Engineering and natural sciences managers plan, coordinate, and direct research, design, and production activities. They may supervise engineers, scientists, and technicians, along with support personnel. These managers use their knowledge of engineering and natural sciences to oversee a variety of activities. They determine scientific and technical goals within broad outlines provided by top executives, who are discussed elsewhere in the Handbook. These goals may include improving manufacturing processes, advancing scientific research, or developing new products. Managers make detailed plans to accomplish these goals. For example, they may develop the overall concepts of a new product or identify technical problems preventing the completion of a project.
To perform effectively, these managers also must apply knowledge of administrative procedures, such as budgeting, hiring, and supervision. They propose budgets for projects and programs and determine staff, training, and equipment needs. They hire and assign scientists, engineers, and support personnel to carry out specific parts of each project. They also supervise the work of these employees, check the technical accuracy of their work and the soundness of their methods, review their output, and establish administrative procedures and policies—including environmental standards, for example.
In addition, these managers use communication skills extensively. They spend a great deal of time coordinating the activities of their unit with those of other units or organizations. They confer with higher levels of management; with financial, production, marketing, and other managers; and with contractors and equipment and materials suppliers.
Engineering managers may supervise people who design and develop machinery, products, systems, and processes. They might also direct and coordinate production, operations, quality assurance, testing, or maintenance in industrial plants. Many are plant engineers, who direct and coordinate the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment and machinery in industrial plants. Others manage research and development teams that produce new products and processes or improve existing ones.
Natural sciences managers oversee the work of life and physical scientists, including agricultural scientists, chemists, biologists, geologists, medical scientists, and physicists. These managers direct research and development projects and coordinate activities such as testing, quality control, and production. They may work on basic research projects or on commercial activities. Science managers sometimes conduct their own research in addition to managing the work of others.
Work environment. Engineering and natural sciences managers spend most of their time in an office. Some managers, however, also may work in laboratories, where they may be exposed to the same conditions as research scientists, or in industrial plants, where they may be exposed to the same conditions as production workers. Most managers work at least 40 hours a week and may work much longer on occasion to meet project deadlines. Some may experience considerable pressure to meet technical or scientific goals on a short deadline or within a tight budget.
| 1. | Confer with management, production, and marketing staff to discuss project specifications and procedures. |
| 2. | Coordinate and direct projects, making detailed plans to accomplish goals and directing the integration of technical activities. |
| 3. | Analyze technology, resource needs, and market demand, to plan and assess the feasibility of projects. |
| 4. | Plan and direct the installation, testing, operation, maintenance, and repair of facilities and equipment. |
| 5. | Direct, review, and approve product design and changes. |
| 6. | Recruit employees, assign, direct, and evaluate their work, and oversee the development and maintenance of staff competence. |
| 7. | Prepare budgets, bids, and contracts, and direct the negotiation of research contracts. |
| 8. | Develop and implement policies, standards and procedures for the engineering and technical work performed in the department, service, laboratory or firm. |
| 9. | Perform administrative functions such as reviewing and writing reports, approving expenditures, enforcing rules, and making decisions about the purchase of materials or services. |
| 10. | Review and recommend or approve contracts and cost estimates. |
| 11. | Present and explain proposals, reports, and findings to clients. |
| 12. | Consult or negotiate with clients to prepare project specifications. |
| 13. | Set scientific and technical goals within broad outlines provided by top management. |
| 14. | Administer highway planning, construction, and maintenance. |
| 15. | Direct the engineering of water control, treatment, and distribution projects. |
| 16. | Plan, direct, and coordinate survey work with other staff activities, certifying survey work, and writing land legal descriptions. |
| 17. | Confer with and report to officials and the public to provide information and solicit support for projects. |
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