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