Resume guide · Job Zone 5

Natural Sciences Managersresume guide.

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these A strong Natural Sciences Managers resume shows science, active listening and critical thinking, and names the tools you have worked with, such as SAS, The MathWorks MATLAB and IBM SPSS Statistics.

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01Also called

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Analytical Services ManagerChemical Engineer SupervisorChemical Process Exploration ManagerEnvironmental Program ManagerLab Manager (Laboratory Manager)Natural Sciences ManagerResearch AdministratorResearch and Development Director (R and D Director)Research ManagerWater Team Leader

02Skills employers expect

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Importance is how much the skill matters to the job; level is how much of it the job demands. Both are worth naming on the resume, in this order.

SkillImportanceLevel
ScienceVery highAdvanced
Active ListeningVery highAdvanced
Critical ThinkingVery highAdvanced
MonitoringVery highAdvanced
Reading ComprehensionVery highAdvanced
Complex Problem SolvingHighAdvanced
SpeakingHighAdvanced
WritingHighAdvanced
Judgment and Decision MakingHighAdvanced
Management of Personnel ResourcesHighAdvanced

03Knowledge areas

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  • Biology
  • English Language
  • Administration and Management
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Administrative
  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Production and Processing

04Common responsibilities

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Ordered by importance. Each one is a bullet waiting for a result and a number.

  1. Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
  2. Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
  3. Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
  4. Review project activities and prepare and review research, testing, or operational reports.
  5. Confer with scientists, engineers, regulators, or others to plan or review projects or to provide technical assistance.
  6. Develop client relationships and communicate with clients to explain proposals, present research findings, establish specifications, or discuss project status.
  7. Determine scientific or technical goals within broad outlines provided by top management and make detailed plans to accomplish these goals.
  8. Prepare project proposals.
  9. Develop or implement policies, standards, or procedures for the architectural, scientific, or technical work performed to ensure regulatory compliance or operations enhancement.
  10. Recruit personnel or oversee the development or maintenance of staff competence.

05Software and tools

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28 tools across 16 categories. The six largest categories are below; Hot marks a hot technology, In demand a tool employers ask for most often.

Analytical or scientific software6
+ 1 more
Data base user interface and query software4
Document management software2
Enterprise resource planning ERP software2
Graphics or photo imaging software2
Spreadsheet software2
Development environment software1
  • Integrated development environment IDE software
Electronic mail software1
Geographic information system1
Internet browser software1
Object or component oriented development software1
  • RHotIn demand
Office suite software1
Presentation software1
Process mapping and design software1
Project management software1
Word processing software1

06Education and preparation

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Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
35% of surveyed workers. Others report Post-Doctoral Training (27%) and Master's Degree (15%).
Preparation level
Job Zone 5 · Extensive preparation
Usually a graduate degree and extensive related experience.

07Putting it on your resume

ResumeXRays guidance
BEE · How to show it

Lead with what you built. For a Job Zone 5 role, hiring managers and parsers both look for outcomes before credentials. Put two or three results at the top of each job entry, with the scale or effect stated plainly.

Name the tools exactly. This occupation is heavy on named software. A skills section that says "SAS, The MathWorks MATLAB, IBM SPSS Statistics, Microsoft Access" matches more job descriptions than a general phrase. Use the spelling employers use.

Show active listening and critical thinking, not just science. Active listening and critical thinking rank close to science for this occupation. One bullet per role that shows a decision, a tradeoff or a result covers them.

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