Research and Development (R&D) Managers
30AI USED FOR30%moving to75%
THE DOOR, NOWB
THE DOOR, 20 YRSD
STARTING PAY£30,000 - £40,000
MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIEDA real score, but the moat is not yet classified. No claim either way.
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CAREERMASH (EN)FROM BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT →
Research and Development (R&D) Managers
R&D managers lead teams of scientists and engineers who develop new products and ideas. They turn rough experiments into real things that companies can make and sell, keeping them ahead of competitors.
THE DOOR: A easy to E extremely hard, now and in 20 years
AI is used for very little of this work today
Hands-on work, caring for people and dealing with the real world are among the hardest things to automate, and this job leans on them. We have not yet formally classified its moat, so we make no claim either way, but the exposure score speaks for itself.
Career progression path
1FIRST STEPJunior R&D ManagerAssists in managing small projects and supports senior managers in research activities.£30,000 - £40,000
2GAINING EXPERIENCEMid-level R&D ManagerOversees multiple projects, manages teams, and ensures alignment with strategic goals.£45,000 - £60,000
3PEAK CAREERSenior R&D ManagerLeads large-scale projects, drives innovation strategy, and represents the organisation in industry forums.£70,000+
The degree route
Real courses in this career's subject, from the live library of 35,000; every one is AI impact assessed through its actual graduate destinations.
🎓Finance and AccountingDancebox Theatre Works · the card page · will AI take its jobs?£49,000 median
🎓Business Management With Information SystemsWest Herts College · the card page · will AI take its jobs?£32,000 median
🎓International Tourism Management (with Foundation Year)University of Bedfordshire · the card page · will AI take its jobs?£31,000 median
🎓Modern Languages (German and Italian) and ManagementUniversity of St Andrews · the card page · will AI take its jobs?£30,000 median
🎓Business Management (Accelerated)Anglia Ruskin University · the card page · will AI take its jobs?£29,000 median
All Business and Management courses as cards →
There is more than one way in
You do not have to go the university route to get here. There is also a vocational route that skips a degree entirely.
Recommended UK degrees
Real courses that qualify you for this career, from the same register that priced the degree above.
Finance and AccountingDancebox Theatre Works · DegreeBusiness Management With Information SystemsWest Herts College · DegreeInternational Tourism Management (with Foundation Year)University of Bedfordshire · DegreeBusiness ManagementTeesside University · DegreeModern Languages (German and Italian) and ManagementUniversity of St Andrews · DegreeBusiness Management (Accelerated)Anglia Ruskin University · Degree