Jobs / Management and business operations / 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.
- US jobs
- 108,690
- Median wage
- $167,220 a year
- Job family
- Management and business operations
Can agents do the work of natural sciences managers?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Management and business operations: Some tasks (first measured in the last 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: SOP-Bench, 72.4% of tasks completed.
6% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 7%Coordinate activities with clients, agencies, or organizationsNot measured
- 6%Develop organizational policies, systems, or processesNot measured
- 5%Prepare proposals or grant applicationsNot measured
- 5%Evaluate green technologies or processesNot measured
- 4%Direct organizational operations, activities, or proceduresNot measured
- 4%Develop plans for managing or preserving natural resourcesNot measured
- 3%Analyze data to improve operationsNot measured
- 3%Interview people to obtain informationNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in management and business operations, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
- 45.9%Claude Opus 4.6 · 16 Mar 2026Emerging
- 64.8%Claude Code + Opus 5.5 (max) · 6 Oct 2026Strong
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
- 42.9%TTE-MatrixAgent + DeepSeek-V3.2 · 10 Nov 2025Emerging
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
- Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
- Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
- Review project activities and prepare and review research, testing, or operational reports.
- 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.
- Determine scientific or technical goals within broad outlines provided by top management and make detailed plans to accomplish these goals.
- Prepare project proposals.
- Develop or implement policies, standards, or procedures for the architectural, scientific, or technical work performed to ensure regulatory compliance or operations enhancement.
- Recruit personnel or oversee the development or maintenance of staff competence.
- Prepare and administer budgets, approve and review expenditures, and prepare financial reports.
- Conduct own research in field of expertise.
Other job titles for this occupation (34)
Analytical Services Manager · Chemical Engineer Supervisor · Chemical Process Exploration Manager · Environmental Program Manager · Lab Manager (Laboratory Manager) · Natural Sciences Manager · Research Administrator · Research and Development Director (R and D Director) · Research Manager · Water Team Leader · Agricultural Research Director · Agriculture Research Director · Chemical Plant Technical Director · Clinical Project Manager · Clinical Trials Manager · Environmental Research Project Manager · Geochemical Manager · Geological Manager · Geophysical Manager · Gravity Manager · Lab Director (Laboratory Director) · Laboratory Operations Director (Lab Operations Director) · Laboratory Services Administrative Director (Lab Services Administrative Director) · Natural Resources Manager · Ocean Program Administrator · Quarrying Manager · Regulatory Manager · Research and Development Manager (R & D Manager) · Research Coordinator · Research Development Director · Research Development Manager · Research Director · Research Project Coordinator · Wild Life Manager