Research and Development Managers: Jobs in Demand in Europe (2025)
Research and Development Managers is an official occupation group (ISCO-08 code 1223) used by the International Labour Organization and Eurostat.
- Product development manager
- Research manager
Latest research and development managers job ads
Real vacancies from the official public employment services, updated daily. Job titles are translated into English automatically; the full ad opens on the official site in German or Swedish (your browser's translate button turns it into English).
Germany
68 open ads- Head of research and development
German title: Leiter Forschung und Entwicklung
Polywest GmbH & Co. KG · Ahaus · Posted 2026-10-16 - Head of research and development
German title: Leiter Forschung und Entwicklung
Erhard Hippe KG · Spremberg, Niederlausitz · Posted 2024-10-25 - Head of research and development
German title: Leiter Forschung und Entwicklung
RHEWUM GmbH · Remscheid · Posted 2026-05-04 - Head of Development Department
German title: Leiter Entwicklung
Bertrandt AG · Dresden · Posted 2026-10-12 - Head of Development Department
German title: Leiter Entwicklung
RLE INTERNATIONAL Group · Ottendorf-Okrilla · Posted 2026-10-06 - Head of Development Department
German title: Leiter Entwicklung
IMS Robotics GmbH · Ottendorf-Okrilla · Posted 2026-06-15
Source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (German Federal Employment Agency). Ads are written by employers; Placeivo does not check them. See all ads in Germany
Sweden
46 open ads- Head of Product Development and Business Support
SAAB Aktiebolag · Linköping · Posted 2026-10-16 - Community Development Manager for Hedemora Municipality
Swedish title: Samhällsutvecklingschef till Hedemora kommun
Hedemora kommun · Hedemora · Posted 2026-10-15 - Senior R&D Manager Materials and Technology Development
Aktiebolaget Sandvik Coromant · Stockholm · Posted 2026-10-15 - Senior R&D Manager Product Development
Aktiebolaget Sandvik Coromant · Sandviken · Posted 2026-10-15 - Development Manager - shape the future of Piteå
Swedish title: Utvecklingschef - forma framtidens Piteå
Piteå kommun · Piteå · Posted 2026-10-15 - Laboratory Manager to Business Area Special Products
Swedish title: Laboratoriechef till Affärsområde Specialprodukter
Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag · Luleå · Posted 2026-10-14
Source: Arbetsförmedlingen (Swedish Public Employment Service). Ads are written by employers; Placeivo does not check them. See all ads in Sweden
Where research and development managers are needed in Europe
| Country | EURES 2025 | Average gross pay, all managers (2022) | 1-bed rent in the capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Shortage | €8,270 a month * | Brussels: €1,150 |
| Italy | Shortage | €7,661 a month * | Rome: €1,300 |
| Luxembourg | Shortage | Not yet verified | Luxembourg: €1,900 |
| Netherlands | Shortage | €6,307 a month | Not yet verified |
| Portugal | Shortage | €3,543 a month * | Lisbon: €1,400 |
| Romania | Shortage | €2,281 a month * | Not yet verified |
| Austria | Surplus | €6,950 a month * | Vienna: €1,250 |
| Bulgaria | Surplus | €1,918 a month | Sofia: €650 |
| Czechia | Surplus | €3,361 a month | Prague: €1,250 |
| Denmark | Surplus | €8,867 a month * | Copenhagen: €1,800 |
| Latvia | Surplus | €2,169 a month | Riga: €870 |
Pay: Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey 2022, mean gross monthly earnings of all managers in each country, in euros. This is the average for the whole occupation group, not for research and development managers alone, and before tax. * Firms with 10 or more employees only. Rent: Eurostat, good-quality 1-bedroom flat in the capital, 2025.
What research and development managers do
Research and development managers plan, direct and coordinate the research and development activities of an enterprise or organization or of enterprises that provide related services to other enterprises and organizations.
Typical tasks
- Planning, directing and coordinating research and development activities, in-house or commissioned from external research organizations, to develop new or improved technical processes, products, knowledge, or utilization of materials
- Planning the overall research and development programme of an enterprise or organization, specifying goals and budgetary requirements
- Leading and managing the activities of research and development staff
- Establishing and managing budgets, controlling expenditure and ensuring the efficient use of resources
- Establishing and directing operational and administrative procedures
- Planning and directing daily operations
- Overseeing the selection, training and performance of staff
- Representing the enterprise or organization at conventions, seminars and conferences
Finding research and development managers jobs in Europe
- EURES is the official job portal of the EU public employment services. The search above looks for "Research manager".
- Some jobs are regulated professions: before you can work, your qualification may need to be recognised in the new country.
- If you are not an EU/EEA citizen you will usually need a work permit or a visa such as the EU Blue Card. Check the rules of the country's immigration authority.
Cost of living where the jobs are
Take-home pay needed to rent a good 1-bedroom flat in the capitals of countries reporting a shortage:
About this data
- Shortage and surplus: European Labour Authority, EURES Report on labour shortages and surpluses 2025, annex table 21 (published 2026). Each country's public employment service reports which occupations it finds hard to fill or in oversupply. Countries not listed did not report this occupation as either.
- Definition, tasks and job titles: International Labour Organization, ISCO-08 structure and definitions.
- Pay: Eurostat, Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_48), by occupation group.
- Job ads: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Germany) and Arbetsförmedlingen (Sweden), refreshed about once a day.