in laboratories or in the field, which may require traveling, sometimes to remote locations.
Work Schedules
Most natural sciences managers work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
Getting Started
How to Become a Natural Sciences Manager
Natural sciences managers typically begin their careers as scientists.
Natural sciences managers usually advance to management positions after years of employment as scientists. Natural sciences managers typically have a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or Ph.D. in a scientific discipline or a related field, such as engineering. Some managers may find it helpful to have an advanced management degree—for example, a Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree.
Education
Natural sciences managers typically begin their careers as scientists; therefore, most have a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or Ph.D. in a science field, such as biology or healthcare, or a related field, such as engineering. Scientific and technical knowledge is essential for managers because they must be able to understand the work of their subordinates and provide technical assistance when needed.
Natural sciences managers who are interested in acquiring postsecondary education in management should be able to find master’s degree or Ph.D. programs in a natural science that incorporate business management courses. Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree programs blend advanced training in a particular science field, such as biotechnology or environmental science, with business skills, such as communications and program management, and policy. Those interested in acquiring general management skills may pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master of Public Administration (MPA). Some natural sciences managers will have studied psychology or some other management-related field to enter this occupation.
Sciences managers must continually upgrade their knowledge because of the rapid growth of scientific developments.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Natural sciences managers usually work several years in the sciences before advancing to management positions. While employed as scientists, they typically are given more responsibility and independence in their work as they gain experience. Eventually, they may lead research teams and have control over the direction and content of projects before being promoted to an managerial position.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Although certification is not typically required to become a natural sciences manager, many relevant certifications are available. These certifications range from those related to specific scientific areas of study or practice, such as laboratory animal management, to general management topics, such as project management.
Job Outlook
Employment of natural sciences managers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 6,500 openings for natural sciences managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Employment growth should be affected by many of the same factors that affect employment growth for the scientists whom these managers supervise. For example, when organizations hire more hydrologists for water conservation, they also may need to hire more natural sciences managers to oversee them. However, managers often are flexible in the number of workers they supervise, which may reduce demand in organizations looking to cut costs.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about Professional Science Master’s programs, visit
For general information about science careers and news, including articles on natural science management, visit
American Association for the Advancement of Science
To find job openings for natural sciences managers in the federal government, visit
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of natural sciences managers.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Agricultural and Food Scientists |
Agricultural and food scientists research ways to improve the efficiency and safety of agricultural establishments and products. |
Bachelor's degree | $74,940 |
|
Architectural and Engineering Managers |
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Bachelor's degree | $159,920 |
|
Biochemists and Biophysicists |
Biochemists and biophysicists study the chemical and physical principles of living things and of biological processes. |
Doctoral or professional degree | $103,810 |
|
Chemists and Materials Scientists |
Chemists and materials scientists research and analyze the chemical properties of substances to develop new materials, products, or knowledge. |
Bachelor's degree | $81,810 |
|
Environmental Scientists and Specialists |
Environmental scientists and specialists use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health. |
Bachelor's degree | $76,480 |
|
Geoscientists |
Geoscientists study the physical aspects of the Earth. |
Bachelor's degree | $87,480 |
|
Medical Scientists |
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|
Physicists and Astronomers |
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|
Postsecondary Teachers |
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See How to Become One | $80,840 |