Directs and implements an organization's research and development policies, objectives, and initiatives.
Ensures research and development activities will maintain an organization's competitive position and profitability. Consults with top management and research and development team and makes recommendations based on research findings and product performance.
Salary.com identifies five increasing levels of proficiency for each skill/competency. Some jobs require only a relatively low level of proficiency in each skill/competency, while other jobs will require a more advanced level of proficiency in the same skill/competency. These levels rate the degree of proficiency (skill level, expertise) we expect the incumbent to perform in the given skill/competency for the given job. Note that we intentionally do not associate timeframes or years of experience in performing the skill/competency because that can be misleading. Proficiency levels identify what the incumbent knows and can do rather than how long they have been doing it. Also, note that the proficiency levels are cumulative, e.g., a level 4 proficiency implies the ability to perform all the behaviors at the lower levels.
Check each Research and Development Director skill and competencie below to view definitions.
Skill definition-Applying management skills and engineering principles in overseeing technical projects and personnel.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Locates resources to get information about technical engineering concepts.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Supports the team in documenting issues related to engineering functions to maintain operational excellence.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Works with engineering teams to track overall planning and management of projects.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Oversees all aspects of engineering projects, including developing timelines and cost projections.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Monitors the project status at the engineering level to facilitate timely project completion.
Skill definition-Forecasting costs and resources to complete a project within a defined scope.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Names various cost estimation techniques, such as reserve analysis and three-point estimation.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Supports all the efforts and cost estimation work for projects.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Works with the team in the development of a cost estimation model.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Reviews cost estimation at different levels of design stages.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Leads the implementation of new strategies to optimize the cost estimation process.
Skill definition-Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Names relevant computer programming languages such as C, C++, and Python.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Uses object-oriented programming languages in programming.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Uses a programming language to create scripts that automate repetitive tasks.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Reviews and rewrites program codes to ensure compatibility with different operating systems.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Leads our business in improving the programming process and best practices.
Skill definition-Insight into our organization's business, goals, and values. Ability to design and implement initiatives that facilitate successful outcomes.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Names our key stakeholders from a business value chain perspective.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Supports the planning, implementation, and management of training programs that foster process improvements.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Participates in the redesign of organizational structures to reflect business priorities.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Trains others on various business and operation topics.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Forecasts the short-term and long-term impact of various business cases on P&L performance.
Skill definition-Applying specific policies, tools and practices to plan and prepare projected revenues, expenses, cash flows, and capital expenditures.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Lists the elements and the steps on how to conduct budgeting.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Tracks and reports financial inefficiencies to ensure smooth functioning of our budgeting processes.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Works with senior management in creating appropriate budget amounts.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Recommends alternative budgeting strategies for resolving budgeting issues in our workplace.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Introduces technologies, policies, and programs for more effective budget management.
There are 8 hard skills for Research and Development Director, Engineering Management, Cost Estimation, Engineering Change Management, etc.
1 general skills for Research and Development Director, Programming.
14 soft skills for Research and Development Director, Business Acumen, Budgeting, Planning and Organizing, etc.
While the list totals 23 distinct skills, it's important to note that not all are required to be mastered to the same degree. Some skills may only need a basic understanding, whereas others demand a higher level of expertise.
For instance, as a Research and Development Director, he or she needs to be skilled in Business Acumen, be skilled in Budgeting, and be skilled in Planning and Organizing.
