Career Details
Career Details
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Career Details

11-9121.00 - Natural Sciences Managers


Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
55,100
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
56,900
Estimate
Change in Employment
+1,800
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+3.3%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Confer with scientists, engineers, regulators, or others to plan or review projects or to provide technical assistance.
  • Develop client relationships and communicate with clients to explain proposals, present research findings, establish specifications, or discuss project status.
  • Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
  • Prepare project proposals.
  • Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
  • Review project activities and prepare and review research, testing, or operational reports.
  • Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
  • Determine scientific or technical goals within broad outlines provided by top management and make detailed plans to accomplish these goals.
  • Develop or implement policies, standards, or procedures for the architectural, scientific, or technical work performed to ensure regulatory compliance or operations enhancement.
  • Develop innovative technology or train staff for its implementation.
  • Conduct own research in field of expertise.
  • Recruit personnel or oversee the development or maintenance of staff competence.
  • Prepare and administer budgets, approve and review expenditures, and prepare financial reports.
  • Make presentations at professional meetings to further knowledge in the field.
Supplemental
  • Provide for stewardship of plant or animal resources or habitats, studying land use, monitoring animal populations, or providing shelter, resources, or medical treatment for animals.
  • Advise or assist in obtaining patents or meeting other legal requirements.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Biology
  • 81%
    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 English Language
  • 80%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Administration and Management
  • 76%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 73%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Clerical
  • 71%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Chemistry
  • 70%
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 Mathematics
  • 70%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 65%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 63%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Production and Processing
  • 58%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Education and Training
  • 57%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 55%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Media storage devices
  • Universal serial bus USB flash drives
 Computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Personal computers
 Computer printers
  • Color plotters
 Projectors and supplies
  • Liquid crystal display LCD video projectors
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
  • Microsoft SharePointHOT
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe PhotoshopHOT
  • Graphics software
  • Microsoft VisioHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Word processing software
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • IBM Lotus 1-2-3
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
 Data management and query software
  • Oracle DBMS
  • SAP Business Objects
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
 Development software
  • Integrated development environment IDE softwareHOT
 Industry specific software
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsHOT
  • Laboratory information management system LIMS
  • SASHOT
  • STATISTICA
  • StataCorp Stata
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
 Information exchange software
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
  • ESRI ArcGIS softwareHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Advanced
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Blue Ridge Community College
Brightpoint Community College
Eastern Shore Community College
Germanna Community College
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Laurel Ridge Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Paul D. Camp Community College
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Rappahannock Community College
Southside Virginia Community College
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Virginia Western Community College
Wytheville Community College
Jobs
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Jobs related to this career may be found on Indeed.com or on the Google Job Search page.